quote:

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Originally posted on my school's BBS:
Well it's going to be another atheist holiday season at CHS.

Apparently we aren't allowed to show any Holiday spirit in our school by putting up a Christmas Tree or a menorah because they are "symbols of religion" and the school is a state institution so it's the old "church and state have to be separated" deal.

Does this bother anyone else?

If you're going to go that far, why even give us a holiday break? I don't think we're getting off just because it's December and people don't want to go to school. If that were true, we'd be taking breaks all over the place. There's something behind that. Christmas. Hannukah. Ramadan. Kwanzaa.

We all may have different religions and different beliefs, and this is the time to celebrate all these things. Why will we be deprived of that much in school? Simple symbolism in a tree or a menorah is not asking much.

America as a whole has been moving on this steady trend toward atheism and you know what, part of that may have been why we got a slap in the face on September 11. It all stems from little things like this. Why are we so afraid to believe these days?

Alot of my friends in Wall High School are starting to think that there's not a supreme being that created us, beit however you follow him... why is this? They don't see it anymore, it's disappearing from our culture because schools and other state institutions are afraid of their government. They are afraid that some militant soccer mom is going to march into the district head's office with a lawsuit just because she thinks what the school is doing is unconstitutional. Who cares if it's constitutional? The whole issue is immoral and completely wrong. This is why people hate America.

I don't believe this is right one bit. America's youth are going to grow up without a sense of direction that religion brings. If this continues to go on, I foresee a very dismal, apathetic and morbid future will be visible in less than 10 years.

So I think our school should do the right thing, the moral thing and put up a christmas tree, menorahs and whatever anyone else happens to rally around in the holiday season. They unite us, bring a sense of good out from people. I doubt anyone would protest if everyone's religion is represented.

Don't be afraid to believe in something.
Atheism is for people who have lost their way.

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Woman has choked. Buy new woman.

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AHHHH cobras ahhh ahhhh ahh cooooobraaaass cooobraass ahh -homer

Once he fails, tell him it's not the government's failures that creates the atheist youth.

It's painful life experiences that creates disbelief and takes away your faith.

Also, ask him to create as many hypotheses as he can that try are about how religion does not exist, and ask him to disprove those hypotheses that he has come up with.

Edit: I suck

This message has been edited by solid on November 22, 2001 at 11:52 PM

LONG LIVE THE SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!

[Edit]

Lets not forget all the good things that ppl have done in the name of religion; Could we have holy wars without religion?
Religion is a big part of the persecution pie, without it we might have to learn to hate ppl on a more personal bases and that might hurt feelings.
Lets not forget how the church has single-handedly retarded the devlopement of science by at least 300 years.
Without organized religion ppl might actually do something original with their lives like think for themselves or live in peace, and we can't have that.
The Spanish Inquisition.
False Idles.
Offerings of food from starving ppl.
Monogamy.
Clothing.

Without religion we would be a bunch of free-thinking, scientifically-advanced, peaceful people. Living in a world where no one has to wear clothing or feel ashamed of their body and everyone can have sex with anyone who will let them without fear of negative social stigmata. THANK GOD, for religion. ;(

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"Removed from their natural habitat, they can become highly aggressive. They bite, and their favoured method of attack is to hurl themselves at people's heads."
--< Non >

This message has been edited by Non on November 22, 2001 at 03:23 PM

quote:

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Originally posted by smart:
All I have to say is... Happy Festivus!

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Where's my pole?

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AHHHH cobras ahhh ahhhh ahh cooooobraaaass cooobraass ahh -homer

"The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances," Frank announces. "After Festivus dinner, gather your family around and tell them all the ways they have disappointed you over the past year." The Christmas tree was replaced by an aluminum pole. "It requires no decoration," Frank notes. The day closes with the feats of strength. "Until you pin me, George, Festivus is not over," Frank hollers. "Stop crying and fight your father!"

< Other Festivus Miracles >

[edit] forgot how to do links

Damn "Night Terrors"

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"Removed from their natural habitat, they can become highly aggressive. They bite, and their favoured method of attack is to hurl themselves at people's heads."
--< Non >

This message has been edited by Non on November 22, 2001 at 03:40 PM

- system of a down does BAD things to your mind when you're posting on philosophical subjects

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Woman has choked. Buy new woman.

EDIT: "and a happy new year!"

This message has been edited by Dark Knight Bob on November 22, 2001 at 05:06 PM

quote:

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Originally posted by solid:
Challenge that guy to prove that religion exists.

