Please use a lot of consideration when choosing your child care facility. I know that it gives you a warm tingly feeling inside to know that your child will be attending a 'Christian' child care center, but think this through for a moment.
For the first few years of a child's life, it's crucial that he or she learns fundamentals of communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and social skills. During this period whatever the child learns, will stick deeply in their psyche.
Sadly, in a Christian-based teaching environment, instead of focusing on advanced topics and teaching the children to question and challenge things while they can absorb the information, this time is typically used for indoctrination purposes.
Children are taught that they are weak, and 'He' is strong; that they are sinners, and but a speck compared with 'God;' that they should never question a higher authority, and just do what they are told. This does not advance their thinking, or raise their level of consciousness. In fact, this limits their willingness to ask questions and increases the odds of them falling to peer pressure--as a sheep following orders of others.
They are taught to fear consequences instead of common respect because respect is due. They fear the wrath of 'God' instead of developing compassion for their fellow humans. They learn to 'do good' only because 'God' is watching.
Most children that come from Christian-based pre schools or day care facilities are taught out-right lies, such as Jesus being born on December 25th, and that evolution is made-up. This creates a major problem for the children when they get into real education, or enter a university and start learning about the scientific facts behind evolution and the orgins of our earth. Because the creation story was embedded during that critical absorption period, the natural process is to reject the 'new' knowledge, regardless of the evidence to support it.
In short, by starting your child off in a Christian environment, you are heading them down a path of forced ignorance. At least let your child begin in a secular world, and if he or she chooses Christianity after an age of accountability, then so be it. But forcing them to learn things as fact that you don't even know to be true is a form of child abuse: inducing psychosis with thoughts of good and evil watching over them, as if they are constantly being graded and evaluated. It's bad for positive self-esteem, and slows social development later in life.
Give your kids a fighting chance; let them choose their religion once they understand it from a logical perspective. Indoctrination isn't fair to anyone, including your religion. Because indoctrination isn't their choice, and religion is all about 'choosing' to believe, not being forced to.
41 comments:
What do you think about raising children as atheists in America? Is it a good idea given the perception that Americans have of athiests?
Would raising kids in America as atheists be setting them up for ridicule, discrimination, mistrust and judgment? Would they have to learn to hide thier beliefs to avoid this kind of social shunning from their peers, classmates and coworkers.
It is a fact of living in this country. Not saying its right but its reality. Not saying that you are saying children should be raised as atheists either. But asking what you think about children being raised as athiests in this country? Literally raised to believe that their is no God and told this as fact.
http://www.squidoo.com/Atheist-Issues
http://atheism.about.com/od/atheistbigotryprejudice/a/MaliciousLies.htm
And that's how religion works to maintain power over the general population. They make you feel 'weird' for not following their beliefs, so you teach your kids to just follow and not challenge, for a fear of being ostracized by society.
You just want them to 'fit in' so you toe the line, and tell them to do the same.
I will not make my children mindless sheep to save them a few rude comments here and there. They deserve the right to think freely, speak their mind, and challenge authority. We all do.
Atheism is not a religion to be 'raised in.' Atheism is not a system of beliefs to be taught with an agenda to push on others.
Atheism is the realization that none of those things are necessary.
Where are your sources for this information?
"'Christian' child care center"...
Are you talking about day care or pre-school?
"In fact, this limits their willingness to ask questions and increases the odds of them falling to peer pressure--as a sheep following orders of others."...
I defy you to teach a child about the story of Elijah and not get questions.
"Most children that come from Christian-based pre schools or day care facilities are taught out-right lies, such as Jesus being born on December 25th, and that evolution is made-up."...
DO you think that 4 year olds know what evolution is? I doubt there are many christian pre-schools where the subject comes up.
What you are describing is a stereotype. Most christian preschools will teach basic skills for entry into kindergarten and include biblical principles. Nothing horrible about it.
"But forcing them to learn things as fact that you don't even know to be true is a form of child abuse"...
and there it is, I knew it was coming, place all christians in jail for abusing their children because you do not like what they are being taught. Who is intolerant?
Again, Where are your sources for this information?
I rarely post anything without citing credible sources, but this time I intentionally used a broad brush to make a point. I don't have exact numbers on how much time is wasted on myths and nonsense in Christian pre-schools any more than you can have numbers on how many Christian pre-schoolers are not indoctrinated.
