Should a religious song be banned from a school talent show?

[Charade]

Peachgirl, that's hysterical, especially since Charade loves to use that phrase. And Charade, you are welcome to use any phrase you like, I just thought Peachgirls response was funny...

Are you stalking me?

I didn't read the article, but if the talent show was held after school hours (and the students aren't hostage to the event) - the girl should have been able to sing any song she liked , religious or not. It's a talent show - people expect a variety of talent and entertainment. And this is coming from a LIBERAL. So there.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

It seems incredibly stupid to me.

People seriously need to get a grip on reality. No one is going to be hurt by a kid singing a religious song she likes during a talent show. I can certainly think of worse things a kid could do during a talent show. All the children are not going to suddenly feel the need to convert to whatever religion she is singing about and at the worst, maybe a few kids will snicker that she is more into church songs than whoever the latest teeny bop pop star is. Even if she said *gasp* God bless the students *gasp*, really, what kind of person is so ridiculously irrational that they find that offensive? It boggles the mind.

We actually sang religious songs in my high school chorus class and I don't know but back then, no one cared. No one felt threatened and no one felt like they were out of place. We definately sang religious christmas music and Chanukah music and other various music and it did not turn this very unreligious person into a frightened out of place feeling adult. I can even think of some songs with religious overtones that I LIKE! Even though I'm not that religion.

Really, when I hear things like this, I just shake my head and wonder what the heck is wrong with people.

 

[Tiggeroo]

then you bet I would have a problem with it being sung in a public school. There are places for such music.

I don't understand this. Why can't we listen and appreciate each others faiths. I'm a Christian but I have been at programs that allowed things related to Jewish holy days. It didn't make me want to run out and become a Jew. Seperation of church and faith involves not allowing the government to establish an official religion or to favor or promote one faith over the other. It doesn't mean we should strip ourselves of our beliefs or leave our faith at the door when we enter a public place. What are atheists so afraid of when people show their beliefs. I would have no problem with a reading from the Koran either. I think we have to exercise some tact. There are Christian songs which would say you aren't saved and need to or you will go to Hell. Just as I imagine other faiths have things like that. And something like that just out of consideration should probably be kept out. However, I would still rather see it self-censored because when you eliminate any faith from the public arena it's censorship.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I don't see the problem with it. Personaly that is one of my all time favorite songs and I would love to hear it a concernt, or would be prould of my DD wanted to sing it. She currenlty attends a catholic pre school (we are not catholic) and I plan to send her to puplic school for elementry. I don't know if there is such an intolerance for religon I might cough up the money for private.

 

[Cindy B]

Of all the songs in a talent show, Awesome God would not be my first choice.
I am familiar with that song, and I would suggest another song for my children.

 

[ashjohnson80]

Honestly I wouldn't care just like I wouldn't care if there was a Muslim child singing a Muslim song in a schools talent show or a Hindu child singing a Hindu song or whatever. Now if the audience had to learn the lyrics to the song and convert to another religion... That would be a different story...

 

[Pop Daddy]

If its a Clinton appointed Judge they will throw the song out, and its a Bush apponited Judge they will be allowed to have it, theres the battle of the judges

 

[Aidensmom]

Um, where in the constitution does it say that Christians are not entitled to freedom of speech?

Someone also please show me where "separation of church and state" means that Christianity is against the law? The intention of this is that the government cannot establish a state religion, not that religion cannot be present in the public eye. Did anyone in this country READ their history books when they were in school? The founders of this country came here to escape religious persecution, not to encourage it.

I have absolutely no objection to the Koran being read anywhere, or any other religious ideals being expressed. What are people afraid of if a Christian song is sang? Even if your child became interested in learning about Christianity, what would you find wrong with that? What are you afraid of?

I am not afraid of other people's religious views being expressed. My child is being raised as a Christian, but if he chooses something else at some point, that is his choice and there is nothing that I can do about that but remind him that "My God IS an awesome God."

 

[JennyMominRI]

Um, where in the constitution does it say that Christians are not entitled to freedom of speech?

Someone also please show me where "separation of church and state" means that Christianity is against the law? The intention of this is that the government cannot establish a state religion, not that religion cannot be present in the public eye. Did anyone in this country READ their history books when they were in school? The founders of this country came here to escape religious persecution, not to encourage it.

I."

You may want to check that hostory book again to get a better understanding of the religious freedom early settlers were looking for..they wanted that right to practice their religion to the exclusion of others...Pilgrims were practicing their religion freely in Holland but didn't like the dad influences of the Lutherans around them..They came here and founded a Puritan Theocracy...Massachusets Bay Colony..This is a the colony that hanged witches ,Killed Quakers including Mary Dwyer,who has a monument dedicated to her on Boston Common. Banned people like Roger Williams and Ann Hutchenson,because they were not proper Puritans.. The history of Most of the colonies is similar. Like Maryland,where catholics were murdered or driven off their land,leading to the founding of Maryland as a Catholic Colony.
To the song issue. I agree with you . If it's after hours and kids are not forced to attend,I think she should be allowed to sing her song

 

[Aidensmom]

You may want to check that hostory book again to get a better understanding of the religious freedom early settlers were looking for..they wanted that right to practice their religion to the exclusion of others...Pilgrims were practicing their religion freely in Holland but didn't like the dad influences of the Lutherans around them..They came here and founded a Puritan Theocracy...Massachusets Bay Colony..This is a the colony that hanged witches ,Killed Quakers including Mary Dwyer,who has a monument dedicated to her on Boston Common. Banned people like Roger Williams and Ann Hutchenson,because they were not proper Puritans.. The history of Most of the colonies is similar. Like Maryland,where catholics were murdered or driven off their land,leading to the founding of Maryland as a Catholic Colony.

