Christian Arrogance On Display - And Response (8)

  • Tuesday, July 26, 2016

The announcement that the "Bible In The Schools" organization will "gift" a million dollars to the Hamilton County Schools for elective bible "history" classes is a real in-your-face example of Christian arrogance. 

No one is fooled by the use of the term "bible history" to mask the real intent of this program.  As one who remembers when Sunday school teachers were allowed into elementary school classrooms to hand out bible verses to be memorized for the following week - and the thoughtful parents who pulled their children out of class during such intrusions objecting that such activity was an unconstitutional intrusion by one religion into the public schools created for all students regardless of their family's beliefs; it stands as a prime example of the hubris and arrogance of many Christian adherents.  They demonstrate that they still exhibit little consideration of the legitimate beliefs of others and aren't satisfied that such instruction is already required in their churches and private religious schools where they can keep the students' blinders on.

 

In a country that was founded upon a strong base of secular institutions (there was purposefully no mention made of any god in our Constitution) where those of all beliefs, including no belief at all, were guaranteed autonomy and the right of self-determination, the Supreme Court righteously agreed that subjecting public school children as a captive audience to inculcation into any one belief system was a violation of those rights. The Christian religion rests upon the bones of millions tortured, murdered, lynched and subjected to pogroms.  Hundreds of distinct tribes of Native Americans were never "removed" but were wiped off the face of the Earth by people too blinded by what would become their belief in a "manifest destiny".

There is absolutely nothing in all the supposed benefits claimed by this thinly-veiled christian religious instruction that is not made available by the plethora of churches in our community that actually exist for providing it.  For the "Bible in the Schools" organization to say that many children have never seen a bible or been taught of its supposed benefits is actually a blatant conviction of the churches that they have miserably failed in their purpose.

Ever since the Supreme Court rightly found that Christian religious instruction in public schools was a violation of the Constitution in McCollum v. Board back in 1948, there have been repeated attempts to weasel around the decision and worm their way back into the arena of public education.  What followed in the mid-1950s was a rush by religionists in Congress to change our national motto, change our pledge of allegiance, blah, blah, blah injecting god references willy-nilly all to counter the specter of "godless" communism.  Subsequently, another Supreme Court decision, Lemon v. Kurtzman, gave guidance on what must be avoided to prevent crossing the Establishment Clause's red line.  Most of the resulting efforts have created and subjected students to unwelcome coercion where those who participate in such programs are elevated as being somehow "right thinking" or just somehow more virtuous than those who do not.  This is a prime example of the social divisiveness and stigmatization that such programs create not only in the schools but even between nations.

One never hears of any of the hundreds of religious minorities attempting to set themselves and their founding texts above all others or to coerce favor in the arena of public education despite the fact that they are all equally legitimate in our society; yet these fervent Christians blithely claim that no one can be considered educated without being acquainted with their text. That's hogwash on its face.

If these zealots were really interested in education rather than coercion, they would get behind programs to teach the origins and characteristics of all the world's major religions as well as the origins of such philosophies as secular humanism, agnosticism, rationalism and the many other iterations of free thought all the way to atheism.  That would be a real education and a curriculum which would lead to respect and understanding of others.

For deeper comparative analysis, I believe students should be required to examine the life and times of Oliver Cromwell, and read Howard Zinn's "A Peoples History of the United States" and Helen Ellerbe's "The Dark Side of Christian History".  You won't find these books in schools because they aren't intended to cheer lead us into accepting the myth of "American exceptionalism". They simply tell the truth and relate the facts - which is what good, reality-based educational materials should do. We need a million dollars worth of them in the schools.

"I studied every page of this book, and I didn't find enough love to fill a salt shaker.  God is not love in the bible, god is vengeance, from alpha to omega."   --- Ruth Hurmence Green

Bruce Willkey
Signal Mountain

* * *

Perhaps a Bible history class would be beneficial, if they teach the true history of the Bible as we know it.  The first English translation happened in 1380 AD. Oh. Only 1,380 years later. There were many translations thereafter. Who knows exactly how many iterations there have been since, and every interpreter/church/preacher bending the words to their liking.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe this is the agenda the “Bible In Schools” organization had in mind. It’s just another attempt to recruit. And not a subtle attempt… they are buying it. Who is sitting in this class to monitor that it meets requirements of law? No one.