This was an opinionated post based on my education in psychology and child and adolescent brain development. The point is, that early time of a child's life is absolutely crucial to brain development, and in a Christian-based child care setting, a lot of time is spent on memorizing bible stories, cult-like chants, and Jesus songs that induce a belief in children at a very impressionable stage, when they COULD be learning things that are much more functional.
Once this happens, the child isn't 'choosing' their religion, they have been purposefully indoctrinated before they've had a chance to research, review, and develop their own opinions about what they believe.
So here's a reference for you from dictionary.com:
Indoctrinate: to instruct in a doctrine, principle, ideology, etc., esp. to imbue with a specific partisan or biased belief or point of view. | Synonym: brainwash
When children ask questions about their beliefs they are given answers like "all questions will be answered in the end, now bow your head and pray." Or, they are warned about the definition of an infidel: a person who disbelieves or doubts a particular theory, belief, creed, etc.; skeptic. This is to encourage faith, and silence the questions of a freethinker.
Religion's purpose is to create sheep. That's why they indoctrinate; the younger the better.
As for your unnecessary comment about putting everyone in jail because I don't agree with them--you obviously have not read my other writings or heard my speeches.
I've long said that I support the Constitutional right of all religions and would protest along side them if their rights to practice their religion were violated.
But I challenge you to tell me how it's not mentally abusive to make one believe that demons and devils are watching them at all times, and that some of the people they love are going to Hell to suffer, and that they too will burn in Hell for eternity if they anger their mighty god by doing things that come natural to them--such as wanting what someone else has, or looking at an attractive person with impure thoughts.
To teach a child that it was once okay to murder someone because they were gay, or that their mighty god ordered the stoning to death of misbehaving children, and that he condoned slavery, is child abuse anyway you slice it. Children literally get the Hell scared out of them.
You want to talk about intolerance? Less than 30 years ago, this country voted for a president that said "Atheists shouldn't be considered as citizens."
There are still several states in this so-called "Free Country" where an Atheist cannot run for a government office. Our public schools that are paid for by people of all religions and unbelievers, push the ideology of only ONE god in the pledge, and our government has accepted the idea of that ONE god on our money, and in our court rooms, despite the wall of separation preferred by our Founding Fathers.
THAT is intolerance. I'm not fighting for an agenda, I'm fighting for equal rights, and encouraging people to let their children decide on belief or unbelief--not indoctrinate more intolerant people that will grow up feeling godly empowered to infringe on the civil liberties of others that disagree with them.
Hmmmm...
I wonder how many adult christians, and even those who are no longer christian, who were brought up in church and went to christian preschool would agree with you that they were abused as children...lol.
I wonder if you could get a real experienced child psychologist to agree with you that teaching the religious tradition of ones family is child abuse... I doubt it.
Traditions are one thing. Inducing psychosis is another.
Demons are watching you. You'd better be good, or you'll be burned in Hell for eternity. If you want something bad enough, pray for it.
It's a different kind of abuse. Laugh all you like, but my children are abuse-free, and don't fear monsters, demons, or the dark.
They won't let "Jesus take the Wheel," they will drive their own destiny. I'm very proud of how my children are being raised without that nonsense.
Intolerance goes both ways it appears.
How is it that I say I support the Constitutional right of all religions to practice, yet you call me intolerant?
I'm stating facts regarding child brain development. You haven't offered a counter argument, only name-calling. I can't take that seriously.
Whos ass did you pull this out of?
Either you have never stepped foot inside of a christian preschool or you are simply making this crap up. None of the more complex christian topics are taught in preschool, they learn the abc's, 123's, manners, etc. Sure there are some bible stories and songs included but they dont amount to anything more than the story of Noahs Ark, or Jonah and the Whale.
All you have to do is look at the academic statistics of private or homeschooled kids compared to those of public schoolers to know that the academic achievements of a private christian education far outweighs those in public education.
What you are saying is like saying public or non christian preschools teach 3 yr old kids about serial killers, quantum physics or psychology. Curriculum is age appropriate. 3 yr olds in christian preschool don't even know what gay means much less what the bible teaches about it.
