Bible Back In Schools

[JBean]

This class is offered as an elective. no one has to even take it.
there were plenty of classes that I was not interested in my kids taking, so they didn't. But I wouldn't deny others from having the option?
We have a Bible Lit class at our public HS and it was a pretty popular class. But those not interested didn't take it.

 

[tybee204]

Kids learn more by the age of 10 about sex from television and movies then they will ever learn in school. Parents gripe about school then use TV as their babysitter.

 

[Ella]

Michelle, I am sorry if this is getting personal. I never intended it to be. Do you really think homosexuality is healthy? If so, why is the average life span of a gay man thirty years less than a heterosexual man? Why do I keep hearing stories from my friends in the medical community about the damage anal sex does to a person? Are they all just pulling my leg?
Girls don't get pregnant from abstinence. So you lost me on that one.
"Oh yes, you have already defined people by whom they have sex with, by saying that gay people lead a unhealty lifestyle. Please don't say in the same sentence that you are not anti-homsexual, but that gay people have a unhealty lifestyle."
I am really sorry if I hit a raw emotion. Am I anti heterosexual if I believe promiscuity is unhealthy? That really doesn't make sense to me, but label me as you wish. I have had friends die from AIDS. Maybe it was a coincedence. The homosexuality and AIDS. Go figure, I better go back to the public school and relearn the truth.

 

[Ella]

Dakini,
Please do not take offense in my opinions or put words into my mouth.

What is your response to a gay teenager? To a gay adult? What do you teach your children about gay people? That they are "out to get you?" To lead you into hell?

What a strange thing to say. I don't know anyone who feels that way about homosexuals. My response to the gay teenager and the gay adult is to treat them with love and respect. I have many homosexual friends. They certainly don't think of me as a homophobe...more like....old fashioned. But that's ok, I am old fashioned.
The latest studies on abstinence is that it is working. If we can reduce the number of children having sex, it is a good thing.
I am having a hard time trying to answer your question because I feel that you assume by my beliefs that I do not like homosexuals. That is not the truth. Christians do not beat up homosexuals. If they are doing that, then they are not Christian. I have seen homosexuals persecuted and it makes me sick. But it wasn't Christians or Christianity..but insecurity. At least that is my guess. I really don't know why people enjoy being cruel to others.

 

[tybee204]

There are unhealthy choices in all sexuality, gay, lesbian or hetro. There is promuscuity and deviance within every group. Defining an entire population by that would most certainly be faulty and short sighted IMO.

 

[reb]

<<Now, that is a subject I believe should be taught at home. I am not anti-homosexual. But it is a life style that is any thing but healthy.>>

why is it any less healthy than a heterosexual lifestyle, exactly....?

<<Why do I keep hearing stories from my friends in the medical community about the damage anal sex does to a person>>

uhh, this might be new to you---- but there's plenty of hetero's out there engaging in that too! homosexuals don't have a patent on that- LOL! straight people do ALL the same things that gay people do, last time i checked.

<Am I anti heterosexual if I believe promiscuity is unhealthy?>

oh so gay people are the only ones who are promiscuous?? PLEASE!

<I really do not appreciate anyone who wants to be defined by who they have sex with>

so that includes heterosexuals, right......??

 

[Ella]

This class is offered as an elective. no one has to even take it.
there were plenty of classes that I was not interested in my kids taking, so they didn't. But I wouldn't deny others from having the option?
We have a Bible Lit class at our public HS and it was a pretty popular class. But those not interested didn't take it.

I think that is great. Did you take the class? Did you learn some interesting things about the Bible that will add to your world knowledge? And lastly, was this class controversial in your school or town?

 

[reb]

here's one thing i don't get--

what with the overwhelming population crisis our overburdened planet is facing,, you'd think everyone would WELCOME more homosexuality, to bring the numbers down......! plus-- hey christians,, what about all those unwanted babies out there floating around in the foster care system, that YOU wanted to be born to mothers who didn't want them, that are waiting to be adopted?? don't you want more people who won't procreate on their own, who are willing to adopt them into loving homes...???

 

[reb]

<If we can reduce the number of children having sex, it is a good thing.>

so.... does that include gay teenagers?? they can't get pregnant by each other, you know..... LOL!

 

[Ella]

Reb,
I really don't know about heterosexuals who prefer anal sex. I would consider that perversion and like I said I would prefer people keep that kind of thing private. I really did not try to single out homosexuals. I am sorry if you took offense. If you don't mind me asking...are you gay? And if I have not offended and you wish to answer, were you ever sexually molested as a child? The reason I ask, is that I have never met a homosexual who was not sexually abused as a child. Never. My heart breaks for the homosexual. My heart breaks for the girls who strip and prostitute..because I find the same thing. Adults who were abused as children. And no one should judge...because they were not required to walk in those shoes. God Bless.

 

[JBean]

I think that is great. Did you take the class? Did you learn some interesting things about the Bible that will add to your world knowledge? And lastly, was this class controversial in your school or town?

No this class was offered to my kids so i did not take it. It is an advanced class and it focuses on the literary aspects of the Bible and other books it has influenced. My kids loved it.
No it was not controversial, at all, because, like the class in this thread, it was an elective, not required curriculum. So those that do not approve just don't take it, easy as that.
I think forcing the kids to take this stuff can be a bit sketchy, but since these classes are electives, it still comes down to individual choice.

 

[tybee204]

Ella I have many gay and lesbian friends that were not molested or abused as children and some that were. Just as I have many hetro friends that were not abused or molested as children and some that were.

