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Lately, I've been receiving more and more e-mail from various people on
various sides of the whole "Religion in Public Life" debate.
I decided to create this page to help express some of my thoughts on the
matter.
To be sure, when I say "public arenas" I may very well be either
misinformed or just plain wrong as to the nature of the particular
institution (or role of the person) being discussed.
So, if you read about something (or someone) here in this section to
which (or to whom) you don't think the term "public arenas" should
apply, then by all means, please bring it to my attention.
Here's the list as it is at this time...
20060125 USAToday article
about "Public schools looking at Bible literacy class"
20060125 USAToday article about
"Public schools looking at Bible literacy class"
First of all,
here is the link to their article.
[saved copy exists in case link fails]
Now, my thoughts....
I only read the first paragraph of the above noted USAToday article. So,
that is the only part of that text which I am commenting on.
Yes, it is out of context, but as you will see if you read my comments
carefully, that point is irrelevant.
I am not intending the comments which follow to be a response to that
article, but just to be an expression of some of my thoughts on the matter;
the matter that came to my mind when I read that they say that the
mission of those pushing the Bible class in public schools "is purely
scholarly".
Purely Scholarly?
If their "mission is purely scholarly", then I would ask, "Are they also
encouraging the study of the Book of Mormon, the Bhagavadgita, the Koran,
the Daodejing and at least all of the other major religious texts on
this planet?"
Perhaps they are and I just haven't found out that part yet due to the
fact that I haven't read any further. If that is the case, then
please disregard the rest of my comments below.
Literature -or- Indoctrination?
If the class they are proposing were to include an appropriate exposure
to and coverage of all of the other major texts of this kind, then, I
MIGHT be more open to the idea of something like this (something that
seems very close to the teaching of religion in public schools).
Otherwise, it's obviously just another attempt to push their views on
young, unsuspecting individuals before they have the chance learn how to
think for them selves (and instead of teaching them how and setting them
free to think for them selves).
Life-long Essentials -or- Pet Subjects?
If we're going to start adding to the already heavy weight of data these
kids are forced to cram into their heads just to be able to spit back
out on tests, what about classes on how to think critically and how to
learn to respect and love one's self and others. Certainly these can't be
fringe, loony concepts (right?).
They get loads of data which most of them will never use. Yet there is
little time or effort spent attempting to help people actually learn and
grow into healthy, interactive members of society before dumping them
out into it.
If I ever have Children:
That is exactly why I would spend as much time as I possibly could
NOT
telling my own kids 'what to think'
BUT instead introducing them to the
concept of thinking for them selves and then encouraging and inviting
them to actually engage in doing just that every chance I get.
Be Not Afraid:
Unlike many of my religious contemporaries, I learned a long time ago
(from a very wise religious person named Ken Blue) that 'evil' is not
'catching'; as if I have to somehow stay as far away from it as possible
so that it doesn't rub off on me.
So, go ahead and teach my kids about the Bible. If
I've brought them up in a healthy way in which they've learned to think
for them selves (notice: 'healthy way' and 'think for them selves' are
synonymous), I shouldn't have any reason be afraid of what they might get exposed to
in such regards.
....but for God's sake (and really, for the sake of the health
and well-being of our society; and those to come after us), please also teach them about the real
world ...and may I suggest doing it first; before introducing them to all
kinds of beliefs and wishes (not that these are bad or dangerous, but just that
I wouldn't wish on anyone the situation that I came upon as an adult;
that of being without a firm foundation in [known] reality to stand on in the first
place before venturing out into the vast reaches of the land of
make-believe and wishful thinking).
Thanks for your consideration of my first posting of some of my thoughts
on the issues of religion in public life. I have many more thoughts (as
I'm sure you do as well) on these things and will be posting them
right here in this section as time goes by.
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