[Lancaster Online]

[jetscott]

this should be entertaining

[twinmom]

Hmm, I wonder which religion he is referring to?



Anyone see the segment on WGAL about a district, I want to say Northern Lebanon - not sure, offering religious education (you guess which religion) classes to elementary school kids. They must sign up for it and walk to a nearby church for instruction. Apparently it is quite popular, or at least not many kids are opting out.

[Beth]

Hmm, I wonder which religion he is referring to?



Anyone see the segment on WGAL about a district, I want to say Northern Lebanon - not sure, offering religious education (you guess which religion) classes to elementary school kids. They must sign up for it and walk to a nearby church for instruction. Apparently it is quite popular, or at least not many kids are opting out.

At Central, we have a boat load of children going to Weeky Religious Education. Grades 3rd - 6th. The last 2 grades are an after school program taking place at Manheim BIC. I really never saw this much enthusiasm in children going to a church like program. I think I had to be dragged to church by 6th grade!!

The teachings are non-denominational. Just a thorough study of the Bible OT and NT - at a childs level. Which is good, I finally got it!!!

[jetscott]

isn't that what church and sunday school are for? just sayin

[citydweller]

Indoctrinate early and often

[twinmom]

At Central, we have a boat load of children going to Weeky Religious Education. Grades 3rd - 6th. The last 2 grades are an after school program taking place at Manheim BIC. I really never saw this much enthusiasm in children going to a church like program. I think I had to be dragged to church by 6th grade!!

The teachings are non-denominational. Just a thorough study of the Bible OT and NT - at a childs level. Which is good, I finally got it!!!

This was during school, the one I posted about. I'm not really sure what the kids who opted out did during that time, though. I don't really have a problem with an after school program, I think we have one at our school, but during school is not something I can support.

I've thought a lot about the "downfall" of our society and the lack of religion and while I can see the point being made, I'm not sure that this type of thing is really the correct-all that some people think it will be. I think a lot has to do with the involvement of the parents. I know when I was growing up, parents, of my friends anyway, had a much more hands on approach. I can remember friends saying they were grounded for this or that. We had to be in at a certain time, there was family dinner every night, bedtime at a set time, etc. Do parents these days even do that anymore? It seems like our lives have gotten so busy for whatever reason and in the process we've overlooked our children. Maybe the family that "churches together stays together", but I think that's only because the family that "(fill in the blank) together stays together". Hope this makes some sense, the dog totally distracted me and I lost my train of thought



edit: That all being said, I would support a course in high school, as an elective, that deals with religion. A world religions course that would touch on all or most major religions, basic tennants, history and how that ties in with the culture of the people. I would have loved a course like this in high school. Religion is such a big part of many lives that I think it's important to understand why some people believe what they do.

This post has been edited by twinmom: 22 February 2008 - 09:16 PM

[Goldilocks]

Hmm, I wonder which religion he is referring to?



Anyone see the segment on WGAL about a district, I want to say Northern Lebanon - not sure, offering religious education (you guess which religion) classes to elementary school kids. They must sign up for it and walk to a nearby church for instruction. Apparently it is quite popular, or at least not many kids are opting out.

Probably a Release Time program, which is protected by the United Sates Constitution.

Released time programs are held off school property, are not funded by tax monies, involves no public school teachers and the public school system has no involvement in the religious programs.

What it does, is gives opportunity for all children to be released from school for one hour a week, for off premises attendance at the religious education classes of their choice. Any religion can set up a Release Time program, it is not mandatory and parental permission must be granted.

http://en.wikipedia....i/Released_time

http://www.releasedt.../best_about.htm

This post has been edited by Goldilocks: 22 February 2008 - 10:49 PM

[twinmom]

Probably a Release Time program, which is protected by the United Sates Constitution.

Yes, that sounds like the program the news featured. Thanks for the info, I did not realize that this even existed like this.

[Paul Sweedlepipe]

Indoctrinate early and often

Indoctrinate brainwash early and often

[Matt]

Because CLEARLY very religious societies are entirely lacking in social ills.



I wouldn't even know where to begin with this guy. He should be in a penitentiary.



I should rest assured that he does more harm than good to Christianity by getting this travesty of a letter published.



Myth: Religion is necessary to morality.

Ponder Plato's Euthyphro paradox: Do the gods command an action because it is good or is it good because the gods command it? In the first case, it seems that the standard of goodness exists outside of God and in the latter, the standard of goodness seems entirely arbitrary.