Barney the dinosaur, the teletubbies and sesame street aren't real either, but if you take your 3 yr old child to see big bird, do you take off his mask and say "See son, its just a guy in bird suit" No, you dont, its absurd. Unless of course you also object to Barney, the teletubbies, sesame street, santa and the easter bunny, heck lets execute the tooth fairy while were at it.
Were talking little kids here, no one is scaring them to death with tales of demons, evil and satan. Frankly its just ignorant to assume so.
And no I'm not a christian now because I asked alot of questions, which I was freely allowed to express in my christian schooling, no one squashed my curiousity or taught bible stories instead of algebra.
What you are doing here by calling christians who teach their children christian values, child abusers amounts to the same thing as anyone calling an atheist immoral or evil. Both come from a place of ignorance.
You Said: "As for your unnecessary comment about putting everyone in jail because I don't agree with them--you obviously have not read my other writings or heard my speeches."
Then change your stance on abuse. We put people who abuse their children in jail in this country. Is it abuse or not? If so, then you should be trying to put these parents in jail for abusing their children. If not, then you are supporting child abuse.
There are people all over the world who technically abuse their children that don't end up in jail.
1) Women who smoke or drink when pregnant
2) Parents who leave their 11-year-old in charge of their 4-year-old.
3) Parents who verbally abuse their children with curse words, foul language, and insults.
4) Parents who make their children "clean their plate" when it's filled with fried corn-dogs and potato chips, not thinking of the health affects.
5) Parents who tell their children that demons are watching them, and that if they're bad, a magic god will send them to Hell to burn for eternity.
6) A parent that has their son's penis mutilated at birth because the Bible says so.
All abuse. No jail time.
Abuse comes in many different forms--some worse than others. So you're blanket statement that I should change my stance on religion or else I support child abuse, is yet another inaccurate depiction of reality.
Forcing religiosity on children during their influential stages of development is indoctrination and abusive.
You're not giving them time to decide. You're not arming them with helpful information from both sides. You are scaring the Hell out of them so that they agree with YOUR beliefs to make parenting easier on yourself so YOU wont have to deal with the questions that YOU can't answer.
Abusive.
Wow, it must be so awful for you to live in a country where you believe that 83% of the population abuse the children around them.
You know how easily it could happen that one of your children could be "abused" by a believer? As children grow their greatest influence becomes their peers and not their parents.
The chances of your son or daughter marrying one of these abusers is astronomical! What if your child grows up and believes! What if they are convinced by their spouse! Think of your poor future grandchildren!
I cannot believe that you have not left the country already and taken your children out of harms way!
What a nut.
You believe in a talking snake, and I'm the nut?
You believe that angels and demons are watching you at all times, and I'm the nut?
Although evolution has been proven as fact, you reject it for your magical beliefs in a god creating humans from dirt, and I'm the nut?
You think it's possible for one innocent man to die, resulting in the salvation of billions of bad people, and I'm the nut?
You worship a god that condoned slavery, the murdering of gays, and bears ripping children apart for insulting a prophet, and I'm the nut?
It's a shame that you've resulted to name-calling. That's very Christian of you. Posts like yours are proof that we're not quite finished evolving.
Nope, I don't believe in any of those things, and I'm not a christian.
And yes your intolerance and ignorance on this subject makes me think you are a nut.
But nut is a far nicer word than child abuser. Glass houses and all that.
Your offensive name calling of most Americans does nothing for your cause and takes the tolerance of atheists back a step with this kind of talk.
My intolerance and ignorance?
It's so easy for you to come on here anonymously and claim to know all, yet share and contribute little.
My progressive thinking within Atheism is very uniting, and against slander of religious beliefs. Many Atheists have turned on me for my acceptance and support of religions practicing. You really have no idea who you're talking to or you wouldn't be saying this nonsense.
But you CAN know who I am. You've chosen to speculate instead. I'm not afraid to state my position and stand up for my views. You on the other hand, hide behind a secret name and claim to have all the answers as you belittle my position with name-calling, and then turn around and tell me that I'm setting Atheism back with insults--as you remain unknown, and your beliefs are unknown. You're a walking contradiction.
You need to do a little more research on me, listen to my speech, listen to my radio show, and read my other blogs before you claim to know my position on civil rights, the Atheist movement.
