Texas school to offer Bible class

[wvrevy]

How about my original question?

What original question ? Your entire contribution to this thread seems to have been to whine about being called names on another thread and to insult me. Ask a question and I'll answer it.

 

[wvrevy]

Yep and my tax dollars that go to fund public schools which my children do not attend, my choice to send them to private school but I can't take my tax dollars to pay for my child's private school education.

That's your own fault. You pay into the system in order to give your children the right to attend. If you make the choice to send them elsewhere, that is your decision.

 

[wvrevy]

Exactly, I have found that many who preach tolerance want tolerance for their views etc., but they aren't very tolerant of something they choose not to believe in.

So, because I refuse to quietly let the sheeple brainwash my child into being one of them, I'm "intollerant" of other beliefs ? Hey, I've said it a million times...if you want to believe in a fairy tale and waste every Sunday morning for the rest of your life, be my guest. This is still somewhat of a free country (though it is still early in this administration's second term...lol). I would speak out against anybody saying that you couldn't worship when and how you choose. But government is not now and should not ever be in the business of peddling religion.

 

[wvrevy]

How is your attitude regarding this issue any different than the attitudes of those that don't want alternate lifestyles taught in schools? Those would be the folks that you criticize as intolerant, yet you have the same intolerance when it comes to religious beliefs.

How, exactly, are alternative lifestyles "being taught in schools" ? Is there a class titled "How to be Gay" that I've somehow missed hearing about ?

 

[BuckNaked]

That's your own fault. You pay into the system in order to give your children the right to attend. If you make the choice to send them elsewhere, that is your decision.

I agree that it is up to parents to send their kids to private school. But at the same time, when the public schools are so incredibly crappy (in this area anyway), people that want their kids to get a halfway decent education really don't have a choice. And it isn't because there isn't enough money in the system, it's because the money isn't being spent in such a way as to improve the schools.

We're fortunate in that we are able to afford a private school, and the base takes care of transportation for us so that the kids can get to school. But for the parents in this area that don't have the options we do...I can't imagine what it must be like to have your kids going to some of the schools in this city.

 

[BuckNaked]

How, exactly, are alternative lifestyles "being taught in schools" ? Is there a class titled "How to be Gay" that I've somehow missed hearing about ?

How about you answer my question first, i.e., how is your intolerance any different than the intolerance that you rail against in others?

 

[Galahad]

What original question ? Your entire contribution to this thread seems to have been to whine about being called names on another thread and to insult me. Ask a question and I'll answer it.

You're complaining about him insulting you....

Hey, I've said it a million times...if you want to believe in a fairy tale and waste every Sunday morning for the rest of your life, be my guest.

But that's not insulting?

 

[Figment]

How about you answer my question first, i.e., how is your intolerance any different than the intolerance that you rail against in others?

Easy, his intolerance is real, that which he rails against is imagined.

There is nothing with teaching religion in school. I would like to see a religious studies course in all schools. It should be handled as a social studies curriculum. What is wrong with having a culturaly aware populace? An awareness of the tennents and belief of religions would leqad to an understanding of those different from you, and could also lead one to see the similarities, instead of the differences. Isn't that what the left says it wants?

 

[wvrevy]

Las post until I get some responses, I promise

Christians should have no other God before God. We are free to disagree with other of other beleifs, but we must love and respect them even if we don't agree with their religious choices, just as we ask them to do for us. Its not a matter of being better. I am no better or worse than any other person on this planet (Christian or non). I am no more or less loved than any other person on this planet (Chirstian or non). Christian are not taught to feel superior (Jesus warn against this very firmly), we just have come to am understanding of reality that some others don't share. We see ourselves as just like everyone else, but we have chosen to accept what we understand to be a gift of forgiveness.

Oh, so there was an asterisk on that commandment then ? Something in the small print that says it's optional to have no god before "Him" ? YOU are interpreting it to mean what you think it should mean, to fit your personal belief in what a "kind and just" god would be like. There is plenty in the bible suggesting otherwise (otherwise, "born again" types, Catholics, and every other denomination I can think of would just be lying, right ?)

