Should religion be outlawed from schools?

By the same token why don't you keep your organized religion in the thousands of religious schools that exist across this country and out of the public schools? Public schools should be neutral ground when it comes to religion.

 

Christianity is *not* a religion. There are non-denominational practices of the Christian faith, but Christianity itself is not a religion. Catholicism is a religion. Christianity is not. Christianity is an umbrella term for a number of religions that have a common root. Takiji, I have never said that Christianity should be taught in schools--but it should be acknowledged as existing and it should not be banned. If you don't like the way the schools are, then you are just as welcome to home school your child as I am.

 

Interesting take on Christianity. I think very few people would agree with you on that. By that reasoning Buddhism is an umbrella term. And so is Islam. And so is Judaism. So what's your religion then?

 

"Interesting take on Christianity. I think very few people would agree with you on that. By that reasoning Buddhism is an umbrella term. And so is Islam. And so is Judaism. So what's your religion then?"

That's where you'd be wrong. I don't know about Buddhism, but Islam has a number of sects that are all Islamic--unless I'm mistaken, which I may be. Put an Eastern Orthodox Christian of any stripe, a Southern Baptist, and a member of the Society of Friends and see how much they agree on Christianity or how much faith they share with one another. They are not "sects" of Christianity, if you will--they all have separate beliefs and different practices and disagree on pretty much everything except for the existence of God and of Christ.

I am a member of the Orthodox Church in America. Our churches are autocephalus, but we are in communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches.

 

I'm not a Christian, so I can't say exactly. But it seems to me that what you are asserting is true only if you feel that your denominational trappings and the traditions are more important than the core beliefs that unite you. Are the incense and the holy water or lack thereof, the way that you cross yourselves, and whether you have a priest of a minister or a preacher more important than the words and message of the Savior? Does Christ care when you celebrate Christmas or whether you have icons or not? I'm not getting this.

 

I see what you're saying; I just meant that it doesn't make sense for, say, a student to be legally banned from discussing any aspect of their religion in a school building.

 

You ask a Southern Baptist/Catholic/Protestant etc if they are Christian and I will take bets that over 90% will say of course we are that they follow the word of the Bible If you do not believe me try it and come back with a honest answer as to how many tell you that they are not of the Christian faith LOL
After all they are all off shoots of the Catholic church

 

If people who identify as Christian cannot even agree among themselves on who is and who isn't then how are the rest of us supposed to view them? I mean they've been variously arguing, fighting and killing each other over this question almost from day one. And why should we be expected to take it seriously when one Christian group or another decides to see itself the moral arbiter of society based on its own supposedly "true" version of the faith and "correct" interpretation of the holy book?

 

There are some that would say that every faith is an offshoot of the Orthodox faith. But the point is, every Calvinist is a Christian, but not every Christian is a Calvinist. "Religion" has less to do with the trappings than it does to do with the portions of the Bible that particular group of Christians emphasizes--or whether it was emphasized at all. If you remember, Baptists have pretty much always been known for their Bible study and ability to quote chapter and verse. It was not until Vatican II, however, that Catholics were really encouraged to read the Bible, in addition to the Gospel and the Old Testament being read at daily Mass.

 

I think that the important question should be what God thinks about all of this. And where His focus is. And how much all this big end little end stuff really matters to Him.

 

So, you're moving the bar for the discussion again? Honestly, I believe that God has given the world free will so that we can work the small stuff out for ourselves. I would pray to St. Anthony, maybe, for him to help me find my lost car keys (as in, give me wisdom to find them), but I don't pray to God for that. I have, however, asked God to help me keep my house and to help my dying friend Sheila to find peace. I still have my house and Sheila went peacefully in her sleep. Did she find peace? I don't know, but I like to believe so. As to my keys? I think I probably have St. Anthony on speed dial.

 

Moving the bar? You mean leaving the OP a distant memory? That's kind of how things work around here. If fairly new myself and at first it drove me crazy but now I'm starting to go with the flow. I think I"ve become as much a thread hijacker as anyone.

 

I'll ask Him on poker night... if He comes... He still owes me money...

...on a side note: Sometimes He comes as a She...

...He/She is very confusing...

 

Hollysmom you say that Christianity is not a religion? prior to the founding of the Catholic church believers were called Christian and worshiped christ (from the greek Kristos meaning anointed one)
The term Catholic is again from the Greek and was 1st used in the 2nd C AD to describe the church (it means Universal or whole) it wasnt until the 10th C AD that the Eastern church split from Rome due to diffrences of theological ideas
The Protestant church came into been in the 16th century with the revolts of Martin Luther and Calvin
They all class themselfs as been part of the Christian Faith but are different sects of that faith

 

De Orc, a lot of things were true 2000 years ago that aren't true now. I stand by my assessment: the term "Christian" now refers to an individual that believes in the sovereignty of of Christ, but first identifies with a particular faith. Call the separate faiths "sects" if you will, but there is no unification between most of the different churches. "Christianity" might be the banner under which we all stand, but it is not, in itself, a single religion.

 

Yes I agree a lot is different now to 2000 years ago for example we now communicate with computers at a amazing rate but a Christian is still a person who believes in God etc the same as he was 2000 years ago and Christianity is still a religion simply now it has a lot more branches, some things dont change
I realy also should have pointed out that Christianity began life as a Jewish sect back in the 1st C AD and the basic tennet is still the same
You mentioned "non-denominational practices of the Christian faith" now how can they be of the Christian faith and practice that faith if christianity is itself not a faith (as you claim?) LOL

 

I'm not much for outlawing anything and people make too much of minor details. When I was in school we recited the Lord's Prayer every morning and I can't see how it hurt anything. I'm not a Christian and believe in freedom of religion, but it seems to me everyone's flying off the handle over nothing. As we used to say, don't sweat the small shit.

 

I agree. I have always thought the question 'do you believe in God' is pointless. Does God believe in me is the question.

 

Until the laws are being applied and then religion gets to avoid the laws they don't like. Then they get special treatment and equality and fairness go right out the window.

 

Don't bother. All you will get out of Holly'sMom on the subject of religion will be an eventual butt hurt proclamation. Eventually, she will say you are insulting her and claim moral indignation that your opinion of her religion is a personal attack.