Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's Jim Dobson and Focus of the Family! What else do you expect them to do? Lol. Nothing will come of it. It's undoubtedly unconstitutional.

I never heard of that group. Far-right evangelicals?

They make far right evangelicals look sane and reasonable!

LOL. Well, it doesn't sound like anyone is stepping up to block it - and Thursday is day after tomorrow. They are running TV commercials (they sure have money, don't they?), and it's been widely promoted. I would hope someone would collect these bibles at the entrance of the school, telling the kids they will get them back at the end of the day, and explaining that it's unconstitutional. Then the teachers can explain about separation of church and state. Let's turn this into a teachable moment!

What you are proposing is unconstitutional. Children bringing bibles to school is NOT unconstitutional.

The government shall make no law respecting an establishing of religion or prohibing the free exercise of religion.

Constitution 101.

+10,000 If a school confiscated a Bible from a student, they would have serious problems.

It's so sad that someone thinks bringing a Bible to school is unconstitutional and then wants teachers to spread this same wrong message.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's Jim Dobson and Focus of the Family! What else do you expect them to do? Lol. Nothing will come of it. It's undoubtedly unconstitutional.

I never heard of that group. Far-right evangelicals?

They make far right evangelicals look sane and reasonable!

LOL. Well, it doesn't sound like anyone is stepping up to block it - and Thursday is day after tomorrow. They are running TV commercials (they sure have money, don't they?), and it's been widely promoted. I would hope someone would collect these bibles at the entrance of the school, telling the kids they will get them back at the end of the day, and explaining that it's unconstitutional. Then the teachers can explain about separation of church and state. Let's turn this into a teachable moment!

What you are proposing is unconstitutional. Children bringing bibles to school is NOT unconstitutional.

The government shall make no law respecting an establishing of religion or prohibing the free exercise of religion.

Constitution 101.

+10,000 If a school confiscated a Bible from a student, they would have serious problems.

Anonymous wrote:There are several states in the US that authorized praying room for muslim students in the public school (including Maryland). How is carrying bible around is different from Muslim's 5 times prayers on the school territory?

Bingo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's Jim Dobson and Focus of the Family! What else do you expect them to do? Lol. Nothing will come of it. It's undoubtedly unconstitutional.

I never heard of that group. Far-right evangelicals?

They make far right evangelicals look sane and reasonable!

LOL. Well, it doesn't sound like anyone is stepping up to block it - and Thursday is day after tomorrow. They are running TV commercials (they sure have money, don't they?), and it's been widely promoted. I would hope someone would collect these bibles at the entrance of the school, telling the kids they will get them back at the end of the day, and explaining that it's unconstitutional. Then the teachers can explain about separation of church and state. Let's turn this into a teachable moment!

What you are proposing is unconstitutional. Children bringing bibles to school is NOT unconstitutional.

The government shall make no law respecting an establishing of religion or prohibing the free exercise of religion.

Constitution 101.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't this against the law? This group is encouraging children to bring their (overwhelmingly Christian) bibles to school on Thursday. I thought there was supposed to separation of church and state in this country. Now were going to have kids trot out their bibles to show (and imply) that other kids (say Jewish, or other religions) are wrong?

If I had school-age kids, I'd keep them home that day. (I'm Jewish.)

https://focusonthefamily.webconnex.com/co-bybts2016?gclid=CKmMn_GTwc8CFcRkhgodLeMIdQ#refcd=374701&utm_source=googlesearch&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=branded&utm_campaign=bybts

Sorry you feel so horrible about yourself. Get over it.

--an atheist

That's quite an unfounded (and rude) assumption. I happen to think I follow a wonderful religion (hence my decision to follow it).

But I've also been on the receiving end of conversion attempts, and while most people are respectful, I've run into some hostile people who have told me some pretty scary things about what happens to Jews after they die. While I have the wherewithal to laugh it off (internally), an elementary school child does not. We should not be setting up opportunities for children to tell other children that their religion is wrong, and this bible school day opens a path to that.

I don't know, PP. I am also Jewish and sensitive to this issue. I would flatly oppose the school sponsoring this event or giving it a forum. But if individual kids do it on their own time -- like at lunch or after school -- even if the idea was suggested by an outside group, I do not really see the harm. Kids have to learn to cope with dissent eventually. Unless you live in a majority Jewish area like parts of Long Island, most Jewish kids are quite aware from a young age that they are not in the majority. You can't protect them forever. Better to give them tools to protect themselves. It's like anything else someone tells you at school -- a scary story, warnings about kidnappers, Santa Claus, tooth fairy, whatever. You come home and ask your parents, and they correct or explain whatever you were told.

