tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754166549564408982.post4859001114854489928..comments2024-01-16T03:47:46.471-05:00Comments on Write on the Right: Church and StateJust Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08750966513198534462noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754166549564408982.post-15332057421023369212018-07-10T20:48:46.745-04:002018-07-10T20:48:46.745-04:00As a Jew, let me say "Thank you, my Christian...As a Jew, let me say "Thank you, my Christian brother, for that heartfelt essay".<br /><br />NITZAKHONhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04110716447757507226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754166549564408982.post-42227031820253718852018-05-02T08:18:29.270-04:002018-05-02T08:18:29.270-04:00Hi Mark,
Good points, but you seem a bit uninform...Hi Mark,<br /><br />Good points, but you seem a bit uninformed about prayer in schools; many students are indeed prohibited from praying in school, and certainly most teachers, mostly as a result of administrators caving in to the complaints from the chronically offended. The same type of professional victims are to blame for the restraints that we see today. <br /><br />I'm not sure where you're finding any support for mandated prayer in my post...reaching a bit? Just Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08750966513198534462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754166549564408982.post-45791550448049480642018-04-24T16:56:26.092-04:002018-04-24T16:56:26.092-04:00Can I make a few correction to this post? It seems...Can I make a few correction to this post? It seems to have some common misconceptions and since I have had to study this matter, I'll be happy to address them.<br /><br />Indeed the first settlers were Christians. Not any Christianity we would recognize today, but Christians. <br />They were indeed "persecuted" in Europe, but not for the reason we often think. They left Europe not to seek "freedom of Religion" but to impose their own brand of religious oppression against anyone that was not them. They got kicked out because they thought that oppressing other Christians was their duty.<br /><br />Anyway, that really made little difference for the founding of the USA since by that time the founding fathers had lived through the enlightenment. They were a long way from the puritans. In fact, some of them were Deists, not Christians. Thomas Jefferson wrote the "Jefferson Bible", a version where anything supernatural was removed.<br /><br />Everson v. Board of Education<br /><br />Indeed the 1st amendment prevents the institution of a state religion. It also prevents the state from telling a religious entity what to do.<br /><br />Contrary to popular belief, it is not prohibited to pray in schools, read the Bible or do all those things Christians think they are being persecuted for (as long as it does not interfere with the teaching which is something I think we can all agree on).<br />If teachers want to pray, they can pray. If students want to pray, they also can pray. They should do it like Jesus said in Matthew 6:5 <br />"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others."<br /><br />It's when teachers round up the kids and tell them it's time to pray that things go sideways. It is also illegal when zealous teachers conspire with certain students to make it look like the students initiated prayer. I find that very sad as a Christian that we have to lie and coerce to defend or promote our religion. <br /><br />These decisions may feel like intrusion of the state into our beliefs, but think of it from another angle.<br />Let's say that in 60 years Dearborn Michigan will have some districts that are majority Muslim.<br />Let's also assume that your Kid's kids will be attending.<br />Let's also say that those that misunderstood all these ruling somehow won their day in court and it's now legal for a school district to impose a specific brand of religion on the student body.<br /><br />Well, this is a "How do you like them apple" moment especially when your Kid's Kids are forced to prostate toward mecca in the gymnasium and they are told that "90% of us are Muslim, we don't have to accommodate your beliefs".<br />It could happen, as it could happen that in Utah, today, an unchecked school district could make Christian students follow Mormon rituals.<br /><br />That's what the 1st amendment is there for. Put the shoe on the other foot and imagine for a minute that your friends were not the ones in charge. How would you react?<br /><br />Best of luck to you. <br /><br />marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2754166549564408982.post-29705421837914653012014-03-30T19:01:40.799-04:002014-03-30T19:01:40.799-04:00John, I am not, nor have I ever been a Christian (...John, I am not, nor have I ever been a Christian (even 8 years of catechism didn't change that), but I agree with you completely. I am smart enough to understand the principles this country was founded on and I don't have a problem with them. <br />When in public or in private, when asked, I bow my head as the invocation is recited. It is possible to have courtesy without having the same beliefs. Atleast, for me it is.Dan O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17861748308004322104noreply@blogger.com