Religious Freedom: Christians only, please.

[False Fable]

Last year the good folks over at Liberty University - so concerned with freedom of religion - managed to force Albemarle County, Virginia schools to distribute Christian literature in so-called "backpack mail" sent home with kids.

What resulted might be the most beautiful case of ironic justice in recent memory:

Link (http://blog.au.org/2007/05/31/backpack-blowback-religious-right-activists-want-preferential-treatment-from-public-school-forum-they-created/)

[windsofchange]

Moved to Church/State Separation.

[Veovis]

This is rich! Those religious right motherfuckers want to send propaganda home with schoolkids, but get all pissy when the pagans and atheists infringe on their turf! For them, I have only two words:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c140/jedisentinal/simpsons_nelson_haha2.jpg

[rnrstar]

Christians have enjoyed special rights for so long that they completely lose it when someone decides to either make them play fair or use the special rights they enjoy.

[KidBaize]

The evangelical leaders have crossed a line now. I hope people realize how dangerous these nutjobs are. They want to return us to the intellectual dark ages. Non-religious voters need to have a voice to represent them.

I have faith that reasonable people outnumber nutbars in this world. We just to send out the beacon.

[Ghostdog]

Christians have enjoyed special rights for so long that they completely lose it when someone decides to either make them play fair or use the special rights they enjoy.

Thats because they don't like it when truth tramples over their idiocy and mindless babble.

[dettus]

"But this is a Christian Nation not a pagan or atheist nation."
"This is One Nation Under God."
"In God We Trust"
"God Bless America."

Anyway this is where most religionists (and non informed wishy washy types) retreat to. Their special privledges are, to them, justified.

[LetUsRatiocinate]

I guess the Falwell types think that "with liberty and justice for all" states the name of a university in Virginia. And that justice just means "we get our way."

[dancer_rnb]

"But this is a Christian Nation not a pagan or atheist nation."
"This is One Nation Under God."
"In God We Trust"
"God Bless America."

Anyway this is where most religionists (and non informed wishy washy types) retreat to. Their special privledges are, to them, justified.

I kind of wish the Mennonites would replace the Southern Baptists.

[gsx1138]

I've always said, "Put the 10 commandments where ever you like around government buildings so long as I can put my pentacle right next to it."

[Aria]

This is, sadly, exactly what I expect of these people. They scream about fairness, then scream when they get what they want because others get their fair time as well.

[Ghostdog]

Christians and religious freedom are like oil and water, french toast and french fries, America and Canada. It just doesn't work.

[sea star]

'All I want is a fair advantage" - from Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey

[rnrstar]

Liberty and justice for all but Christians get whipped cream and a cherry on top of theirs.

[BruceWane]

Notice the World Net Daily article (http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55854) cited by AU?

the headline - "Teachers rebel over atheism promotion -
District mandates handouts that violate religious beliefs"

Interesting wording there............

You can read the Camp Quest advertisement in question. Nowhere does it "promote" atheism in any way. It simply promotes a camp that is geared toward atheists and freethinkers.

And the word "violate" - apparently "disagreeing with" a persons (christian) religious beliefs is now synonymous with "violating" their religious beliefs.

This isn't anything we didn't already know - the fact that we simply exist is seen as "promoting atheism", and disagreeing with them is actually seen as a violation. Of course, you put two and two together and it's apparent that the existence of atheists is seen as a violation of christian beliefs. By simply existing, we are violating their beliefs. Scary.

Sure, many of us knew this general mind-set is out there, but it's a little chilling to see it in print, and it's certainly interesting to see the propaganda in action.

[False Fable]

I would think that the "Camp Quest" flyer DOES promote atheism/agnosticism, etc., and I think that there is nothing wrong with that. Christian camps promote Christianity; no one here would go along with the idea that a christian summer camp is simply "geared towards" Christians.

Otherwise I think you're right, BW. Our existance is "promotion" and if we dare speak, its a "violation."
-----------------------------
At any rate, if an individual teacher selectively allows or disallows individual flyers, then that is clearly a case of that teacher promoting some religions over others. There would be an uproar if a Wiccan teacher decided against distributing all non-Wiccan flyers. He/she would probably soon be unemployed, to boot.