Atheists Pressure MI School District to Stop Treating the Birth of Jesus as Fact

[Kenny]

Good. Of course, it's doubtful that they'll get the message. They'll probably spin this as some sort of Christian persecution. Case in point, @KenS' post.

Hey, We demand equal rights when we talk about persecution. Atheists do it all the time.

 

[Woberts]

Hey, We demand equal rights when we talk about persecution. Atheists do it all the time.

The difference is that Christians are consistently given more rights than anyone else. Then they complain when they are brought back down to everyone's level.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

Once again the State religion of Atheistic Secularism is being forced on people.

• "The problem with being privileged your whole life is that because you have had that privilege for so long, equality starts to look like oppression." - Mark Caddo

Not even the majority of atheists think that Jesus is a myth.

Atheists don't generally care either way.

printed in god we trust on its product? Its not atheism that should be outraged its religion that should be outraged and its not.

Atheists should be outraged at finding "In God We Trust" on the currency. in the same way that theists would be if it read "We've Outgrown Gods." The message is clear: If you're not among the "we," then you're not one of us.

Hasnt christianity at least partually been hijacked by a cult?

Christmas certainly has been hijacked. Christ has pretty much been removed from Xmas by the Ice Giants from the North Pole. And its not just Baby Jesus that has vanished. The camels and the sand have been replaced by reindeer and snow. Joseph has been replaced by Santa. Mary was replaced by Frosty the Snowman. The three wise men have been replaced by elves. "Silent Night" and "Little Town of Bethlehem" are now "Jingle Bells" and "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." The Christmas trees, yule logs, tinsel, Christmas lights, holly wreathes, flocking, and mistletoe sold at Wal-Mart are further testimony to the Ice Giants' conquest of the desert holiday and its replacement with their icy pagan holiday.

 

[Revoltingest]

Not even the majority of atheists think that Jesus is a myth. Only conspiracy theorists think He never existed.

This isn't quite accurate.
I say Jesus is a mythical figure.
But it's possible that an actual man existed, one to whom the myths
are attributed. Who knows...."Jesus" might've even been his name.
So there's a real question about the extent of his existence.
Teaching this mythology as history....double bunk.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

If you actually want to be consistent, just abolish all public celebration of Christmas entirely.

That makes a degree of sense to me, at least. If you really want your kids in a cheesy Christmas pageant, most churches and Christian schools do them every year, it's not as though anyone who really REALLY wants to be involved in one but goes to a public school doesn't have other options.

 

[Earthling]

"I'm totally for separation of church and state, not just for the sake of the state but more for the sake of the "church"

Well put. Although where was the outrage in church when a private corp. The federal reserve, as its advertising slogan amonst many printed in god we trust on its product? Its not atheism that should be outraged its religion that should be outraged and its not.

They really don't know any better. It's not unlike atheists teaching evolution as science in public schools for what? Really the hopes of undermining religion? Like the future will be a brighter place. Oh, but it's true. It's fact. Anyone who doesn't accept that is merely ignorant and in need of the proper education. Indoctrination just like what failed the religious before you.

 

[Earthling]

Christmas certainly has been hijacked. Christ has pretty much been removed from Xmas by the Ice Giants from the North Pole. And its not just Baby Jesus that has vanished. The camels and the sand have been replaced by reindeer and snow. Joseph has been replaced by Santa. Mary was replaced by Frosty the Snowman. The three wise men have been replaced by elves. "Silent Night" and "Little Town of Bethlehem" are now "Jingle Bells" and "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." The Christmas trees, yule logs, tinsel, Christmas lights, holly wreathes, flocking, and mistletoe sold at Wal-Mart are further testimony to the Ice Giants' conquest of the desert holiday and its replacement with their icy pagan holiday.

Excellent! The apostate Christians stole it from the heathen and now the heathens are stealing it back!

 

[Vinayaka]

Where were these lobby groups when I needed them? When I complained it fell on deaf ears. and smug condescending smiles. It made me sick.

 

[Woberts]

Where were these lobby groups when I needed them? When I complained it fell on deaf ears. and smug condescending smiles. It made me sick.

What? Can you elaborate, please?

 

[Kenny]

The difference is that Christians are consistently given more rights than anyone else. Then they complain when they are brought back down to everyone's level.

Yes.... there is always "a difference" to make it ok. It is always "different" I'm always at a loss at what rights Christians have that others don't.

 

[Kenny]

"The problem with being privileged your whole life is that because you have had that privilege for so long, equality starts to look like oppression." - Mark Caddo

Relevance?

