School bans prayer to appease atheists. Then along comes this Valedictorian *video* (speech, myths)

[Dale Cooper]

Valedictorian rips up speech, says Lord's Prayer

A South Carolina school district says it will not take any action against a high school valedictorian who ripped up his approved speech and instead recited the Lord's Prayer at graduation.


Valedictorian rips up approved speech and recites the Lord's Prayer after school bans prayer - YouTube

[BigDGeek]

Childish.

[Chimuelojones]

There is no restriction in a valedictorian speech to mention or thank god. This is a personal speech and does not reflect the adminstration and the adminsatration's recognition or approval of the speaker's religion or any religion.

[WilliamSmyth]

Perhaps he should have given more thought to words he was saying particularly the part about "lead us not into temptation." Given his assertion that he is a Christian perhaps he should have also reflected the meaning of Mark 12:31 and how his actions demonstrated his love for his neighbors.

[Torpedos]

there was another school that banned the father-daughter dance night at the school because there was a girl with no dad. we keep trying to please the few, afraid of offending someone. Some people need to grow a back bone and stop bending over.

[wytrvn]

Thread FAIL

[jjrose]

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 6:5

[k.smith904]

another weak attack on atheists.

I suppose at the very worst the only wrongdoing we commit is attempting to be recognized and treated as an equal.

Sorry that the masses don't share our disbelief of magic and ghosts.

[Fuselage]

I am always AMAZED how difficult it is for some people to comprehend the concepts of separation of church and state and freedom of religion.

A public school is an extension of the government simply by its very definition of being publicly funded. As such, any public institution is not allowed to promote or approve of any one religion. The Supreme Court has found that this concept also includes the notion that there is no god. Given the myriad of religious beliefs, it is impossible to include ALL of them while simultaneously including none of them. Thus, the logical conclusion is to make religion a non-issue.

Activities that are conducted by students ON BEHALF of a public school can, therefore, not endorse a religion.

This is, of course, not some strange kind of bullying by atheists but is, quite simply, the law of this country - arrived at by logical deduction and lessons of the past.

Personal speeches, however, clearly can include religion - since they are an expression of personal beliefs and not an endorsement on behalf of a public institution.

Of course, showing off just how religious one is would be, in the case of Christianity, utterly un-Christian. But never mind that - we got a point to make even if making this point goes against Christian teachings. Seems rather self-serving and ridiculous - but kids will be kids.


"Freedom from religion does not mean, as some mistakenly seem to claim, being free from seeing religion in society. No one has the right not to see churches, religious expression, and other examples of religious belief in our nation — and those who advocate freedom of religion do not claim otherwise.

What freedom from religion does mean, however, is the freedom from the rules and dogmas of other people’s religious beliefs so that we can be free to follow the demands of our own conscience, whether they take a religious form or not. Thus, we have both freedom of religion and freedom from religion because they are two sides of the same coin.

Interestingly, the misunderstandings here can be found in many other myths, misconceptions and misunderstandings as well. Many people don’t realize — or don’t care — that real religious liberty must exist for everyone, not just for themselves. It’s no coincidence that people who object to the principle of “freedom from religion” are adherents of religious groups whose doctrines or standards would be the ones enforced by the state."

Source: Freedom From Religion vs. Freedom of Religion Myth: You Have Freedom Of, not Freedom From Religion?

[never-more]

Originally Posted by Torpedos

there was another school that banned the father-daughter dance night at the school because there was a girl with no dad. we keep trying to please the few, afraid of offending someone. Some people need to grow a back bone and stop bending over.

Link or it didn't happen.