I was born and raised here, but moved away for many years before returning. One of my major culture shocks upon returning to Chattanooga was the religious stigma that had not changed in 25 years. At work, in schools, in government.

C’mon people. You can believe in God without being brainwashed by the church or school or your workplace. I, for one, am a firm believer in separation of church and state. And I still believe in God… just maybe not the one they are teaching the history of.

Dottie Brewer 

* * * 

Mr. Wilkey’s claim that Christianity does not preach love is not true.  Perhaps Mr. Willkey missed Christ’s central message:  “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  Matthew 22: 37-39  

Perhaps he missed it when John said that “Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”  1 John 3:10 

Perhaps he missed it when John again reiterated “let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”  1 John 3:18 

Perhaps Mr. Wilkey has not read the 13th chapter of John, where Christ said “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” 

This command to love one another, if practiced by everyone, would lead to a more peaceful and prosperous world.  What is it about this message that Mr. Willkey takes such offense to? 

Mr. Willkey states that “the Christian religion rests upon the bones of millions tortured, murdered, lynched and subjected to pogroms.”  But has he ever considered the state of the world before Christ?  Has he read of the brutality and barbarism that permeate world history?  Has he considered the undeniable fact that the followers of Christ mitigated man’s worst instincts and helped create stable, peaceful societies? 

If Christianity is such a malignant religion, how is it that the Christian societies of Western Europe (which used to collectively be referred to as “Christendom”), and later the United States, produced such advances in art, music, science, law, commerce and culture?  How did these societies create wealth, peace and prosperity unparalleled in history?      

Christianity teaches that we are created by God, in His image.  As such, we have responsibilities to Him, and to each other.  This wholesome teaching produced the most vigorous and virtuous society that the world has seen.  As we move away from this simple precept, we are witnessing a decline in moral and material well-being. 

Our religion is under attack from secularists such as Mr. Willkey on one side, and from Muslim extremists on the other.  It is past time for Christians to stand up for themselves. 

Jay Underwood
Ooltewah

* * *

Christians are not under attack from secularists as many like to claim.  What is definitely happening though, is that secularists have grown tired of Christians pushing their beliefs on others and telling them how to live their lives.  No one has a problem with Christians believing what they want to believe.  They have a problem with them pushing their beliefs onto others and also not living up to the standards that Christ set forth.

Christianity has long enjoyed a favored status in this country which contradicts the constitution.  If you follow the news you are seeing more and more incidents like the recent one in Florida where a member of the church of satan was permitted to give an invocation before a city council meeting.  Government cannot promote one religion over another and so it would be illegal to permit a Christian invocation and not a muslim, hindu, or yes, even a satanist one.  Satanists everywhere are using this to point out the favored status that Christianity has received by government for years.  In another case a public school district was distributing Christian coloring books to the kids at schools and the church of satan sued for the permission to distribute their own coloring books.  The school decided to quit distributing coloring books altogether.  This was the intended goal of the satanists and it worked. 

Finally, many so-called Christians these days are frankly not living up to the examples that Christ set forth for us to follow.  Groups like the Westboro Baptist Church may be an extreme example, but so many other Christians are espousing hate, racism, and intolerance that it's no wonder that atheism is one of the fastest growing demographics in this country and the world. 

R.J. Mitchell

Chattanooga

* * *

This in response to Mr. Wilkey’s “spirited” letter to the editor titled “Christian Arrogance On Display” As I understand it, the program he is so bothered by is “elective”. His words not mine. One definition of “elective” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “permitting a choice”. The students and parents of the Hamilton County Schools will have a choice to either participate in this program or not. Seems simple and harmless enough to me. But some people must try and create a crisis where none exists.

One thing about Atheists that always has fascinated me is their fear of Christianity. What’s to fear if you believe God doesn’t exist or that the Bible is filled with myths and black magic. Oh I know they point to happenings in the Bible that were horrendous and not filled with Love. They use terms like “Brainwashing” and always point to the children as innocent victims of such “terrible” teachings.  But why get so worked up over a Mythical God in their view. If he doesn’t exist, what threat does it pose? As I have pondered this question I think I have come up with an answer. It’s not really about Christianity. It’s about creating chaos and hate and division. Christianity is the soup du jour for this bunch and they make much ado about nothing threatening in order to push forward their agenda.