Virtually none huh? Where do you come up this these things? Methodists have no such beleif (in fact, our book of Discipline forbids it). Nor do Presbyterians, or most Bible Churches I know. I know there are some Christian demoninations say women are lssor, but many, many do not. And yes. I do think the Catholics got this one wrong, but we are discussing what the Bible says, not what the denominations say.

'Kay. But this proves my point pretty well, actually. You can get out of the bible whatever you want to get out of the bible, in order to justify your own preconceived notions. The book is so contradictory that if it truly were the word of a god, he would have to be a raving loon.

The Jew's belief in God caused Hitler to try to wipe them out? Are you really proposing that? Sorry, I refuse to give up my faith because someone choose to use it as a tool for evil, especially whenit is so often used for good. Those who use the Bible to justify evil are clearly not following the teachings of Jesus, who taught us to love our enemys. When you are ready to give up democracy and freedom (both of which have been used as an excuse for evil at various points in history) give me a call and we'll talk. better yet, nearly all even in hoistory has been performed by a government, lets just toss out all governments as clearly they cause evil. Unitl that day, I will continue to be proud to work with a religion which helps to feed and cloth the poor, house the homeless and educate the illiterate in locations all around the world, And I will continue to read the teaching of Jesus which teach that love of our fellow man is second only to love of God. This, in my mind, is the best path to peace.

Knock yourself out. It's a free country. But you might want to put down the bible and pick up a history book. Hitler used films just exactly like "Passion of the Christ" to help inflame hatred of the Jesus-killin' Jews. Without that seed to play on, would he have been as successful in his atrocities ?

Try studying the book (as I am proposing most should do, along with other religious texts). If you do, you will find that the story of Adam and Eve is about creation and the condition of man, not about the virtue of ignorance. No man is perfect, and God was trying to tell them that non perfect beings will experience pain if they try to manage good and evil on their own, which is what happened. Once that step had been taken, the bible actuall encourage the study of good and evil so that man may arem himself as best as possible.The tree was the tree of knowledge of Good and evil, not the tree of Knowledge in general. NOWHERE does the discourage education or incourage ignorance.

Hate to tell you, but I know the bible better than most so-called Christians that I know. Again, you are interpreting the story to mean what you think it should mean. But your interpretation is no more valid than anyone else's, including mine. Don't condescend to me that I need to "read the book". I've read. Doesn't mean I agree with your interpretation of it.

And how is Greek Mythology different? It was a religion in its time. Should children not study that to?

Greek mythology is taught as mythology. If you want teachers to teach the myth of a Christian god, I wouldn't have a problem with it. It's when they start telling students that the fairy tale is real that I have a problem.

The censorship that you would place on simply trying to understand the faiths of other frightens me. You claim Christians are closed minded and feel superior, but you don't even want children to be taught what others beleive and so they can try to understand their motavations. The irony is amazing. I don't want to indoctrinate anyone, I simply want them to understand what I and other people of various faiths beleive. I do not want to force them to beleive it themselves and would fight against any attempt to do so.

I have no problem with comparitive religion classes. Never said I did. I have a problem with a class being taught on one specific religion, ignoring others. That smacks of preaching, not teaching. If you want to study the bible, or want your child to do so, then send them to bible school, or attend yourself.

I spend half of my study time studying the faiths of others becuase it helps me to understand how the wolrd works and I find ALL faiths contain wisdom, even if I don't beleive in the theology of them. What a closed, narrow world we live in where people are too frightened to simply learn what others beleive. The instant assocation some have the equates simply trying to understand the beleifs of others with an attempt to convert them boogles my mind.

Which is why I said I don't have a problem with comparitive religion classes. But if you think anyone is dumb enough to believe that there are people out there, in this country, that don't know anything about Christianity, then I'd suggest you have been listening to Dubya a bit too much.

 

[tiger95]

What original question ? Your entire contribution to this thread seems to have been to whine about being called names on another thread and to insult me. Ask a question and I'll answer it.

How about defending your position and not insulting other people's beliefs? Why do you need to call people belief's fairy tails? To me, that is just as ignorant as the Christians you seem to rail against.

Defend your position, state your opionons, that is fine, but stop insulting my and other people's beliefs.