The Bible is not a book I would want to take my morality from. Besides the sermon on the mount and some of the ten commandments, it's really pretty antiquated and silly. You conveniently forget the part about stoning adulterers, non-virgins, and nonbelievers. Or that part about not wearing fabric of mixed cloth.



It's time you learned a thing or two about the culture and historical circumstances of the people who produced the many documents that later became "The Bible."



If you are behaving yourself only because the great surveillance camera in the sky is watching you and will reward/punish you accordingly.. I would not want you as my neighbor. You unwittingly make the elitist's case for why the masses perhaps need a vengeful sky god by admitting.. forthrightly.. If no one is watching me 24/7, I WOULD go steal and rape and pillage and all the rest. I hope you have better reasons for behaving yourself than that. If you reflect honestly enough, I'm sure you'll find that you do.



No one who's not a Christian can act morally? All non-christian societies are doomed to social dysfunction and destruction? Are you serious?



As our society secularizes and becomes more like western europe.. the social dysfunction brought on by the continued dominance of politically-mobilized evangelicism in this country will begin to fade.



I could write pages and pages on this topic.. any of us could.. but I'm afraid I'd only be spinning my wheels.



Mixing government and religion is an extremely dangerous situation. To say that we are (as you have) a Christian Theocracy is dangerously fascist and revisionist. In fact, we had one of the world's first truly secular constitutions. Our constitution is as secular as they come. And I'm glad it is. Practice your religion on your own turf. Have the maturity to acknowledge the diversity of the society in which you reside. The answers to all of life's questions are not contained in a single book addressed directly to you. Would that it were that simple. It's not. Think: who wrote the books of the Bible? What were their motivations? What time period did they live in? Did other people in nearby cultures believe similar things? How did elements of other religious systems find their way into Christian doctrine? There's so much to learn if you have the courage and the maturity to make the inquiry.



Keep your religion out of my government. How bigoted to say that your particular religious beliefs should be taught by public school teachers to every child in the land. That's bigoted. And arrogant. And frighteneing.



Keep your religion to yourself. No more inquisitions..

[usedmeat]

I trust that those religion classes would discuss things like the Inquisition, Crusades, drowning witches, and all the other things it has brought us?

[Matt]

Absolutely To require a course in introduction to philosophy or world religions.. would be a great idea. We desperately need to understand each other and not be so damned arrogant about our own religious heritage and cultural perspective.

[Wonder]

It is the people who claim religions should not be taught in schools who need to be hauled into the public square and placed into stockades [or something] [or at least be willing to serve up an alternative to teach parenting skills]. It would be ideal if the majority of children and their parents attended a church or synagog together [ or temple ], but the majority do not. Parenting skills seem sorely lacking in a large segment of society*. The main problem with school problems is permissive parenting or parenting which is lacking focus and boundaries. There is too much entitlement granted to children before they are old enough and equipped for independance. If parents do not teach values to their children and schools are now not allowed to acknowledge the spiritual dimention of the individual, who then guides the child toward moral choices in decisionmaking? Is it the media, TV and video games? That is scarey. We cannot just say there is no spiritual dimention in the individual. When we do that...anything can attach to that portion of the person that seeks a higher knowledge.

* Observe parents and grandparents in a laundromat with children. They talk at children a lot. If you watch closely, it becomes very clear who is in charge of a situation. It is not the adult.

Applause to the parent who knows how to be in charge and teach by example without bargaining and bribing a child. The parent who is in charge makes parenting appear seamless but they just are always consistent with expectations and reinforcement.

The parent who looks bad often blames the child for embarassing them in public. Then a clash of wills gets even worse. If a parent or grandparent has parenting questions, look for someone to help you. Better to be a bit humble now than to be humbled by a teen who causes damage or ruins his life and that of others.

Teaching parenting would be a priority of churches if enough parents walked into church offices and asked when their parenting classes meet. Our churches are places to worship God, however, many people need skills and knowhow first if they have never been exposed to religious philosophy. It is time we who profess a religious affiliation insist that people who walk into our buildings are met first with what they need that is practical. They then may choose to look further into the deeper chambers of their spiritual self....if they should become interested.

This post has been edited by wonderwoman: 23 February 2008 - 03:51 AM

[justplainjoe]

the problem is that they are teaching a cult of personality, worship jesus but don't do as he sez do what the church claimed that he sez..

LOL

that way we can justify war and killing and stealing and torture.....