 

[Vinayaka]

What? Can you elaborate, please?

I taught. The Christmas concert was organized by an evangelical, and she bought these extremely Christian evangelical pre-set concerts from some US Christian university. I'd go to the principal and explain that not all the kids were Christian, it was way too Christian for a public school, and my complaints would go unheard. This was 20 years back. Point is if a school receives no complaints, it continues on unabated. You think this is an isolated case. I bet it's happening all over in many schools throughout America and Canada, especially where there is little diversity.

 

[Windwalker]

"Jesus was anti-hypocrisy, not pro-Christian religion."

That's a topic far too deep for RF. I am certain its some rules violation!!!!

"Thou shalt not question the beliefs of thy brother and causeth him to cry".

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

It's not unlike atheists teaching evolution as science in public schools for what? Really the hopes of undermining religion?

Evolution is science, and is rightfully taught in science classes. Religion is generally never mentioned in an evolution course. If science undermines some religions, and it does, then those religions will have to adapt. Many Christian entities publicly embrace evolution.

Oh, but it's true. It's fact. Anyone who doesn't accept that is merely ignorant and in need of the proper education.

The theory of evolution is a conceptual framework that unifies mountains of data from a multitude of sources, accurately makes predictions about what can and cannot be found in nature, provides a rational mechanism for evolution consistent with the known actions of nature, accounts for both the commonality of all life as well as biodiversity, and has had practical applications that have improved the human condition in areas like medicine and agriculture. I don't know if that makes it true or not, but it does make it useful.

And every educated person should know the theory, including creationists, if only to be able to discuss the subject intelligently.

Indoctrination just like what failed the religious before you.

Evolution is taught in the academic tradition of presenting the theory and demonstrating the evidence supporting it. The student, it is hoped, can follow the argument and judge it. His teacher will only care if he learned the theory, not whether he believes it

Religion is taught by indoctrination, meaning without evidence or argument, just claims that are repeated until the indoctrinee can recite them back. And the teacher is very much interested in what is believed.

 

[Earthling]

Evolution is science, and is rightfully taught in science classes.

That is almost completely irrelevant. So, at one time, was alchemy and astrology thought of as science and indoctrinated to the young and impressionable. They eventually grew out of it like they will undoubtedly grow out of the failed metaphysical experimentation of so called evolution. Face the facts while you still can, or is it too late for you as well?

Religion is generally never mentioned in an evolution course.

Of course not. It would be like mentioning Buddha in a morning mass. Religiosity despises competition, but it's best that way in this case because we know as little about religion as we do creation. The mind, the oceans, the universe, the central nervous system. We are infants.

If science undermines some religions, and it does, then those religions will have to adapt. Many Christian entities publicly embrace evolution.

They would embrace a dog turd if it were made of gold. Many Christian entities publicly embrace Greek philosophy . . . Socrates, Plato . . . careful, it may be you who must adapt. Empedocles, Aristotle, Anaximander. After all, who has the majority and who has the organizational skills, and the experience, and the power and the money. . . it most certainly isn't science or atheism!

 

[Nakosis]

Maybe public schools should just avoid all cultural references/celebrations and get down to reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic.

 

[Windwalker]

Well put. Although where was the outrage in church when a private corp. The federal reserve, as its advertising slogan amonst many printed in god we trust on its product? Its not atheism that should be outraged its religion that should be outraged and its not.

"Selective outrage", is another term for hypocrisy.

 

[Jose Fly]

I'm always at a loss at what rights Christians have that others don't.

It's not so much a right as it is a privilege.....the privilege of having the government promote and endorse Christianity. When I was in elementary school, every other Tuesday afternoon was basically Bible study. Such a thing would be unthinkable now.

That's what we're talking about. For a very long time, Christians have been able to use the public school system to evangelize students. Those days are rapidly coming to an end.

 

[Jose Fly]

That is almost completely irrelevant.

That's hilarious. You complain about evolution being taught in science class, but when it's noted that evolution is taught in science class.....because it's science.....you wave that away as "irrelevant"?

What exactly are we supposed to teach in science class, if not science?

 

[Kenny]

It's not so much a right as it is a privilege.....the privilege of having the government promote and endorse Christianity. When I was in elementary school, every other Tuesday afternoon was basically Bible study. Such a thing would be unthinkable now.

That's what we're talking about. For a very long time, Christians have been able to use the public school system to evangelize students. Those days are rapidly coming to an end.

As I understand history and the mandate given by the scriptures Christians believe in as well as the 1st Amendment... it will never come to an end It's called freedom.

You have just expressed the totalitarian viewpoint.