Oh you'll love this.

[Pacifist Patriot]

Homeschool World at www.home-school.com has discontinued a listing in the Florida Support Groups page. Get a load of the reason given.

...Also, we have a major problem. I just noticed that your site says:

"LIFE Inc. welcomes all educators and students regardless of
religion, race, teaching style, politics, marital status, age or
sexual orientation.LIFE Inc. support groups respect and honor
diversity in home and alternative learning and support the freedom of
all individual families to choose the educational lifestyle that
suits each best."

The majority of homeschoolers are religious, and while stating that
you're secular - basically non-religious - is fine, I'm afraid that
specifically listing sexual orientation as one of the categories you
don't discriminate on is too overt for a listing on our web site. Not
discriminating on sexual orientation basically means discriminating
against most major religions, since the two are mutually exclusive.

I am seething. The errors in his rationale are too numerous to begin.

[Psychmd]

1. OMG

"Not discriminating on sexual orientation basically means discriminating against most major religions, since the two are mutually exclusive."

This has to be the most absurd thing I have ever seen. I am speechless.

[Taxloss]

7. Yes, that is really quite remarkable.

That statement clearly says most major religions discriminate on grounds of sex. Extraordinary.

[CatholicEdHead]

10. Wow

So, if you don't discriminate, than you are discriminating? What twisted logic.

[demwing]

2. I'm a home-schooling advocate

and this sucks.

Home-schooling is NOT the sole domain of the religious conservative, any more than Christianity is the philosophical property of the morally bankrupt.

Though sometimes it seems that way...

[Pacifist Patriot]

3. The fundamentalist homeschoolers have an inflated sense of

numbers as well as righteousness. They do not constitute the majority of homeschoolers anymore and have not for at least fifteen years.

Gee, an inflated sense of numbers as well as righteousness. In what other arena do we get that from the fundamentalists?

[Mythsaje]

4. I'm aware of a lot of pagans

who have been considering homeschooling.

[demwing]

6. I've been doing it for years

In Utah, because I want my kids to get straight science.

My oldest son didn't attend public school until high school, and now carries a 3.9 GPA. He also plays guitar in a rock band. he's the most polite and sociable kid you'll eve meet, though he looks like a punk! lol....

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Most of the members of my primary homeschool group ARE pagans.

[demwing]

5. How to contact Home-school.com...

For advertising questions:

Home Life, Inc.
1731 Smizer Mill Rd.
Fenton, MO 63026-2635
636-343-6786 (24-hour voicemail)
[e-mail]

For subscription and catalog customer service:

Home Life, Inc.
P.O. Box 1190
Fenton, MO 63026-1190
800-346-6322 (10-4 CST M-F)
636-529-0137
[e-mail]


For editorial (articles, research suggestions, letters):

Home Life, Inc.
P.O. Box 1190
Fenton, MO 63026-1190
[e-mail]

[Pacifist Patriot]

9. This is what I sent.

As a member of the clergy I was appalled to hear of your decision to discontinue the listing for LIFE, Inc. in Tampa, Florida. The reasons stated for the decision are factually inaccurate, discriminatory and anti-Christian.

1. The statement that the majority of homeschoolers are religious is probably correct in that most people are religious. However, the implication that most homeschoolers choose this educational lifestyle because of their conservative religion is false. For at least the last fifteen years, the majority of homeschoolers have stated secular reasons for choosing to forego traditional school environments and practitioners of all faiths have joined the homeschooling movement in ever growing numbers.

2. Choosing not to discriminate based on sexual orientation most certainly does not mean discriminating against most major religions. The concept of compassion for humanity and tolerance regarding sexuality is present in most religions. Intolerance is the exception. Liberal and mainstream Christian denominations, Unitarian Universalism, Buddhism, Taoism and denominations of Judaism and Islam are all accepting of differing sexual orientations. Rather than an inclusive group discriminating against conservatives, it would appear a conservative is choosing to discriminate against an inclusive group.

3. Jesus said, "'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:40) and "anyone who comes to me, I will not reject." (John 6:37) Yet homosexuals seeking information about homeschooling groups are being rejected by your site.

Whether you may feel comfortable in a group open to everyone is immaterial. You were personally offended and allowed your prejudices to determine accessibility to resources. That is beyond, prudence, reason and the teachings of Christ.

Regards,
Rev. _____________________

[demwing]

11. Excellent letter!

I think it embodies the truth of Chritianity. Brave in the face of adversity, compassionate, logical, pure, and based on scriptural accuracy.

Nicely done.

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. I confess to being a tad duplicitous though.

It is true I am a member of the clergy, but I never said Christian clergy. Oops! :)

[Donald Ian Rankin]

12. This is illogical

Either the website feels that discrimination is acceptable, in which case even if this did amount to discrimination on grounds of religion (which it clearly doesn't) they wouldn't have grounds to object, or they feel that it isn't, in which case they should applaud the refusal to do so.

The only possible conclusion is that they feel that it is acceptable to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation, but not on grounds of religion, a position which as far as I can see it is impossible to justify.

Whoever wrote this should have the courage of his/her convictions and admit that the reason they are not listing this site is because they think homosexuals are evil, rather than hiding behind the claim that this is religiously discriminatory.

[arwalden]

14. Idiots.

[enki23]

15. why would saying one is "secular" be fine, then?

if the problem with not discriminating based on sexual orientation is that it is incompatable with fundamentalist christianity (let's not be silly here)... then wouldn't saying you were secular be even MORE incompatable?

or... is being gay-friendly somehow less christian than being nonchristian?


these people have never made any fucking sense.