** HARRY POTTER / GOD / PUBLIC SCHOOLS**

So you won't object when you get religion back in to public schools, and a Wiccan teacher leads the class in a prayer to the mother goddess? Or is it just YOUR religion you want in schools. The trick is, it may NOT be your religion.

Plus, to your first point, Harry Potter is fiction, not religion.

 

I think that it is a good point that you raise, if schools can have Harry Potter books which clearly offend some people, shouldent by the same reasoning the Bible be an accepted book in the school library?

 

The state schools are for education and not for religious instruction. Keep the schools clear of religion,,,,then, of course, I suppose if a Muslim, a Jew, a Hindi, a Christian, etc rotate their religious instruction, it might be alright.

Religious instruction is the duty of the home and church, not the state schools.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I agree Ben. Some of the schools have taught Islam (under the guise of history), too. But we are forbidden by the liberals, ACLU, and People for the American (?) Way to teach about the One True God or Christianity.

 

No, you are forbidden by the Constitution from giving other people's children religious instruction while they are at a public school. The ACLU, Americans United, etc., are only watchdog groups that protect the rights of parents to not have their kids indoctrinated with someone else's religion.

Public schools belong to everyone, and people have the right to send their kids to school and expect that they will not be taught a religion contrary to their personal beliefs. If you want Christianity taught in schools, that is why they have private Christian schools. If you want your parental rights protected, you must also protect those of others.

A good primer on this is at http://www.au.org/resources/Brochures/prayerinpublicschools.htm

[ June 30, 2003, 09:58 AM: Message edited by: ColoradoFB ]

 

Quoting She Eagle!!!

excerpt from link listed below:

http://www.ed.gov/Speeches/08-1995/religion.html

Give our former Christian and Baptist President some credit for trying to bring more light that fire to this situation. And learn some truths about what can and cannot be done in "public" schools.

 

Actually, that's not true. My daughter's world history books contains chapters covering the history of Christianity throughout history. Also covered are Judaism and ancient babylonians, Greeks, and Romans, to name a few.

 

The other thing to consider is that HP has nothing to do with witchcraft as a religion. Nothing at all. They have the same name, yes, but that's it. You can't legitimately classify HP as religious fiction.

 

President Bush...yes. Bill Clinton...no.

Clinton lost his credibility a loooong time ago, as well as his Christianity, and some other things I won't mention.

 

Bob, you should get out more.

http://www.snopes.com/religion/islam.htm


They were also teaching this "role playing" of Islam in Jackson, Ohio where my uncle lives & the community was up in arms at the school board meeting. A big write up was in the little local paper (which is not available on line anymore).

There's the "truth" about what was taught in these public schools."

And, BTW, Barry Lynn did file suit on it after all.

 

President Bush...yes. Bill Clinton...no.

Clinton lost his credibility a loooong time ago, as well as his Christianity, and some other things I won't mention. </font>[/QUOTE]This drivel does not need to be dignified with anymore answer that the one I am giving. And we wonder what's wrong with America. Be careful who you declare saved or not saved. Bill Clinton is a Southern Baptist and believes strongly in once saved always saved. YOu may not like him .. but only God can judge his salvation ... and God is certainly not an independent fundamentalist

[ July 01, 2003, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: C.S. Murphy ]

 

I wouldn't be so sure.

He's the One Who said "Thou shalt not commit adultery" and "Thou shalt not bear false witness."

since we're on the subject of Bill Clinton.

[ July 01, 2003, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: C.S. Murphy ]

 

I think the correct position of the U.S Constitution is separation of school and state. If we actually abided by it, then this debate wouldn't be happening.

 

"Many parents would be up in arms if schoolkids were learning about the life and teachings of Jesus in public school classrooms, even if the information were presented only as background for a unit on the impact of Christianity on world history."

Those parents can object all they want. This is legal.

 

I think what the thread starter has in mind is that even if hp is truly fiction his subject matter is still one of witchcraft which is a religion. I am quite certain that the school would not promote the study of a book of fiction that centers on the positive aspects of Christianity. By the way in case anyone has missed it I truly believe that hp is detrimental to our children and is totally against God's commands against witchcraft.
Murph

 

i have friends heavily involved in witchcraft and they vigorously deny that it is a religion.

i have not read HP. so i do not condem it but i am very cautious of it. my concern is how closely it may align with real witchcraft.

My other concern is not so about the books themselves but with how Christians view witchcraft. Many do not realize the power of it and the seriousness of it. and the HP books can encourage them in their incorrect ideas about witchcraft. which is not a problem to condem the books for...but to condem the church with. For the church has failed to properly teach the seriousness of it and true spiritual warfare.

 

In my history class last year, we discussed every religion that had something to do with history as it popped up in the course. Now at my school, we can have prayer meetings BEFORE or AFTER school, but religious things are not to be done during school, yet we did discuss religion. Just because its not allowed in schools doesnt mean that it doesnt show up sometimes, because when a student rights a paper, they have the right to put anything in it, when I write papers that need to tie in with daily life mine always concern my faith. Also, HP was probably read because it is a highly popular book amoung all kinds of kids at school, not just one crowd. but you cant bring just Christianty into a school system cause that'd upset the other people and cause a big mess, because my school is mostly Catholic that believes something different than what is taught at the churches around my town. Students can talk about religion, teachers cant. thats how it goes down here

 

i have friends heavily involved in witchcraft and they vigorously deny that it is a religion.
Technically, it's not an organized religion, but a belief system. The thing about witchcraft is, most of it is superstitious, and as such, ficticious. There's no such thing as casting spells, curses, or the like. The full moon has no supernatural power. There's no such thing as levitation, or turning oneself into animals. Most of what we attribute to witchcraft is the product of midievil folklore. Many witches will say that it's based on ancient wicca, but that's not the case at all. Wiccans of 2000 years ago didn't have an understanding of a God or anything of the sort. The ancient wiccans attributed supernatural forces to nature, because that's all they knew. They didn't cast spells, or worship a deity, have cauldrons, black cats, or wear black. Likening wicca to contemporary witchcraft is like attributing a fish to a bicycle.

my concern is how closely it may align with real witchcraft.
Like I said, there's no such thing as "real" witchcraft. Modern "witchcraft" is invented.

My other concern is not so about the books themselves but with how Christians view witchcraft.
Most Christians mistakenly think of witchcrraft as real, and by doing so, are giving Satan power through it.

and the HP books can encourage them in their incorrect ideas about witchcraft. which is not a problem to condem the books for...but to condem the church with. For the church has failed to properly teach the seriousness of it and true spiritual warfare.
This should be no more a concern than the TV show "Bewitched" or "I Dream of Jeannie", or the 1939 "Wizard of Oz", or, for that matter, the current "Lord of the Rings" films.

 

Why not take a look at homeschooling. It is a great way to disciple your children. That way you can teach them your religion.