JD

 

[wvrevy]

How about you answer my question first, i.e., how is your intolerance any different than the intolerance that you rail against in others?

Again, I don't understand what you are calling my "intolerance". I think belief in a "higher power" is somewhat silly, and yes, I make jokes occassionally about it. But I would stand up for your right to continue practicing your religion in a heartbeat. I'm not trying to force my secular beliefs on you through the school system or anywhere else.

 

[wvrevy]

You're complaining about him insulting you....

Actually, no, I was just pointing it out. I could really care less about what he thinks of me. I've read enough opinions of his that, quite frankly, I take it as a badge of honor that he insults me all the time

But that's not insulting?

Um...I prefer to think of it as "snide" Sorry, I don't like being talked down to.

 

[transparant]

How about defending your position and not insulting other people's beliefs? Why do you need to call people belief's fairy tails? To me, that is just as ignorant as the Christians you seem to rail against.

Defend your position, state your opionons, that is fine, but stop insulting my and other people's beliefs.

JD

Yes...could you please show just a tad bit of respect and stop insulting those who do trust and believe?

 

[wvrevy]

How about defending your position and not insulting other people's beliefs? Why do you need to call people belief's fairy tails? To me, that is just as ignorant as the Christians you seem to rail against.

Defend your position, state your opionons, that is fine, but stop insulting my and other people's beliefs.

JD

Tell me how it differs from...ok, call it a "fable"...Tell me how it differs from a fable, and I'll stop calling it that. (And don't just come back with "'cause it's true"...you have no proof of that because there can be no proof of it).

 

[Galahad]

'Kay. ...................

Knock yourself out. It's a free country. But you might want to put down the bible and pick up a history book.

But if you don't want to be talked down to, why do you talk down to others? Especially others that are engaging you respectfully. Surely the "golden rule" isn't dependent upon any particular religious belief.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

But if you don't want to be talked down to, why do you talk down to others? Especially others that are engaging you respectfully. Surely the "golden rule" isn't dependent upon any particular religious belief.

I agree. Everyone is free to believe what they want (as you have said before) but there's no need for the condescending tone. I understand that you obviously don't agree with that poster or the idea of a religious class in schools. But when you start using mocking and condescending tones to describe all religion and those who believe in it...it's rather insulting.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Tell me how it differs from...ok, call it a "fable"...Tell me how it differs from a fable, and I'll stop calling it that. (And don't just come back with "'cause it's true"...you have no proof of that because there can be no proof of it).

You can say the same things about love. A person can have it in their heart and not have any proof. Actions in the past tense are nothing more than "stories". Nothing tangible. But people believe in love and go with it.

It's a good thing.

 

[wvrevy]

Yes...could you please show just a tad bit of respect and stop insulting those who do trust and believe?

Again, who have I insulted ? I have stated my belief, and when that belief was attacked I've defended it. I have not personally insulted anyone on this thread (though, I admit coming pretty close with one poster in particular). WDWHound and I have gone round and round on this issue before, and I suspect we will again. I respect him greatly, as a person, for holding to his belief and defending it strongly. We just happen to disagree on this particular subject. There's nothing personal about it...at least not from me there isn't...and I think he knows that.

 

[wvrevy]

But if you don't want to be talked down to, why do you talk down to others? Especially others that are engaging you respectfully. Surely the "golden rule" isn't dependent upon any particular religious belief.

I tend to respond in kind when engaged in a debate with someone. It's a habit I've tried to break, but haven't had a lot of success with (obviously). The line "maybe you should read the book" set me off enough that I responded with the line that you quoted...apples for apples...

 

[transparant]

Again, who have I insulted ? I have stated my belief, and when that belief was attacked I've defended it. I have not personally insulted anyone on this thread (though, I admit coming pretty close with one poster in particular). WDWHound and I have gone round and round on this issue before, and I suspect we will again. I respect him greatly, as a person, for holding to his belief and defending it strongly. We just happen to disagree on this particular subject. There's nothing personal about it...at least not from me there isn't...and I think he knows that.

I can't speak for other's - but I personally have been insulted by your comments - whether you think so or not.