I have read your blog, listened to your radio show, and even taken your blog topics to other more active forums where atheists and believers participate in discussion. This one in particular sparked a lot of discussion. I am not alone in my opinion of your methods, and neither are you alone in your opinion.
But from my perspective you talk out of both sides of your mouth. You cannot be tolerant and respectful of other religious views all the while belittling them, demeaning them, calling them names like psychotic, brainwashed, uneducated or child abusers and making it your lifes work to prove them wrong. Its hypocritical and absolutely not tolerant and respectful. You cannot be honest and say you do not personally slander the beliefs of christians. You only have to read your own blog to know otherwise.
Who I am or what I believe in has no bearing on my opinion, thats all it is, an opinion based on observation of your words.
I'm sorry you can't use what I may or may not believe in (because you don't know) to demean my opinion, I'm sure it is frustrating for you.
Notice there's no scrutiny of this practice in Islam...
I am a dedicated Christian, have been one for many years. You have absolutely no idea what Christianity is about. I have never scared my children,threatening them with Hell if they don't behave. I have told them about a loving Savior Who died for their sins(yours too). They are all serving God, not out of fear, but out of love for Him. As far as evolution is concerned: what a crock. You are much more gullible to believe we came from nothing than to believe we are created by God. Athiesm is your faith, just like Christianity is mine, and I believe if there is an abuser, it is you. I am so sorry for whatever came into your life that stole your faith in God from you, and gave you nothing but a faith in dirt. It is so sad.
You're taking this completely out of context, and assuming that I'm going to lose sleep over some anonymous poster on my site.
Seriously, there are hundreds just like you--waiting to insult me with no real backbone to stand for anything, hiding behind a screen name, lobbing insults over the fence. I don't care that much.
My point was, that you're only pointing out where others are "wrong" without offering a 'truth' of your own. It's easy to remain anonymous and refute the opinion of others without taking a stance of your own or providing any real content that's not 'anti-atheist.' I don't care what you believe, I was just pointing out the fact that you were on my site, calling me names, and then accusing me of name-calling--all the while, not really offering any productive information of your own.
I do see what you mean, that if you scan over my material or half-way pay attention to my show/speech how one could assume I am talking out of both sides of my mouth.
Let me be very clear so that you can't twist my words or misunderstand me:
1) I do support the rights of religious people to continue practicing their religion as long as it doesn't interfere with our secular government or become forced on the public.
2) I personally think that scaring a child with thoughts of Satan, Hell, and demons is a form of child abuse--but so is smoking while pregnant, making your child stuff themselves until their plate is clean, or cursing at them; but I don't think any of that warrants jail time.
3) I become combative and insulting when others are that way with me. I should probably practice more restraint, you are right. But it's very frustrating to be openly discriminated against as an Atheist, only to have other "defend their position" by coming to my site and calling me names. I could just delete your comments, but I believe that you, along with everyone else have the right to say what you feel.
I am not a hypocrite. You've only brought up one condition in which you felt I was contradicting myself, and I explained that very well.
Please tell me where else I have done so and I will gladly clear that up, too.
David Smalley wrote: "But forcing them to learn things as fact that you don't even know to be true is a form of child abuse..."
Dude, what makes you think that anything you know is true? I know there are scientific "proofs" for certain relationships between elements and forces that we have experienced in our solar system but what's happening 3 trillion light-years from here? How can anyone say for sure that the physical laws that hold true here are true out there? The only way to be sure is to go there and run some tests. And that ain't happening.
When it comes to God Incarnate walking as a man among men 2000 years ago, it's like talking about a man from another planet. Jesus the Christ-man is either all the way true in everything He said and did, or He is nothing but a lie from cradle to cross. Believing the Christ is true or not is a matter of choice.
Disciples of Christ are disciples of Christ because of what the Christ said and did and does now by His Spirit. By now you should know that there are no conclusive scientific explanations for whatever "power" holds this particular moment of our universe together; no explanation for how this moment, and all that it contains, is transmitted seamlessly and silently into the next moment without the loss of a single particle. No explanation whatsoever exists for the "accelerating universe" phenomenon discovered in 1998. The scientific community is very very quiet about that because they have no earthly idea of why it should be happening.
You speak as if you KNOW with 100% provable absolute certainty that there is nothing but NOTHING after the moment of DEATH. Nobody knows what's on the other side of the grave except one man: Jesus of Nazareth.
