Religion In School

[Theta-Sigma]

Today in school we were all filed into the concert room to watch the school play, "Godspell." I had seen posters of it all over the school and thought it had nothing to do with christianity and the God part was just a name. Well was I wrong... I wasted 2 hours watching a glorified, upbeat church service in my school. Being atheist I found this not only offensive to me and my friends but also the few muslims and hindu in or school. I'm almost certain that this is 100% illegal here in the states... Am I wrong? Does anyone know the parameters...?

[Codex]

I believe it depends on the State and whether or not people are willing to uphold the "separation of church and state" article.

[Shiav]

It's illegal to teach evolution in a classroom in Louisiana or Tennessee, I wouldn't doubt if it was perfectly legal.

Also, tell them to stop giving the rest of us a bad name. Most people are perfectly normal and not pushy what soever.

[Invader]

In the sixth grade there was a whole unit of Social Studies devoted to studying various religions, and it's a topic commonly discussed in Geography. However, in Biology we just wrapped up an entire unit on Charles Darwin and evolution.

Assuming you're in the United States, the first amendment gives all citizens the freedom of religion. I fully believe that that includes the freedom to reject religion, but you've gotta be a bit more tolerant of those who are religious.

[Shiav]

In the sixth grade there was a whole unit of Social Studies devoted to studying various religions, and it's a topic commonly discussed in Geography. However, in Biology we just wrapped up an entire unit on Charles Darwin and evolution.

Assuming you're in the United States, the first amendment gives all citizens the freedom of religion. I fully believe that that includes the freedom to reject religion, but you've gotta be a bit more tolerant of those who are religious.

Hm. In the FSU evolution was taught as an absolute. It was strange when I first came here and found out just how many people don't believe in it.

[IllusionOfLife]

The phrase "separation of church and state" is one that, contrary to popular belief, is not found in the United States Constitution or any of its amendments. It actually comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist association, ironically enough to protect the Baptists from government interference, not the other way around as the Supreme Court has famously used the phrase since.

The actual text of the First Amendment states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Essentially, the government will not establish an "official" religion or prevent anyone from practicing their religion in the way they see fit. Religion is not banned from public schools, the school is just not allowed to "preach." Studying various religions is fine, as is having artistic performances that contain religious themes. Whether or not you personally think it was in good taste is entirely separate from its legality.

[Shiav]

The phrase "separation of church and state" is one that, contrary to popular belief, is not found in the United States Constitution or any of its amendments. It actually comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist association, ironically enough to protect the Baptists from government interference, not the other way around as the Supreme Court has famously used the phrase since.

The actual text of the First Amendment states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Essentially, the government will not establish an "official" religion or prevent anyone from practicing their religion in the way they see fit. Religion is not banned from public schools, the school is just not allowed to "preach." Studying various religions is fine, as is having artistic performances that contain religious themes. Whether or not you personally think it was in good taste is entirely separate from its legality.

How about stunningly accurate reprisals of Stalingrad? Or Red October? (the real one) Or the idolization of a child murdered by his family for turning his father into us for hoarding food?

[IllusionOfLife]

How about stunningly accurate reprisals of Stalingrad? Or Red October? (the real one) Or the idolization of a child murdered by his family for turning his father into us for hoarding food?

Again, taste and judgement are entirely separate from legality. There are many books banned from certain schools based on matters of taste and opinion, however, that does not make reading those books in school illegal. The same would stand for this play. I would bet that most schools across the country wouldn't put on such a performance, but that doesn't make it illegal to do so.

[Opeth Of Epica]

I would have been disgusted if they had that in my school and I would have left probably 30 minutes in. As a misanthopic and believing that religion is pointless, I believe that legal or not, they shouldn't have forced people to watch this.

[Atlas-]

I have a reading from the bible every Monday in assembly, a chapel assembly every Wednesday and singing hyms and praying every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I'm a staunch Atheist as I'm sure many of you know but I don't mind this, I listen to the arguments in the readings but don't agree with them, I don' sing the hyms and I don't bow my head to pray. It's a matter of choice, the option is there for the Christians to participate and me to not. As long as they don't force you to take to your knees in prayer I don't think there's anything wrong with it in schools.

[Hawk]

Today in school we were all filed into the concert room to watch the school play, "Godspell." I had seen posters of it all over the school and thought it had nothing to do with christianity and the God part was just a name. Well was I wrong... I wasted 2 hours watching a glorified, upbeat church service in my school. Being atheist I found this not only offensive to me and my friends but also the few muslims and hindu in or school. I'm almost certain that this is 100% illegal here in the states... Am I wrong? Does anyone know the parameters...?

It's very wrong to force beliefs on people.

In Australia it's entirely the other way round. Only evolution is taught in public schools, and no religion (there are privet schools that teach both). I'm religious and am happy to talk about religion to those who feel comfortable with the subject, but as I said, I am completely against forcing beliefs on others and I believe everyone is free to choose for themselves...This made my situation in school very ironic (back in the day when I went to school), because although I won't force my beliefs on other's I found that the beliefs of other's were being forced upon me. It gave me opportunities to show why belief in God is not unreasonable, but at the same time it also made me uncomfortable. Basically I understand what you are saying because I went through kinda the same thing, just the complete opposite teaching.

Just to clarify, I respect your point of view.

[_Pax_]

I'm almost certain that this is 100% illegal here in the states... Am I wrong? Does anyone know the parameters...?

If you are in the United States, yes, it is.

Contact the Freedom from Religion Foundation, if you want to make some waves and get that play out of your school. Just be aware that, even as a teenager in highschool, there will almost certainly be social consequences for daring to point out that Christianity has to stay out of our schools / governments / etc, just as much as Hinduism, Islam, or anything else.

[IllusionOfLife]

Ergh, I hate to be that guy here, but religion is one of those topics that is typically frowned upon on the forums, and this kind of thread is the reason why. While no one has gone overboard yet, the pressure is starting to build up, and I'm going to close this before it devolves into an all-out flame war.