Parents challenge weekly Bible classes

[davidinalameda]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/02/12/bible.class.ap/index.html

When Heather and Logan Ward's son entered public kindergarten this fall, they were shocked to discover that pupils were taken from class to a nearby church for weekly Bible lessons.

The Wards moved to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley from New York four years ago, and were unaware of the tradition that has remained in Staunton and other rural schools for more than 60 years.

"My reaction is exactly like the reaction of those who come here from a different place -- shock and disbelief that we have Bible classes in public schools," Heather Ward said.

[China_cat]

1. Isn't that what SUNDAY SCHOOL is for?

[davidinalameda]

2. that's what I was thinking too

maybe these poor children have heathen parents that won't take them to sunday school

[Warpy]

3. There would be no problem were this an after school activity

I don't even mind that much if one classroom is used for voluntary bible study, as long as the group defrays its own costs, and as long as it's bible study and not a kiddie symposium on who it's OK to hate.

Having it during school hours, even as a voluntary thing, is what's wrong here. It's nice that they take the kiddies to a church to avoid those pesky church/state issues, but taking away from class time is not a great thing to do.

All they need to do is offer it after school, with alternative activities for nonbelieving kids if transportation is a problem.

[illflem]

4. Didn't read the above link

but read another this morning that said the program is mandatory but that 85% of the kids participate with their parents permission. Problem is the the 15% left in school when the others are at church don't get educated because then the 85% would be left behind.
Good option would be to offer a trip to an amusement park for the kids who don't go to church. Bet that would sink that 85% down fast.

[wolfuncle]

5. George Bush Savior Of Democracy

Among the right wing political and religious elements of the United States there is a concerted effort to rewrite history to support their belief that America was founded as a Christian nation, even though the U.S. Constitution contains no mention of Christianity or Jesus Christ.

While some of the early Colonies did establish governments based on various religions, those same religious based colonies practiced religious intolerance and persecution. The same things they came to America to escape. When it became necessary to band together to separate from England the leaders and great thinkers of the time stepped forward to help outline a form of government divorced from the bigotry of religious favoritism.

Luckily a large group of free thinkers who where Deists (Free Masons) and not Christians won the day and religion was kept from dominating the government of the United States.

In the early days of the United States the Pope was vocal about his opposition to the non-Christian Deists in the United States and clear on his insistence that the Church should control the government. This is the same Church that today harbors pedophiles and moves them from one community another with out warning the community, giving these sick people a new pool of children to pray on. The rest of the Christian community says nothing about it and George Bush the great Christian and war hero says nothing about it.

All George Bush has to say are frightening things like, "I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job", and supports the inclusion of religious doctrines in the teaching of science in public schools. My greatest fear is that, as a representative of the extremist right wing of Christianity, Bush feels that the second coming of Christ will take place once the war of Armageddon takes place in the middle east. I don't what to be part of his perverted religious philosophy. Get Religion Out Of Government.

Government Should Be Separate From Religion

[Ian David]

6. What if the kids were being taken to "Homsexual Appreciation Classes"?

How would the fundies like THAT?