From where you sit now, you can sit back and say, "I don't believe Jesus of Nazareth came back to life after being dead for three days."
But unless you have incontrovertible proof of what you believe then, like you say, it's just your opinion. Have a nice day, kiddo. And be careful what you choose. Choices have consequences.
I wonder who is brainwashing your kids. At least Christian day care knows how to love and care for children and tries to teach them solid moral values that will help them be a better person.
Your religion is a dead one with no hope. Is that what you want for your children? Can you honestly say that you aren't forcing your Atheism on them? I seriously doubt it.
The perpetrator of crimes is often the loudest advocate against supposed crimes in others.
Hope for what? Not sure what that means. If David's kids are to know the Lord, they will, regardless of what David says or does.
Just for the record there are many different people posting as anonymous here. Being anonymous on an internet blog does not negate an opinion either. You can take it for what its worth, opinions from people who are reading your words and responding with their observations. You are obviously asking for a reaction. Don't dismiss the reaction because you have no idea who people are or what they believe in. That is the very definition of tolerance, what they personally believe in should not matter to be able to listen to an opinion without ridicule or dismissal. They are legitimate reactions, learn from them or forget them, but remember that you did ask for them.
A couple of things:
Yes, I do expect comments. I welcome comments. I do not welcome insults. There is a difference.
Comments like "At least Christian day care knows how to love and care for children..." implies that non-Christian households do not. That's ridiculous.
Secondly, I have no religion. Posting that my religion is "dead" just shows ignorance of Atheism--which is a lack of belief, not a set of beliefs at all.
I'm doing a live radio show in an hour, so I need to get going. We're talking about religion in schools, so if you want to join in, listen live online and feel free to call in with your opinion.
Listen Live at 8PM CST: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dogmadebate/2010/07/01/dogma-debate-with-smalley-hyso
I'll be back on here shortly after the show to respond to further comments.
Hi David. Nice Biblical name. David means beloved of God. You are blessed indeed, at least with a good name. The Bible says that David was a man after God's own heart and God loved him in spite of his wickedness.
As far as you intellectual understanding of scripture you will always begin with a very distinct disadvantage. You have only lived on one side of the argument, and those who are Christians have lived on both sides.
Before you get on me about any religious life you may have had in the past, let me assure you that whatever you experienced, it was never true Christianity. Any Christian will tell you that there were specific steps, if you will, to salvation.
1. Genuine sorrow for sin an a humble bowing before the Lord of the universe seeking his forgiveness.
2. The revelation from the Holy Spirit that you have indeed been forgiven, and
3. A thankful heart that longs to love and serve the Lord from the moment of salvation and throughout eternity.
I Corinthians 2:14 states; "For the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED."
Prior to salvation you have no spiritual discernment because God only reveals himself to the repentant sinner and at that moment spiritual discernment begins for the first time in the sinner's life. Because you are lacking in spiritual discernment you are limited to your human intellect in a futile attempt to understand spiritual things. That is a precarious position to live in and a horrible and irrevocable position to die in.
I was like you in this, that I also was a very intellectual and analytical person prior to my salvation. Now I know Christ personally, and have been blessed to be used to perform some of the miracles you hear about or read about in scripture. I don't say this as a boast. My boasting is in Jesus alone and nobody else.
I have prayed for the sick and seen them instantly healed, and have seen many others healed through the prayers of other Christians. I have been in spiritual battles with demons and cast them out of people and houses. I have preached sermons with heavy anointing that brought entire congregations to their knees. I have been in homes where the presence of the power of God brought people to tears of remorse for their unrepentant hearts.
The power of God is available to those who will humble themselves and understand that all glory and honor and praise belong to God alone no matter how God might use them. I rejoice in this that God did the work and I am but an instrument in his hands.
You are lost as long as you seek to know or understand spiritual things without the aid of the Holy Spirit, and that aid is not promised to anyone but genuine Christians who have repented and received salvation through the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
I pity you if you refuse to hear God's voice and die in your sins. It is the most horrid thought I can ever consider knowing the wrath of God against those who reject his word and reject his salvation.
I will pray that God will open your eyes to the truth before you face him in judgment and must meet him in fear as your judge instead of your deliverer.
