That is/was not the purpose of the piece. This was the purpose of the piece: "Reply: Dear Concerned Student: I am not allowed in schools. Sincerely, God"
You said that religion wasn't allowed in schools, and then linked it to numerous moral problems in society. I was saying that despite the changing relationship of religion to our public institutions, it is in no way diminishing in it's role in society (see previous post for support of that statement). Therefore, blaming all of these societal problems on the lack of religion in schools is not accurate. If religion is in no way diminishing in it's overall role in society, how can it be to blame for all of those problems? Everyone still believes in God. Everyone still goes to church. Everyone thinks religion solves all our problems. BUT - Everyone thinks our society is in decline because everyone else doesn't believe in God, doesn't go to church, and doesn't have faith in religion to help society? I propose that other things are to blame.
I don't believe that anyone, anywhere at anytime (except you) said that ALL the problems were due to this one factor. There is no concise "causality" that would satisfy anyone let alone the critics of the notion. These are too complex to be "proved" beyond a doubt.
OK... then I revise my statement. You said that religion wasn't allowed in schools, and then linked it to numerous moral problems in society. I was saying that despite the changing relationship of religion to our public institutions, it is in no way diminishing in it's role in society (see previous post for support of that statement). Therefore, partially blaming all of these societal problems on the lack of religion in schools is not accurate. If religion is in no way diminishing in it's overall role in society, how can it be partially to blame for all of those problems? Everyone still believes in God. Everyone still goes to church. Everyone thinks religion solves all our problems. BUT - Everyone thinks our society is in decline because everyone else doesn't believe in God, doesn't go to church, and doesn't have faith in religion to help society? I propose that other things are to blame.
What you don't understand, Doc, is that giddy is only saying this: There might be a connection between God being removed from schools and school violence...if something can be worked out.
Not really. It's kind of fun to snap people out of their narrow views, and challenge the naive, insular beliefs of their own religious superiority.
OK... You said that God wasn't allowed in schools, and then linked it to numerous behavioral problems with children. I was saying that despite the changing relationship of God to our schools, it is in no way diminishing in it's overall role in society. Therefore, partially blaming all of these school problems on the lack of religion in schools is not accurate because there has been no diminishing of religion's role in people's lives since the 50's. If religion is in no way diminishing in it's overall role in society, how can it be partially to blame for all of those problems? Everyone still believes in God. Everyone still goes to church. Everyone thinks religion solves all our problems. BUT - Everyone thinks our society is in decline because everyone else doesn't believe in God, doesn't go to church, and doesn't have faith in religion to help society? I propose that the diminishing role of God in schools is not to blame because it is not diminishing the role of God in the public's life. ------------------- In other words, the role of God in schools seems to have no effect whatsoever of the role of God in children's lives and therefore has no effect on their behavior.
You know the thread from the GARM forum. The insider scoop that there could be a deal with New Jersey for one of our power forwards and an unspecified Jersey player. That thread is just like this one.
Dang... you guys are either going to have to get funnier material, or start spelling it out for me a little better.
No, what Giddy is saying is that he believes that there is definitely a connection between the removal of God from school (and our public life) and the social decay which we face. This piece which came to his attention proposes the same conclusion.
Thank You! I've posted the same thing 5 times, and no response whatsoever to the content. I'm not trying to screw with anyone here. I've abandoned talking about the problem I have with the thread (which I still have) and I am trying to talk about what I thought giddyup wanted to talk about.
Is it religion as a disciplinary tool that you want, for example the mean nun rapping kids over the knuckles with a ruler and forcing kids to pray for their souls when they get into trouble, or is it the presence of a higher force that you want in schools which might have kids thinking about the meaning of things and their role in it, therefore motivating them to contribute? If it is the second (spiritual presence), I think my point about religion's role in society is very valid. If it is the first (disciplinary tool), then yes - there is no substitute. You can spank kids harder and harder but they won't necessarily respond better sometimes. "Going to Hell", is one more layer of punishment that can be dished out to straighten the bad seeds out. When you combine that with standard corporal punishment, detention, demerits, and suspensions, it becomes a stronger tool for teachers. I would say that the first is somewhat barbaric, and should not be used (and probably rarely is) in ANY school of this age, never mind if it is public or privately funded/owned. I think we are beyond "fire and brimstone" and see its faults. The second is possible to be attained entirely at home (as I supported before), which coincidentally also makes all the minority groups and Constitutional armchair attorneys in our rapidly expanding and diverse culture happy at the same time.
No you weren't. You had your own agenda as proven by your recent post above which asserted what was supposed to be my point which was not my point at all.
