From: starpath@bard.MIT.EDU (David E. Hollingsworth)
Subject: Re: I feel threatened by Christianity...
Reply-To: starpath@bard.mit.edu
Organization: Massachvsetts Institvte of Technology
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 09:02:27 GMT

In article <1993Jan11.221419.9773@iscsvax.uni.edu>  
sperry2699@iscsvax.uni.edu writes:
> There should be a time set aside for those who wish to pray. Possibly
> a break from the classroom.  Is it so bad to have 20 min set aside
> for people to pray?
	Well, yes, in fact it is.  Students that wish to pray can do so  
during their lunch break, between classes, before school, after  
school...any time which students may use to their liking.  If additional  
time is then set aside for praying (for those who want to pray, of  
course), then the school is essentially SUGGESTING prayer, not just  
allowing it.
	On the other hand, if time should be set aside for prayer, then  
perhaps one should also create a time for tai chi or yoga, both of which  
would be useful.  In order to be fair, one really should include time for  
psychic channeling, animal sacrifice (in accordance with the law, of  
course), peyote use, etc...remember, of course, that no child HAS to  
participate.

> > working to defend the ability of students to distribute pro-life
> > pamphlets in schools.  
> 
> Isn't that a good thing?  Shouldn't people be defending the pro-lifer's
> rights?  Others do a good job of defending the pro-abortion side.
	Certainly freedom of speech is important, and both sides should be  
able to distribute information, as long as it does not interfere with the  
educational process.

> There is a lacking of traditional family values in this country.  If
> you don't see that problem, then maybe you are part of it.
	This is called ad hominem.  It is not only a logical fallacy, but  
suggests that the author doesn't have any better response than to attack  
the person, rather than the argument.
	But, as to the point itself, it isn't clear to me whether you are  
saying "if you don't see that there is a lack of traditional family  
values" or "if you don't see that the lack of traditional family values is  
a problem".  Perhaps if you clarified, the original author could better  
respond.
	Personally, I've seen a lot of traditional family values recently;  
one friend of mine, who is 20, came back to school several weeks early,  
because she felt that the only way to be able to practice her music was to  
physically get away from the constant emotional abuse from her mother.   
Another friend didn't want to go home at Christmas, because she thought  
that her alcoholic mother (who has remained single because she feels that  
divorce is sinful) might try to commit suicide again.
	The sad part about human sociopsychology is that whenever people  
are pressured into situations that they really don't want to be in (like  
gay folks in straight marriages to keep the dogs away), really nasty  
things happen.  "Traditional family values" traps people into doing things  
that they really don't want to do.  Anyone want to guess at the ratio of  
Christian to atheist parents that beat their kids?

> > I don't want Jehovah's Witnesses to come by my door (as they
> > did twice right after Christmas).  
> 
> They have the right to walk the streets and spread the twisted gospel
> that they do (unfortunately).
	That's most certainly true.  (Rude comments notwithstanding.)

> > not have a well-meaning government decide what's morally best for me.
> 
> Good!  Then oppose the liberal government that we have and push for the
> conservative stand!
	Well, you've lost me.  I've never heard the democrats mention  
prohibiting particular bedroom practices, for example.  Who made Sodomy  
illegal, anyway?

> Christianity is opressed in the U.S.
	Could you explain this?

> However, I've always heard that the opressed Church is the best!
	This is a psychological tactic used to make oppressed Christians  
feel better.  Do you think that only oppressed Christians will be in the  
Rapture?  What does Jesus say about this?

--
David Hollingsworth starpath@bard.mit.edu Send me NeXTMail or kill me
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus and I bind that demon that has
you so lost.  My brother, the Lord is going to deliver you from pride
and haughtness.
	-- Roderick Moten to Eric Sieferman on talk.religion.misc
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,alt.slack