Yet another unpleasant school/religion story

[Theophylact]

From Union County, Tennessee.

And don't think it's okay because the family are "pagans."

[M_Six]

Doesn't this bull drive you nuts? It never ceases to amaze me how the most ardent followers of a supposedly benevolent religion can be so brutal and uncaring. The louder they preach the "word of God", the more they act like the Devil himself.

Hypocrites. Morons.

[Knothead]

Amazing. The very phrase "Christian Intolerance" should be an oxymoron, yet there it is again.

Although, on the other hand, the Tracys should have had some idea what they were getting themselves into, settling smack-dab in the middle of the famed "Bible Belt".

Ignorance never seems to cease it's relentless march. I hope the school system is dealt with fairly (read harshly).

[originel]

i was just recently talking to a friend of mine about this sort of thing. what i don't get is how christians can develop this superiority complex about their religion, and how they believe that they are so much better than other people, just because they don't follow the same religion. maybe it's just me and my relationship with God, but if anything i have developed an inferiority complex about myself. IMHO those people just don't get what being a christian means.

EDIT: in some ways i agree with you Knot (i certainly wouldn't have moved to Tennessee), but then again things aren't anywhere near that bad where I live, and that's in west texas, which we refer to as the buckle on the bible belt! that would not happen here.

[daveleau]

To many, religion is not something practiced on Sunday morning, but 24/7. I commend them and try to act similarly, although I often fall short. Hence, the separation of church and school will never be complete, thankfully.

This does not mean that intolerance and mean-spiritedness should be hurled at those who think differently. I think this was handled VERY poorly by the administration and they need to be dealt with accordingly.

[originel]

while i definitely agree with you daveleau that religion is a 24/7 thing, i don't think that beating up a girl quite qualifies as being religeous. granted that while administration didn't handle it well, it should have never happened in the first place. it's one thing to try and show someone the error of their ways, it's another to make fun of someone. when was the last time that you know of that making fun of someone for being a different religion caused them to convert? what these students were doing was not trying to help the girl, they were putting her down any way they could.

[Theophylact]

Easier and cleaner to keep things separate than to imagine that ordinary human beings -- especially children and school principals -- can behave with perfect understanding and love 24/7.

[daveleau]

While I understand the problems inherent in keeping religion in schools, I do not believe it should be so, nor do I think there is legal stance for it regardless of previous cases. I believe a wide introduction to religion should be allowed, so children can be knowledgeable of what is out there. Regardless of your stance on religion, no one can deny that a religious people are a kinder people, more apt to follow the law. (I am not saying that atheist or people averse to organized religion can not have the exact same qualities, though.) This pertains to all religions. As for religion being 24/7, my belief is that ANYTHING that does not bring forth untruth or poor behavior can be a religious extension of the self. As a Christian, I believe God revels in our toils as much as in our worship of Him.

The above actions in the article show a very un-religious action of the officials. Nothing can excuse these actions. They handled it wrong and the should be corrected, by whatever means necessary (firing, admonishment, suspension or fines). I do not find the children as much at fault as I do the parents and administrators for allowing such an injustice to occur. If the girl wants to be an atheist (or whatever she believes in), she has the freedom of choice from God and from American society to do whatever she wishes, no matter who disagrees with her stance.

[M_Six]

no one can deny that a religious people are a kinder people, more apt to follow the law.

Can't say I agree with that statement. I don't believe there is a single shred of evidence showing religious people to be any kinder or more law abiding. That is a misperception and shows the inherent holier-than-thou superiority that is common amongst "religious people."