bobquasit | Bible

A response to a question on Askville which complains that children are forbidden to read the Bible in school, but can read it in prison:

This is sheer fantasy. You're indulging in a persecution complex.

Your children are perfectly free to read the Bible. They are even free to study the Bible in a comparative religions course, for example. What they are NOT free to do - and what teachers are not free to do - is to use the Bible to indoctrinate students using tax dollars which are collected from all of us, including Christians of other sects than your own, and non-Christians. Why is that so hard to understand?

Children can and do learn about religion in public schools. They are perfectly free to follow their own religion in school, too; for example, I read the Bible several times during recess and lunch while in public school. What is forbidden is indoctrination, proselytizing, and evangelizing, because they interfere with the religious freedoms of others. They also interfere with learning time which is paid for by ALL of us, including non-Christians.

Children are young and easily impressionable. They are required to attend school. It is unconscionable for teachers or even other students to use that school time to try to push their faith on others.

You want to be able to convert others in school because you believe that yours is the majority religion; that your own children will not be forced to endure proselytizing from others. But this violates the Golden Rule. You are NOT giving others the respect and consideration that you would wish for yourself.

Please try and put yourself into the shoes of someone who belongs to a faith other than your own. Some have relatives and ancestors who died for their faiths, even if you consider it to be a "wrong" faith. How do you think they would feel having their children be told in school, perhaps by teachers whose salaries their tax dollars pay for, that their faith is wrong? Do you have the empathy to understand the outrage and hurt that such arrogance inflicts? Can you see the injustice?

It should also be noted that some have used their children to try and force their faith on their fellow students. Since children are compelled by the State to attend school, this is just as wrong as having the teachers force a specific religion on students. School is a place for learning. Part of the price we pay for living in a pluralistic society is that on the subject of religion, the State must show the maximum consideration for the rights of the minority.

Because otherwise we will end up with a tyranny of the majority in every aspect of society. That may seem appealing to you, since you believe that your faith is the majority one. But the time may come when the majority opinion changes - our nation is constantly changing - or that you, yourself, may change your beliefs in some way. When that time comes, you will realize that the tyranny of an unchecked majority is one of the greatest injustices ever devised by Man.

Please consider tolerance.