Islamic Presenation causes Contreversy in Houston Area Junior High

Why would we be so scared to ask the people who really believe this stuff to tell us what they really believe??? It's a one-day event. They didn't set up the Muslim Student Union. They came...and they spoke. The end. People are free to explore or not explore the religion further from there on their own.

In this march for religious freedom what we're endorsing is censorship because we're so scared that somehow these ideas might infiltrate minds at school. We should stop teaching anything about religion at all, I suppose if we're that scared.

 

There is no difference, because they are providing information "about their religion," not requiring the kids to pray to Allah.

In fact, where similar problems exist, I would encourage the school to have a cleric/representative provide the presentation on their respective religion. Every now and then anti-Jewish sentiment rears it's ugly head, and I would applaud a school who attempted to eradicate the hatred through educational presentations.

In the zeal to persecute this prinicpal for doing the right thing, let's not forget that the presentation was to diffuse hateful intentions directed toward a religion.

 

So your discussion of Islam boiled down to that they don't eat bacon?

With all due respect DD but I think you just made Bobrek's point regarding why it might be good to have a practitioner of the religion explain it.

Anyway I've just skimmed this thread and DD I think you are way overreacting.
overreacting on the D & D who would've thunk it!

I saw the powerpoint presentation and I have a hard time buying that it is proselytizing. I mean how is stating that Indonesia is the country with the most Muslims proselytizing? Whether you believe that Muhammed was given the Qu'ran by God doesn't change the factual basis that 1.2 billion people do beleive that. The belief isn't a fact but that a heck of a lot of people hold that belief is.

Proselytizing would be if they said that you should believe that and that this is the one true belief. They don't say that but seem fairly clear explaining this is what they believe as Muslims, not what you should believe.

Finally regarding your "just the facts" view of education if that is the case then what is the point of studying Shakespeare or any other literature? Shakespeare is wrong on several points in history and there is some debate whether someone named William Shakespeare really wrote all of those plays.

 

No, but that was an interesting part of it.....and a way to explain how cultural issues become dogma in a lot of religions.

Shakespeare was a playwright, isn't that a fact? He was not a historian.

DD

 

not necessarily.

 

Ok, I am somewhat familiar with that argument, maybe another thread.

Now you are talking !!

DD

 

Why shouldn't the school just teach the subject in context of what is taught already? I know people have made comparisons to this and some professional coming and speaking to the class but it is not the same.

The funny thing is I am against censorship and in a way it does feel like this promotes it. I am fine with this type of thing going on as long as two things are done:

1. Notify the parents.

2. Allow equal time for other groups of the same nature to come in a display their views.

People say only the major ones but I say if one can be heard then all can.

 

If there is not difference, why allow a group to come in and present this? Why is the school teaching not sufficient?

I'm not against that but children shouldn't be forced to listen without parental consent. I wouldn't mind this being done at any school with tensions between groups but if you allow one then you must allow all.

Can the school not handle that?

 

Ok...I think that's telling, assuming you're serious. Are you serious or just being funny? Are you seriously suggesting it would be better if we did not teach faith traditions at all in school?

 

The first line of the original news article provided the reason for the presentation:

"Faced with the threat of having a hate crime reported to the FBI, ..."

The implication is that a hate crime may have been perpetrated against someone of the Islamic faith and action was necessary.

As others have pointed out, some of this would be taught during the appropriate semester under the regular curriculum.

Edit: this answers your other response also.

 

1. Feels the same to me. While studying what someone believes, having those someones come to tell you directly what they believe is about as educational and direct as you can possibly be.

2. No need for equal time because it wasn't about that. It was about addressing the fact they had some incidents of discrimination against Muslim kids. If they had them against a group of Hindu kids, I'd be all for Hindus being allowed to speak as to their beliefs. In the hopes that kids might wake up, see them in a different light and end the crap that spews from ignorance. The thought behind all this was ending ignorance so as to make life a bit easier for kids deemed to be different because of their religious views. I don't want to live in a country where that's not ok.

3. The "they all have to come in" argument is already lost. We don't teach Wiccan in schools...we teach the major religions because they impact history and sociology. They impact social structures around the world. That's why they're taught. Not as a showcase for a choose your own religion convention.

 

When I say let everybody in I mean in the context of the situation. If a student who is a Satanist or Agnostic or Atheist is picked on, are schools going to allow a group relevant to those beliefs come in and lecture the students? I doubt it.

 

I think I will leave this to you. You are better at it than I.

Peace, Shalom, and Melaka Salaam, to all...

 

When that becomes a problem, let's talk about it. But that's not the reality we're living in. When Satanists become a big enough part of the population and are seriously discriminated against, then we'll talk about it. Otherwise we're talking hypotheticals.

 

I am serious that we should not teach dogma, or get too deeply into beliefs, but if you are talking about how it shaped history or politics, or society then I am fine with teaching it in that context.

DD

 

and government.

we're so behind other countries in technology (such as stem cell research) because of our dumbass president doesnt believe in math or science.

 

You study religion to study what people believe. To understand motivations...to see how that impacted history and how it impacts current events.

 

I have no problem with it taught in that context.

DD

 

Insert long-winded and overplayed "politics and religion" debate here.

 

Excellent point!!! It can't merely shape politics...it IS politics!!