Georgia OKs Bible Classes, Commandments

[Ken King]

Ok, Ken....I'll bite. I have no idea what religion you follpw...or where your kids (if you have any) go to school. So..let me assume you have have kids..let me assume they go to school...and let me assume that you take them to "church".

Alot of assumptions...I know.

That said...how do your children learn of your faith? Do you tell them about it personally? Do you take them to church/Sunday school/ CCD/ Temple/ any religious study courses? If so..how does that get paid for? Do you donate money to the church/school that provides that instruction?

If so...do you also donate money to the other religious schools (of differing faiths than your own)?

I'm Methodist, as baptized, attended church regularly as a youth and as a young adult, but as I got older I drifted away from regular attendance. I still attend services on occasion but now it is of differing Christian faiths and do so only sporadically when I feel the need.

I am a father of three, plus one step-child, all attended public schools and all are now adults, plus five grandkids. The children were exposed to church and religion and two have regularly attended since early childhood and two are only occasional attendees. I never forced any of them to go with me, but was pleased when they did which was regular until they were in their teens. The two regular attendees go to churches of differing faith and of their own choosing, Baptist and non-denominational.

We discuss matters of faith and religion at times and I grab “the book” on occasion to seek guidance or comfort when my inner being tells me to or I am faced with one of life’s many challenges, but nothing regular, structured, of fanatical. I believe in a higher power, a divine influence and am in continual awe of the many wonders of our world. I am equally inspired and distraught by the capabilities of man and the acts that they do that can be wondrously good or the unimaginable heinous atrocities that we hear of and witness regularly.

Do I give money still? Yes and regularly volunteer for church and philanthropic activities as I believe it is our duty to help others in need. The church does a lot of good and the money I give helps them do more. The fact that I don’t attend that church anymore isn’t important, I still feel connected to it. I also donate to the local fire department and rescue squad annually, Big Brothers and Sisters, United Way, and several other charities.

I think you might have confused my tolerance and acceptance of others wanting to understand or learn more with a person that expects others to believe and believe as they do. I’m not like that and don’t care what anyone’s religious beliefs are as that is none of my business. I also see the limits of the First Amendment as only applicable to the actions of Congress and that the states and people are not restricted by that right or in any like manner unless specifically stated in the individual states constitution.

I think that exposing children to religious documentation is relevant to understanding our world and the people that inhabit it. Discussion of those documents and exposure to religion shouldn’t be feared, but encouraged. As long as care is exercised to ensure that a fanatic isn’t trying to influence or push any specific religion through elective classes of this type. I truly believe that it could benefit their understanding and foster tolerance as to the differences of our world’s cultures, but I would never like to see them made mandatory.

Does this answer your questions? I know what it has done to your assumptions and reinforces why we probably shouldn't make them.

How about you, what's your story?

 

[Kerad]

Does this answer your questions? I know what it has done to your assumptions and reinforces why we probably shouldn't make them.

How about you, what's your story?

Alright , Ken...let me be honest with you, I was/am not prepared to give quite the detailed response to your resonse as it deserves...so I'm not going to hack off a response and call it even.

I will "get back to you on that"...but my respnse will not be so ..."so".



Long story "short": My dogtags read "Catholic" ...as that is what my parents are, and they are the ones that would have to bury me...so whatever makes them happy. I'd prefer a Viking funeral...but funerals are for the living...not the dead.

I was forced to go to to CCD, Sunday school, etc...until my Senoior year in high school. Before then, I often got in trouble for asking questions that were not allowed. ("Why doesn't the Bible mention dinosaurs?", "Why Does the Bible not mention we are all made of "star dust", etc...).

Not only that...but being "Catholic" is a very heavy eperience...every Sunday being preached about how evil you are just for being born.

Anyways...as I became a free thinking adult (about the same time I became a Democrat, BTW)...I found that nobody...nobody has any idea wheter their religion is the "true religion" or not. You can believe all you want to believe about anything...but...you are no more wrong or right than my beliefs. "Moral Majority" or not.

So...until someone can prove to me that their beliefs about "Life, the Universe, and Everything" are any more "real" than my beliefs....they can all just piss off.

I mean that in the most polite way possible.

Really, I do.

 

[mAlice]

Well, I missed the original article, but have been following this thread for the last couple of days. Did the article indicate what grades that this elective course would be offered to? If this course in an elective, I'd have to conclude that it's offered only in high school. At this point most young adults are pretty well settled into their beliefs, or lack of. They are also old enough to talk to other students about the course and decide if they want to take it.