I don't know how kids of different religions can be expected to get along and respect each others' view if they are protected from ever hearing about views that are different. And for what it's worth, I did not grow up in a very Jewish area, and in fact went to a Christian day school. So I was exposed to this from the age of 6. I survived my classmates' sidelong looks and questions about why I did not kneel in Chapel or recite the Lord's Prayer or celebrate Christmas, etc etc. If anything it made me identify more strongly as a Jew.

Bravo! The country needs more people like you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have not read all the posts on this thread. Just the first page.

Do some of you not understand that there is NOTHING unconstitutional about students carrying a Bible to school? Nothing.
This does not come under “separation of church and state.” A student is free to bring whatever book he/she wants to bring (as long as it is not porn).
An individual student also has the right to express their beliefs... even in a school! GASP! How dare a student profess his/her belief in Christ publicly!!!
What are you people so worried about? What are you afraid of?

You don't get it. It is completely inappropriate for Christian children to "educate" children who belong to a minority religion as to the wonders of Jesus. It is a form of proselytizing and has no place in a public school.

I bet you think it's fine having prayers to Jesus in school, too?

It's hard for those in the majority religion to understand how doing that makes those in the minority religion feel like outcasts, or "different"....or, wrong. With all the attention on making students all feel equal - gold stars for everyone; no picking out team members one-by-one.....why is there no sensitivity for the feelings of non-Christian children? The place for children to profess their belief in Christ is in church or in private settings. Keep it out of the public school system.

I personally agree that religion is a private matter, but respect the fact that Christian kids have the(virtually) absolute constitutional right to exercise their religion.

Their rights trump your sensitivities. The same principle protects Muslims wearing headscarves, Orthodox Jews's payots, and the smart-aleck Satanists in this thread.

Just as with free speech, the principle is sound even if it occasionally makes us uncomfortable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't this against the law? This group is encouraging children to bring their (overwhelmingly Christian) bibles to school on Thursday. I thought there was supposed to separation of church and state in this country. Now were going to have kids trot out their bibles to show (and imply) that other kids (say Jewish, or other religions) are wrong?

If I had school-age kids, I'd keep them home that day. (I'm Jewish.)

https://focusonthefamily.webconnex.com/co-bybts2016?gclid=CKmMn_GTwc8CFcRkhgodLeMIdQ#refcd=374701&utm_source=googlesearch&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=branded&utm_campaign=bybts

Sorry you feel so horrible about yourself. Get over it.

--an atheist

That's quite an unfounded (and rude) assumption. I happen to think I follow a wonderful religion (hence my decision to follow it).

But I've also been on the receiving end of conversion attempts, and while most people are respectful, I've run into some hostile people who have told me some pretty scary things about what happens to Jews after they die. While I have the wherewithal to laugh it off (internally), an elementary school child does not. We should not be setting up opportunities for children to tell other children that their religion is wrong, and this bible school day opens a path to that.

I don't know, PP. I am also Jewish and sensitive to this issue. I would flatly oppose the school sponsoring this event or giving it a forum. But if individual kids do it on their own time -- like at lunch or after school -- even if the idea was suggested by an outside group, I do not really see the harm. Kids have to learn to cope with dissent eventually. Unless you live in a majority Jewish area like parts of Long Island, most Jewish kids are quite aware from a young age that they are not in the majority. You can't protect them forever. Better to give them tools to protect themselves. It's like anything else someone tells you at school -- a scary story, warnings about kidnappers, Santa Claus, tooth fairy, whatever. You come home and ask your parents, and they correct or explain whatever you were told.

I don't know how kids of different religions can be expected to get along and respect each others' view if they are protected from ever hearing about views that are different. And for what it's worth, I did not grow up in a very Jewish area, and in fact went to a Christian day school. So I was exposed to this from the age of 6. I survived my classmates' sidelong looks and questions about why I did not kneel in Chapel or recite the Lord's Prayer or celebrate Christmas, etc etc. If anything it made me identify more strongly as a Jew.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The other thing I noticed is they're waiting until Thursday. Clearly, they made sure it didn't conflict with the Jewish New Year. No sense having their kids bring the New Testament to school if the little Jewish kids aren't there to be told how wrong they (and by extension, their parents) are in their religious beliefs.

That's nauseating.
- a Christian

Well, Wednesday would have done as well, since Rosh Hashanah ended at sundown tonight (Tuesday). So while I don't think bibles belong at school except in a private study club -- no proselytizing -- let's not assume the worst without some evidence of motive.

You don't get it. It is completely inappropriate for Christian children to "educate" children who belong to a minority religion as to the wonders of Jesus. It is a form of proselytizing and has no place in a public school.

I bet you think it's fine having prayers to Jesus in school, too?

Anyone can pray silently at any time, so I'm not sure how the school (or anyone) could stop that.

