I read an article this morning. Here's the link: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/18/pagan-mom-challenges-bibles-in-north-carolina-school/
Now, normally I don't get involved with politics. They never have solved any problems and I doubt they ever will. But this is something that I've given a lot of thought to, and I feel the need to share my opinion just this one time.
In reading this, most of the evangelicals are going to be up in arms, saying that Gideons should have every right to distribute Bibles to students. And in the same breath, they'll say that children shouldn't be exposed to that "Satan-worshiping garbage" that Wiccan books promote. I understand the sentiment, but we can't have our cake and eat it too.
Let me clarify. I want Gideons to come to my high school. I want Bibles handed out to every student. I want every person that walks my campus to know about the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and that we are reconciled to God by His death and Resurrection. And I feel very strongly that as an American, the Constitution protects my rights to try to achieve that.
Here's the thing: Those same rights that allow me to tell everyone about my Christian faith allow everyone else to tell me about their faith. Gideons should be allowed to pass out Bibles to the students that want one, but Wiccans and Muslims and Buddhists and everyone else should be allowed to do the same. That's what the founding fathers had in mind when they designed "separation of church and state." It doesn't mean that there is no religion. It means that the government can't pick a favorite religion, even if its a religion that I believe in. (Btw, that also means they can't pick a most-hated religion either).
Given the choice between everyone can share their faith or no one can share their faith, I would pick everyone at the drop of a hat. If you don't want your children to bring material home from another religion, tell them not to go to the booth. Or better yet, educate them so that they recognize the difference between what they believe and what that "other book" says. In my experience, the only people that refuse to educate themselves on other beliefs are the people who are afraid their own beliefs will be proved wrong.
I want to be able to share my faith in Christ without having some civil liberties group breathing down my neck. The only way that's going to happen is if everyone gets the same treatment, Christian and non-Christian alike. And you know, hearing other people's beliefs isn't all that horrible. You might find it helps you understand why you believe what you believe.
So, that's my two cents on the topic. Feel free to comment, disagree, or agree wholeheartedly. Just keep it cordial.
Keep Soaring,
B
I agree. I was talking to my father-in-law recently about you, Dallas, and Elizabeth. All three have gone on to be a part of the church in some form. All three were people that never forced religion on my in school, but we always willing to answer questions. He smiled, because he is the same way. People definitely need to be open. Religious freedom was one of the blocks this country was started on. It means all religions should be able to have that freedom, not just Christian ones.
ReplyDeleteBranson, I applaud you for your even handed response. When suggesting that equality should be what the school should strive for on my local news page, I was met with disdain and anger. Personally, I think that school should be for learning, not for prosthelytizing. There is a reason why students all use the same textbook, and why uniforms (which I still have some issue with) have become popular. It's because it takes the focus off of those topics for the students, so they can learn the subjects without distraction. If you were to allow everyone the option of handing out religious materials: first, they would be overwhelmingly of only one religion, and secondly, those that were in the minority would feel pressure to conform. Religious faith should not be achieved through this kind of pressure, and should instead come from within. IMHO, school is not the place for religion, just like church isn't the place for politics. Our great country has a simple, yet misunderstood rule about this kind of activity: don't do it. Even if you think it's for the best.
ReplyDeleteBrandie--Glad we were able to answer those questions. I just hope the answers made sense. That little girl of yours is growing fast!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteTim--I can see your point about avoiding distractions and environment appropriate learning--that's exactly why I don't bring politics into the my sermons when I preach. My concern is the precedent that kind of restriction would create. If the government could tell religious organizations and groups, "You can't talk about your beliefs at school," then it would set a precedent for them to forbid talking about any subject they choose anywhere they choose. As for the pressure for a minority to conform to the majority, that happens all the time, about a variety of subjects, even with restrictions in place.
Thank you both for your comments. Nice to see my blogs get read at least once in a while. ;-)