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Um. You == ignorant.

re·li·gion

n.

1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
2. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

I think it would be blatantly obvious to anyone with a modicum of observational abilities that religion by all four of those definitions exists.

Perhaps it would be better to say, "Challenge that guy to prove that God or the supernatural exists." That would be a little bit harder to do. All he would have to do to prove that religion exists would be to bring in someone who believes in or practices a certain religion, and label him exhibit A.

My personal feelings on the matter is why the hell not be festive and put up a christmas tree. Its just a tree with decorations, and really has nothing to do with religion, but everything to do with commercialization. If you get right down to it, very few holidays retain much of the original meanings, and most so called "Christian" holidays (well christmas at least) are just renamed or stolen pagan holidays: it is not a coincidence that Christmas falls on the 25th of December, just 3 days after the winter solstice, a date that was celebrated in Rome I believe as the feast of Saturnalius (sp?).

But I do agree that if you are going to make a show of Christmas festivity, it would probably be wise to also include symbols of all the other practiced religions. By avoiding the subject of religion completely, the State is giving a message to kids that the beliefs they are learning from their parents are uncool, and in fact makes many kids ashamed of their beliefs. By including representative symbols of various faiths, the State gives the message that you should feel free to believe whatever you want to believe, and theoretically, the only people who might be offended are those who profess athiestic humanism, but they should realize that not all people are as "enlightened" as they think they are, and some people still appreciate the "crutch" of religion.

I'm not religious, and I do not ascribe to any religious organizations, but I happen to believe in a God, and for that matter, I do like to look at decorated pine trees, even if I don't wholly believe in what they have come to represent.

Merry Xmas/Happy Hannukah/Ramadan/Kwanzaa/day off from work/school, and God/Allah/Satan/good bless/curse/luck to us, everyone. That shouldn't offend anyone.

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"This above all: to thine own self be true."
- William Shakespeare.

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A witty saying proves nothing.
Voltaire

quote:

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Originally posted by Hellraiser:
Um. You == ignorant.
<big snip>

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Change 'religion' to 'superior being'..
Bad mistake, sorry.

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Who cares if it's constitutional?

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Well said. "Who cares if it's constitutional?" Certainly not us Americans! Yee-haw! Church for everyone!

quote:

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Who cares if it's constitutional? The whole issue is immoral and completely wrong.

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Oh...I see.

It's "immoral." And "wrong."

I'm glad the author's true colors came out. See, this person thinks it's "immoral" because he/she is obviously religious. We;; that's just super keen.

Yay for religion! Lets peddle our beliefs in front of people that could care less, and let's do it in a public meeting ground paid for by taxpayers that may or may not share our beliefs! Yay!

quote:

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Alot of my friends in Wall High School are starting to think that there's not a supreme being that created us, beit however you follow him... why is this? They don't see it anymore, it's disappearing from our culture because schools and other state institutions are afraid of their government.

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This guy/girl is blaming the lack of religion in schools for the disappearance of religion elsewhere? Oh, man...that's funny.

quote:

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I don't believe this is right one bit. America's youth are going to grow up without a sense of direction that religion brings.

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Yes, religion in schools (not unlike Ol' Ben Kenobi) is by far our only hope.

One word: parents. They're supposed to teach you stuff.

quote:

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If this continues to go on, I foresee a very dismal, apathetic and morbid future will be visible in less than 10 years.

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< There are over 600 LensCrafters locations designed to serve you. >

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Woman has choked. Buy new woman.

quote:

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If you get right down to it, very few holidays retain much of the original meanings, and most so called "Christian" holidays (well christmas at least) are just renamed or stolen pagan holidays: it is not a coincidence that Christmas falls on the 25th of December, just 3 days after the winter solstice, a date that was celebrated in Rome I believe as the feast of Saturnalius (sp?).

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"Removed from their natural habitat, they can become highly aggressive. They bite, and their favoured method of attack is to hurl themselves at people's heads."
--< Non >

quote:

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Originally posted by CatKnight:
i smell poopbreath. oh, hellraiser is talking out of his ass.

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Whatcha talking about? He's pretty much correct there...

< www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas/real2.html >

btw that's "Saturnalia"

quote:

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If you get right down to it, very few holidays retain much of the original meanings, and most so called "Christian" holidays (well christmas at least) are just renamed or stolen pagan holidays: it is not a coincidence that Christmas falls on the 25th of December, just 3 days after the winter solstice, a date that was celebrated in Rome I believe as the feast of Saturnalius (sp?).

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