There is no generalzations on sexuality

 

[Ella]

here's one thing i don't get--

what with the overwhelming population crisis our overburdened planet is facing,, you'd think everyone would WELCOME more homosexuality, to bring the numbers down......! plus-- hey christians,, what about all those unwanted babies out there floating around in the foster care system, that YOU wanted to be born to mothers who didn't want them, that are waiting to be adopted?? don't you want more people who won't procreate on their own, who are willing to adopt them into loving homes...???

Since 1973 the year abortion became legal in the US we have a declining population. All our growth is from immigration. I really don't believe in over population. They used to talk about Africa's over population problem all the time. AIDS has pretty much taken care of that.
Most children who are in the foster care system belong to drug parents. The state is slow to terminate parental rights. Those kids are just hanging out while mom or dad take their hurndredth chance to get off the crank.

 

[Ella]

I think that is great. Something like that would never be offered in Oregon. The liberals here have a real fear of the Bible. The Bible has been known to set people free and their whole racket is to keep people dependent.
(Apology to all liberals I might have offended.)

 

[Ella]

I think that is great. Something like that would never be offered in Oregon. The liberals here have a real fear of the Bible. The Bible has been known to set people free and their whole racket is to keep people dependent.
(Apology to all liberals I might have offended.)

 

[Becba]

I don't see anything wrong with having someone tell you they will pray for you. Doesn't harm you in anyway. I pray for people all the time. Just because they say that to you, doesn't mean you have to believe what they believe. If you say you don't believe, that doesn't harm me either.

When a teacher says they will pray for you because you have different religious beliefs then them it is condescending. It singles you out in front of others. Religion should not be an issue in school due to the fact that it causes seperation and ostricates those that don't believe the same as the majority. Or the same as the teacher.
For those that think Christians are being denied their rights by not have bible study in school you may not have seen the flip side of things. I have worked in an office with a man that quoted the Bible everyday and made reference to it in almost every situation. I have nothing against anyones beliefs. I just don't want them pushed on me or have reprecussions for not believing the same. So everyday for a year and a half I had to keep my thoughts to myself never tellling the man I was not Christian. I could have spoke out but felt it was better for my job to remain polite and silent. It placed me in a very diffficult situation.
Not all or even most people are like this man. But there are enough in the world like this that it makes work or school difficult. Face it. There are those that hate the Catholics, some hate Jews, pity the Atheist, think Budhism is ridiculous and so on. That is the best reason not to have Bible study in school. Aside from the fact it is a Christian organisation pushing this, who surely are mainly pushing for their religion, the Constitution says otherwise.
If you do some googling you will find our early forefathers were strongly against mixing religion and state. They made us a great constituion that eventually lead to women and blacks having the same rights as white men always had.
The country is not where it should be yet, but bible study in school would only take us backwards. Let the schools teach all religion in a class format like they do now to educate our children on the various beliefs around the world.
If a parent wants their child to learn more about any specific religion take your child to Church or study at home.

 

[Ella]

I didn't mean to generalize. In my life experience, what I know, is that homosexuals and strippers/prostitutes seem to have an above average incident of being molested as children. Maybe it is just a coincedence. It is just something that I have observed.

 

[reb]

<I would prefer people keep that kind of thing private.>

i would too, but probably a lot of heterosexual people you know do it... and if the people who think it's peverse want to see it be "kept private", then why are so many of them so obsessed with it in regards to other peoples' lives? you know, that whole "god hates " movement.. they seem to be overly obsessed with the specifics of the sex lives of gay men.... so weird!!

<I am sorry if you took offense.>

thanks, but no, i didn't-- i just enjoy a vigorous debate.

<If you don't mind me asking...are you gay?>

nope, 100% straight, but until we see a world that has zero percent STRAIGHT child molesters, perverts, and rapists, and child abusers-- i will always fight against prejudice against gays. THESE PEOPLE are the real problem in our society. and we all know that the overwhelming majority of these abusers/murderers are STRAIGHT, NOT gay... and very often are supposedly "upstanding family men".

<And if I have not offended and you wish to answer, were you ever sexually molested as a child?>

nope. abused by my minister father, but not molested.

<The reason I ask, is that I have never met a homosexual who was not sexually abused as a child.>

that's funny,,, i've met tons of homosexuals who weren't molested... as well as tons of straight people who were. in fact, there's untold numbers of people in the world at any given moment who have been molested, and usually by who?? A STRAIGHT MAN.

<My heart breaks for the girls who strip and prostitute.. because I find the same thing. Adults who were abused as children>

yes, this is true...

but as for homosexuality, it's not always something that's "broken" that comes from a life of abuse,, maybe sometimes it is... abused people they very well may be confused about their sexuality...but mostly, it's really just a personal preference, that comes from genetics, brain chemistry, individual personality, evolution, etc.

and if someone wants to like or love someone else, and they happen to be of the same sex.. who the heck cares?? you wanna talk offensive,, it's FAR more offensive to have someone hurting other people, or being a sociopath, a criminal, an abuser, a rapist, etc. etc. etc. i would rather see 2 guys/girls kissing than see all the violence, guns, rapes, beatings, violence against women, blood & gore you see in 5 minutes on TV or at the movies (or in the news!!) any day.

<And no one should judge...because they were not required to walk in those shoes.>

i agree!

 

[Becba]

I agree Reb. My husband didn't like gay people. I had a friend that was gay and did not tell my husband the guy was gay. He really liked the guy and would have lots of discussions with him about commons interests. Then I told my husband the guy was gay. Hubby actually changed his attitude because of seeing the guy as a person and friend. It has been over 10 yrs now and my hubby has grown so much over the years he is the least jugdemental person I know.

 

[reb]

ha!! that's really funny you did that (didn't tell him- sneaky you)-- and what a cool story.
interesting how people can change their tune when they have a personal experience with someone.