It's hard for those in the majority religion to understand how doing that makes those in the minority religion feel like outcasts, or "different"....or, wrong. With all the attention on making students all feel equal - gold stars for everyone; no picking out team members one-by-one.....why is there no sensitivity for the feelings of non-Christian children? The place for children to profess their belief in Christ is in church or in private settings. Keep it out of the public school system.

So we're allowed the free exercise of religion and speech, but only when you say so? Thank God you didn't write the Constitution.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't this against the law? This group is encouraging children to bring their (overwhelmingly Christian) bibles to school on Thursday. I thought there was supposed to separation of church and state in this country. Now were going to have kids trot out their bibles to show (and imply) that other kids (say Jewish, or other religions) are wrong?

If I had school-age kids, I'd keep them home that day. (I'm Jewish.)

https://focusonthefamily.webconnex.com/co-bybts2016?gclid=CKmMn_GTwc8CFcRkhgodLeMIdQ#refcd=374701&utm_source=googlesearch&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=branded&utm_campaign=bybts

Why were the tax payers forced to fund foot baths for muslims at a public Michigan University?

Do tell . . .

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't this against the law? This group is encouraging children to bring their (overwhelmingly Christian) bibles to school on Thursday. I thought there was supposed to separation of church and state in this country. Now were going to have kids trot out their bibles to show (and imply) that other kids (say Jewish, or other religions) are wrong?

If I had school-age kids, I'd keep them home that day. (I'm Jewish.)

https://focusonthefamily.webconnex.com/co-bybts2016?gclid=CKmMn_GTwc8CFcRkhgodLeMIdQ#refcd=374701&utm_source=googlesearch&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=branded&utm_campaign=bybts

Why were the tax payers forced to fund foot baths for muslims at a public Michigan University?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have not read all the posts on this thread. Just the first page.

Do some of you not understand that there is NOTHING unconstitutional about students carrying a Bible to school? Nothing.
This does not come under “separation of church and state.” A student is free to bring whatever book he/she wants to bring (as long as it is not porn).
An individual student also has the right to express their beliefs... even in a school! GASP! How dare a student profess his/her belief in Christ publicly!!!
What are you people so worried about? What are you afraid of?

You don't get it. It is completely inappropriate for Christian children to "educate" children who belong to a minority religion as to the wonders of Jesus. It is a form of proselytizing and has no place in a public school.

I bet you think it's fine having prayers to Jesus in school, too?

It's hard for those in the majority religion to understand how doing that makes those in the minority religion feel like outcasts, or "different"....or, wrong. With all the attention on making students all feel equal - gold stars for everyone; no picking out team members one-by-one.....why is there no sensitivity for the feelings of non-Christian children? The place for children to profess their belief in Christ is in church or in private settings. Keep it out of the public school system.

First of all, there SHOULD be little time in a school day for kids to “educate” others on their religion. Now, whether there is or not would depend upon the quality of the school and the teacher.
Secondly, if another student were trying to educated one of my kids about their religion, I think my kids are strong enough in their knowledge of Christianity to have a decent discussion with someone of another religion.
Are you worried one of your kids may be “converted?"

Here is some of the Satanic Literature for schoolchildren from the Satanic Temple.

Maybe we need to have a Take Your Satanic Literature to School Day on Thursday, as well?

https://thesatanictemple.com/campaigns/religious-literature-for-schools/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have not read all the posts on this thread. Just the first page.

Do some of you not understand that there is NOTHING unconstitutional about students carrying a Bible to school? Nothing.
This does not come under “separation of church and state.” A student is free to bring whatever book he/she wants to bring (as long as it is not porn).
An individual student also has the right to express their beliefs... even in a school! GASP! How dare a student profess his/her belief in Christ publicly!!!
What are you people so worried about? What are you afraid of?

You don't get it. It is completely inappropriate for Christian children to "educate" children who belong to a minority religion as to the wonders of Jesus. It is a form of proselytizing and has no place in a public school.

I bet you think it's fine having prayers to Jesus in school, too?

It's hard for those in the majority religion to understand how doing that makes those in the minority religion feel like outcasts, or "different"....or, wrong. With all the attention on making students all feel equal - gold stars for everyone; no picking out team members one-by-one.....why is there no sensitivity for the feelings of non-Christian children? The place for children to profess their belief in Christ is in church or in private settings. Keep it out of the public school system.

I'm the Satanic poster and I disagree with you, PP. It is completely appropriate for kids like mine to go to school with their Satanic literature, and if they believe in Satan and want to worship Satan, to share that information with their schoolmates (not during instructional time, but on the playground, at lunch etc.)

Teachers may not teach about Satan in class, or about Jesus. But what kids share with ther kids is up to them.

There are several states in the US that authorized praying room for muslim students in the public school (including Maryland). How is carrying bible around is different from Muslim's 5 times prayers on the school territory?