Yes, they wanted to be able to practice their religion. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the whole "separation of church and state" thing was one of them. So, you are making my point that this clause does not mean that religion cannot be practiced - it means that the government should not establish a religion (as was done in England at that time) that prohibits the practice of other religions. As far as things that my have been done in colonial days, true Christians do not proclaim to be perfect, or to be better than anyone else, or to always be right, but only to recognize that they are NOT perfect and that they have many faults and that they are in need of a higher power to help them. Jesus came for the sinners, not for the saints. Why people want to outlaw their expression of that sentiment, I do not understand.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Yes, they wanted to be able to practice their religion. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the whole "separation of church and state" thing was one of them. So, you are making my point that this clause does not mean that religion cannot be practiced - it means that the government should not establish a religion (as was done in England at that time) that prohibits the practice of other religions. As far as things that my have been done in colonial days, true Christians do not proclaim to be perfect, or to be better than anyone else, or to always be right, but only to recognize that they are NOT perfect and that they have many faults and that they are in need of a higher power to help them. Jesus came for the sinners, not for the saints. Why people want to outlaw their expression of that sentiment, I do not understand.

I certainly don't want to utlaw it..I don't think many here do..There is a time and a place for it though..School,The courthouse etc., are not the place.
This is after school and on the students own time,which IMO makes it IK..No one is forced to attend

 

[chadfromdallas]

Interesting...I just realised I have that song on my computer played by blink 182

 

[Charade]

Go to bed Chad.

 

[chadfromdallas]

Go to bed Chad.

No thanks

 

[MinnieM21]

Go to bed Chad.

No way! He's keeping me entertained.

 

[froglady]

The Constitution and Bill of Rights give her the right to sing her song, although I think it's inappropriate in a secular setting; it also gives anyone offended by it the right to boo or get up and leave, although I would consider that rude.

I'm tired of people who feel that they have a "right" to go through life never being offended by anything or anyone, and expect the government to guarantee that "right."

 

[Charade]

No thanks

It *wasn't* an offer.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Well, like another poster here, we don't have much diversity where we live. And we recently had a talent show during school hours where 3 children (from the same family, one 1st, 4th, and 5th grader) ended the show by singing "Blessed Be Your Name". They are the children of the youth pastors at my church. I thought they did a great job. I am assuming we have some non-christians at the school because we have a few students who are from Turkey and Bulgaria, but there weren't any complaints that I've heard about. And one of the judges at tryouts was the principal.
If students chose to sing songs or read from their religious books I wouldn't have a problem with that either. I think the problem is when schools spend so much time on Hanukah and Kwanzaa traditions and refuse to address the meaning of Christmas for fear that the left will sue them. If they address one tradition, they should address all of them. At my own school I had a muslim student who actually did a book report on the Koran in my class. His classmates were fascinated. It is OK to teach any religious book (even the Bible) as literature in most states.
I've seen some Christian message T shirts where I work and no one ever challenges them. The only shirts I challenge are the ones with alcohol or drug related messages or the "dirty" ones (I made a kid change because he had a shirt that said "I'm shy but I have a big d___"). When some kids are wearing shirts that say "I'm not as think as you stoned I am", why would I have a problem with kids who are comfortable enough in their religion to wear a shirt about it?
I hope my kids don't go through life afraid to tell anyone about their religion or beliefs just because they are afraid of offending people or being labeled a freak. That's why so many kids at the HS level move away from religion. And believe me, a lot of them could use some to get a little morally grounded.
Robin M.

 

[Keli]

Wow, I didn't realize what an issue this is in other parts of the country. There is no problem with religious songs being sung at school-sponsored talent shows here. And no one seems offended.

Actually, I think people need to lighten up about stuff like that. At my dd's hs the valedictorian always gives the final prayer (public school). When dd graduated the valedictorian was a buddhist and she prayed a prayer that sounded rather odd to me (not all in english) but I never heard one word from anyone about it.

What about concert choirs in hs? The songs my dd learned in concert choir were nearly exclusively religious, albeit they were usually in latin, lol. I'm not sure many songs of a non-religious nature survived the middle ages and every year the hs concert choir performs one whole concert in latin. Would you guys that aren't happy about religious songs being sung in school ban this type of concert also?

 

[chadfromdallas]

I hope my kids don't go through life afraid to tell anyone about their religion or beliefs just because they are afraid of offending people or being labeled a freak. That's why so many kids at the HS level move away from religion.

You think they move away from religion because they will be labeled freaks? I could tell you many reasons why my friends dropped their religions, but being labeled a freak was never one of them