I am sure Mr. Wilkey knows of the teachings of Saul Alinsky, A self-anointed community organizer and socialist/Fascist writer. From Alinsky’s “12 Rules for Radicals”- RULE 5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions. Ridicule is what Atheists and Secularists use to try and make us Christians go away. But as Jesus said to his Disciples’ “They will hate you because they hated me first”. And my favorite- * RULE 9: “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.” Imagination and ego can dream up many more consequences than any activist. So create a crisis, like this issue of a “Bible History Class” and make it seem like the people who are administering it are like CIA water boarders or worse. Teachers of history they don’t like.

But fear not Mr. Wilkey, We Christians are no threat to you. Unless praying for your salvation is a threat.

Scott Harrington

Ooltewah

* * *

I would like to say thank you to Mr. Underwood and Mr. Harrington for standing up to the word of God and for making it crystal clear that a Christian should not be a threat to any unbeliever. We are only here for a short amount of time, and during that time Christians are to be a mouth piece to share God’s word to those who are willing to accept it, and be a living example of what you are sharing (the Bible). We do not force our beliefs on others, such as the “Bible in the Schools” organization who are providing the resources necessary for those students/parents who would like to “freely” partake in those classes, but make it available to those who would like to hear and learn more about it.

Why do unbelievers of the Word of God always want to attack Christians for what they believe and strive to live out. True Christians are very aware that heaven and hell exist, and have no desire to go there. When they are freely sharing, providing resources, loving, kind, etc. to those who are willing to receive it, it’s not to harm them, but help them. If you have no desire to believe and have no desire for those who do, why not make your argument known to God Himself. He is the one we are fighting for, so He would be the one to best make your case known to. We are only about our Father’s business. Unbelievers know the Word of God, so I’m sure you may be familiar with Ephesians 6:12, which says: 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Our fight is not against one another, but against the darkness, evilness, and spiritual forces of this world.

I am forever praying for salvation in an unbeliever’s life and the continued boldness and strength in a believer’s life. This world is evil, and nothing good will come of it. Someone reading this right now may still have that ingrained disgusts for everything I have said. Don’t let that evil spirit rule your body to such a point where you are going after those who are only making God’s word available to those who are willing to hear it. God’s word does not teach hate, but is covered in love, and Mr. Underwood pointed out several of those scriptures. Point your argument to Christ, make your case known to Him, and know that we are only here as mouthpiece for Him, not a dictator of the Bible.

Melanie Peterson

Ooltewah

* * *

The same people who now want Bible in school had a major meltdown and threw hissy fits over the attempt to teach world religions in some Tennessee schools not all that long ago.   

I recall when Bible classes were a mainstay in schools. None of which were actually elective, and was more like forced on students. The teaching methods used fear and intimidation rather than love and peace. All of us young students were called sinners who were destined to burn in hell. Any small or imagined inattentiveness brought the rod and other punishment down on us.  

Instead of asking why others fear Bible classes in school, shouldn't the question be why those who support Bible classes in schools fear students learning the history of world religions in their entirety? At least up until the 1970s anyone could pick up a major dictionary and read about the various other religions around the world on the back pages. 

Brenda Washington  

* * *

I wonder if these same people would be okay if the local mosque provided a free study program to learn about the Koran and Islam, or maybe a program on Hinduism or Buddhism? 

Keep Church and State separate. Our founders got that right. 

John Fricke

* * *

I read with interest the letters concerning the “Bibles in the Schools” organization donating one million dollars to Hamilton County Schools.   Like it or not, the Bible in the schools debate is water under the bridge.  But I do recall as a child in Hamilton County schools having a Bible teacher come once a week.  We read some of the verses, memorized a few and that was  it.  None of us were threatened, embarrassed or forced to comply with the tenants of Christianity any more than we were forced to agree with the teachings of the sciences or the characters of history.  

While I agree the First Amendment  is in the Constitution for valid reasons, having some exposure to the love of Christ whether it be a voluntary Bible class, club or after school meeting would not be the end of the world.  And please read the amendment, the “establishment” clause and the “impeding” language provide room for this type of compromise.  Instead of this type of common sense approach our society has elected to take virtually all moral teaching out of the schools.  I wonder which of the Ten Commandments those so opposed to any Biblical exposure would disagree with. 

Nashville teachers recently attended a seminar where they networked with law enforcement, social workers and “behaviorists’ in anticipation of the problems anticipated in the upcoming school year.  This tells where we have gotten as a society, and in the process lost a generation.

Greg Wade

Franklin, Tn.

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