"You're taking this completely out of context, and assuming that I'm going to lose sleep over some anonymous poster on my site"
On the contrary, I'm quite sure you could care less and will sleep just fine. I can tell you enjoy being provocative and to get a rise out of christians seems to be a favorite hobby for you.
"1) I do support the rights of religious people to continue practicing their religion as long as it doesn't interfere with our secular government or become forced on the public"
But how do you treat those people? Do you give them the respect to practice their religion? Or do you ridicule and demean them every chance you get. Do you treat the christian people in your life the way you treat christian people on this blog or your radio show? Can you not see the hypocrisy running rampant here? This particular post and many others have nothing to do with the government or your personal space, it is simply an attack on a religion you despise. So personally you are not supporting their right to practice but trying to hurt people who do.
"2) I personally think that scaring a child with thoughts of Satan, Hell, and demons is a form of child abuse"
I personally think this is an over exaggeration. Christian preschoolers are not sitting in the corners in fear as you would make it seem. They are happy well-adjusted kids, learning the alphabet and counting, playing, laughing, singing and enjoying their day. Maybe you should visit one for a week and observe because your mischaracterization of it is not flying with anyone.
"3) I become combative and insulting when others are that way with me. I should probably practice more restraint, you are right. But it's very frustrating to be openly discriminated against as an Atheist, only to have other "defend their position" by coming to my site and calling me names. I could just delete your comments, but I believe that you, along with everyone else have the right to say what you feel."
I believe the first name to be called "child abuser" came from you. You can not expect to be treated any differently than you treat others. What you put out there has a funny way of reflecting itself right back at you.
Discrimination is all-encompassing. I'm quite sure no one gets through life without feeling it a little. Fat, poor, muslim, white, black, hispanic, christian, atheist, gay or even ugly, no one is immune to it. Some get it more than others. You have no choice it will happen but your reaction to it is something you do get to choose. Will you perpetuate it and keep it going by doing it in return or will you defuse it with an opposite reaction. If you are truly happy with yourself, what other people think or feel about you should not matter.
NewsBusters| American Atheist Editor: Christian Daycare is ‘Child Abuse’
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nathan-burchfiel/2010/06/30/american-atheist-editor-christian-daycare-child-abuse
All I have to say is Wow to the comments on the Newsbusters article.
I love you David, just as Jesus does.
Blessings in Christ Jesus.
Kyle,
You said it best. Fortunately, God has the power to change any man, because his admitted unsupported statements about Christian pre-school show that he has no idea about the true tenets of Christianity. I will be praying for you David, as I do for all those unfortunate souls who do not know Christ.
I've posted a public statement regarding the news story and those comments here:
http://www.dogmadebate.com/2010/07/public-response-to-news.html
The fact that no person who does not claim a traditional Christian religion would have a difficult, if not impossible, time getting elected to a higher office in America is testimony to the intolerance of athiesm, agnosticism, spirituality that is not based in traditional religions, and other similar beliefs. There is a lot of merit to this blogger's position.
But then again, you also have to realize that we elect people to represent us. We elect people who we believe would have our best interests at heart and who we agree with the most.
Atheists are a small minority who don't have the same basic core beliefs that most Americans do. Of course Americans would elect people who they feel best represents them. Most Americans can't identify with atheists, so of course they wouldn't elect them to represent them.
To be elected you have to appeal to a majority of the voters. Its a simple concept really.
Show your nuts 'smally' and make this post but replace 'muslim' with every word you just put in 'christianity. Won't happen, because you only go where it is safe to go. Because the christian faith you blame for your own insecurities and your excuse to live, allows you this voice to speak freely.
If you don't make another post about a religion that will cut off your hand if you steal, beat the crap out of the woman if they go out of the house without being completely covered, who teach to blow up others in the name of their God, you are just another nobody trying to be somebody by putting down others to make yourself feel better. But until you do, you would never be able to say you are fighting for 'children' with any credibility. You have picked the wrong enemy, as so many of you and your fellow liberals have done. You mock what is safe to mock, in a country that was founded on what you mock, and has made it ok to do so. Hypocrite.
Laura & Anonymous (1),
That's a great discussion to have. Laura, I think you put a great point on the table, and I appreciate your support.
And Anonymous, you're exactly right--people want to elect those that are like-minded. Excellent response!
