Religion In Schools

There is a short debate at La Shawn Barber’s corner about religon in school. Here is a short excerpt:

“America was founded by Christians and theists who appealed to the Bible as they created what would become the greatest country in the world, but America is not, never was, and never will be a “Christian” nation. We live in a pluralistic society where people are free to worship golden calves if they desire.

Given the principle of freedom of religion, it’s only a matter of time before more Americans who practice Islam insist that their religious holidays days be recognized, just as Christian and Jewish holidays are recognized.

Muslims in Baltimore County, Maryland, have gone so far as to demand that Muslim holidays be added to the school calendar. After the request was rejected, they called for the removal of Jewish holidays.”

There is a lot of meat in this discussion. At the moment I don’t have time to do much more than a drive-by, but I feel the need to hit a couple of things.

One of the things that I have noticed in this and similar threads is a call for tolerance by the majority while they simultaneously issue intolerant proclamations.

Part of what bothers me is that I have often seen people say things like “we are the majority and if you don’t like it you can just go back to where you came from.” That is not an argument based upon morality. It is not based upon ethics, just simple emotion and that is not always the most effective way to win a debate.

More often than not I’ll throw out my own comment to that effect and or remind people that there is such a thing as tyranny of the majority. Sometimes people accept it and sometimes they don’t. That is ok with me, my convictions are strong enough that I don’t need everyone to agree.

In any case, I did notice that some people have been combing through my archives and that the four posts below have gotten some extra attention today. I suppose that is because people are trying to get a better read on who I am and what my beliefs entail.

Happy Holidays is An Appropriate Greeting

I Wished Death Upon Santa

You Should be A Rabbi

Yom Kippur Thoughts and Musings

I may blog about this in more detail later, but for now let me offer this. I am a 37 year-old Jewish man who believes in G-d but thinks that religion should be kept out of the public arena. I don’t believe in prayer in public school, don’t want to see the 10 commandments in public buildings (schools, courts, gov’t buildings etc) and I don’t appreciate proselytization. Save your witnessing for someone else.

As I said, perhaps there will be more on this later.