I'm an athiest, and have no problem with this decision. It doesn't appear to me that anyone is trying to shove anything down anyone's throat. It's put out there as an option.

 

[PJay]

High school is correct.

For those that missed the article:

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16802

 

[mAlice]

High school is correct.

For those that missed the article:

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16802

Thanks

Local school systems will decide whether to teach the courses.

The state Education Department has until next February to craft curriculums. The law requires that the courses be taught "in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students."

I really don't see the problem. I don't see this as being any different than offering a course in greek mythology.

 

[hvp05]

I really don't see the problem. I don't see this as being any different than offering a course in greek mythology.

I agree. I think the primary concern for many is that, even though the guidelines insist there will be objectivity, we may not be sure how well it will be enforced. The school system will likely add layer over layer of oversight, and I'm sure a parent could attend a class to see what it's like.

 

[mAlice]

I agree. I think the primary concern for many is that, even though the guidelines insist there will be objectivity, we may not be sure how well it will be enforced. The school system will likely add layer over layer of oversight, and I'm sure a parent could attend a class to see what it's like.

In a perfect world we'd also have objectivity about politics in our schools, but that's not the case. Teachers are human, too. This is why we have to be involved, so we know what our kids are absorbing. If we disagree with it, then we can take steps to change it, discourage it, or include information that has not been presented by the teacher.

 

[slaphappynmd]

I don't have any problem with it, personally. I wish they'd have offered a non-denom religious theory class in high school. I don't see it being any different than scientific theories and evolution being taught. :shrug:

scientific theories are not religion. who knew, that demon's created science. If you want bible teachings go to a private church run school.

 

[hvp05]

In a perfect world we'd also have objectivity about politics in our schools, but that's not the case. Teachers are human, too.

Right. There have been cases where high school history or social studies teachers have "crossed the line"... and once the media hears it the teacher is lambasted.

 

[Bustem' Down]

The thing I don't get is you are ok if they created a mandatory bible class in school, butwhat if the created a madatory Quaran class and Torah class?

As an elective, fine, there's nothing wrong with that. It would probably be real popular.

Another question though. School is to teach children, to prepare tham for college and to prepare them to get good job be productive in society etc etc. Where does a religion class fall into this spectrum? What is it they are getting at school that sunday school is not good enough? Not just curious as to what you all think.

 

[mAlice]

The thing I don't get is you are ok if they created a mandatory bible class in school, butwhat if the created a madatory Quaran class and Torah class?

As an elective, fine, there's nothing wrong with that. It would probably be real popular.

Another question though. School is to teach children, to prepare tham for college and to prepare them to get good job be productive in society etc etc. Where does a religion class fall into this spectrum? What is it they are getting at school that sunday school is not good enough? Not just curious as to what you all think.

I didn't see anything about mandatory, but I would be opposed to that.

Depending on the direction one takes in life, there are many things that are learned in school that will not be applied in life.

 

[Merlin99]

The thing I don't get is you are ok if they created a mandatory bible class in school, butwhat if the created a madatory Quaran class and Torah class?

I want a Scientology class complete with L. Ron Hubbard autographed copies of Dianetics

(Tom Cruise Wannabe)

 

[FredFlash]

Man is not to take his religion dependently and quietly from a majority, or from mere political or ecclesiastical dictation.

-- U. S. Supreme Court Justice Levi Woodbury (1789-1851)

 

[FredFlash]

Puffendorf says, "There is a natural rectitude in man's understanding, a power to discriminate what is best from the worst, which will aid him in emergencies.

---- U. S. Supreme Court Justice Levi Woodbury (1789-1851)

We call it our conscience......

 

[Bustem' Down]

Oh crap he's back.

 

[FredFlash]

High Morals Spring From Religious Feelings Operating As A
Conscientious Conviction of the Mind Not As A Branch of the Government ​

Another trait in American character... is, the prevalence of a higher tone of morals among us than exists in most other communities... The tree of morality always strikes its roots deeper and stronger in the soil of religion... In a community like ours where education is more widely diffused, each becomes better able to comprehend the force of moral obligation, and is more inclined to appreciate duly its paramount importance to the welfare and security both of the individual and the whole. In this way the religious feeling operates, not, as... a branch of government through some unholy alliance between church and state,- but as a conscientious conviction of the mind pervading the whole man, with all his habits. thoughts and deeds, and thus tending to soften the heart, civilize the manners. and reform the whole life.

------ U. S. Supreme Court Justice Levi Woodbury (1789-1851)