My position is, most of these people who are are 'like-minded voters' get that way due to the intolerance that Laura is mentioning.
The violation of the civil liberties of nonbelievers due to that intolerance is a major hurdle that we as a society need to overcome.
Further, our government was founded on the consent of the governed, not any one religion. But again, many of these 'like-minded voters' want to see more Christianity integrated with government and public schools, even though our Founding Fathers were strictly against that.
So yes, our officials should represent the population, but they should also uphold the purpose of our U.S. Constitution and rights of ALL citizens to be treated equally.
Anonymous (2),
I wonder what has you so angry and confused. I specifically addressed Islam in the post that I linked to above, titled 'Public Response to News.'
There are atheist civil rights activists in Muslim countries fighting for their own civil liberties. I do not focus on Christianity for a fear of Islam, I focus on it because it's right here in my life every day. I also focused on Islam in my post titled "Why Do Atheists Care?"
My children are not forced to say "One Nation under Allah," and "In Allah We Trust" is not on our money. "Allah" is not mentioned in our court rooms where justice is supposed to be equal for all Americans.
The Christian god is the one that is referenced in my home land, so that's what I address most of the time.
You said "the christian faith you blame for your own insecurities and your excuse to live, allows you this voice to speak freely." I'm sorry, but the freedom of our country is what allows me to speak freely, not Christianity. Again, you have the two confused.
My purpose is not to "put others down," but to warn others about the hidden dangers within religions. It appears to be the home of warm feelings, safety, and goodness, but that's not always true.
Islam is just a copy-cat religion from Christianity. The Qur'an was written 600 years later, and some verses are stolen from the Bible nearly word for word.
When our country stops acting like a Christian nation, defending the Christian god, perhaps these religious-based countries will stop trying to convert us by force. Just a thought.
That's why in Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli, it was written that "The United States of America is in no way founded upon the Christian religion." That prevented war.
We would be smart to do the same today.
First off I'm not Christian, I belong to a different religion. One very important point of mine is that children should choose their own (religious) path.
But I'm also stuck. I take in foster children of a very young age (Infant - 3 years). I work Full-time as a healthcare provider, so the children I take in are required to attend daycare while I'm at work. The only daycare remotely close to home or the hospital, that meets all the state's criteria for childcare, is out of a local Protestant Church.
It makes me nervous. I think the children are very well cared for at the daycare, but I'm also concerned that (especially the toddlers) are learning things about spirituality or philosophy that I don't agree with and would opt not to teach a child so young and impressionable.
David, I understand and agree with (Most of) your opinion, but the children I see have faced REAL abuse and neglect. They are well cared for at this daycare, so until another (hopefully secular) daycare opens up in my area that I can send my kids too, I take my chance with the Christians, and mostly don't feel bad about it. But I do enroll them in the local Montessori daycare the instant they turn 3 and are eligible to attend!
David Smalley
We are a Christian Nation. We were founded on Christian Principles. Separation of church and state is not in the constitution. The founders were against an established State Religion like the Church of England. They were not against religion however. Congress used to start with prayer before conducting business. there used to be a church inside the Congress building! The 1st amendment protected the states right to have a state religion if they wanted and in fact several states did have established religions. If you didn't like the states religion you would move somewhere else. Separation of church and state came from a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists. They were afraid they wouldn't be able to practice their religion and Jefferson reassured they would.
The authority on this matter is David Barton. Anyone who wants to know what the founding fathers actually thought about religion should visit wallbuilders.com
Mr. Smalley if you want to be taken seriously you need to visit this site and look in the library tab. You cannot use the founding fathers to help your argument.
You also misspoke about where your rights come from. Rights come from God. When you allow man to give you your rights you are giving him the power to take them away too. And if they can be taken away then they are not rights at all, they are privileges. If your right to be an athiest comes from man then the next administration could take that away. And while in your heart you are still an atheist your body is in jail.
You misunderstand the Treaty of Tripoli. Read wallbuilders.com, library tab, issues and articles section, treaty of tripoli article. you said you use credible sources. Who, wikipedia? -Matt
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Not sure I agree with all your statements here, but great article nonetheless.
I like the Church Sunday daycare on which they introduce children to the Christian way of life. If a child is special like auditory processing disorder, it is recommended that they seek experts and specialized learning disorder.
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