Kentucky has passed law allowing public schools to teach course on the Bible.

Courtesy of Salon: 

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed into law a bill that will allow courses on the Bible to be taught in public schools beginning on Friday. Overwhelmingly passed by Kentucky’s Republican-controlled state legislature, HB 128 gives Kentucky school boards the option to add elective courses on Bible literacy to their social studies curriculum. 

“The idea that we would not want this to be an option for people in school, that would be crazy. I don’t know why every state would not embrace this, why we as a nation would not embrace this,” Bevin said during a public bill signing ceremony. 

According to the bill, the courses must discuss all aspects of the Bible — such as characters, poetry, and narratives — because they are “prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture.” 

The bill’s supporters argued that Bible literacy courses as a way to get a better insight on the structure of the country. Republican Senator Stephen West said the bill serves a “secular purpose,” claiming it would “help to educate our kids on the background of how they came up with our founding documents.” 

“It really did set the foundation that our founding fathers used to develop documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights,” Republican Rep. D.J. Johnson said, “all of those came from principles from the Bible.”

“All of those came from principles from the Bible.”

Actually no, no they did not.

In fact Thomas Jefferson even said as much:  

In a January 24, 1814 letter to John Adams, Jefferson went through a detailed lawyer's brief to show that the entire idea that the laws of both England and the United States came from Judaism, Christianity, or the Ten Commandments rests on a single man's mistranslation in 1658, often repeated, and totally false. 

"It is not only the sacred volumes they [the churches] have thus interpolated, gutted, and falsified, but the works of others relating to them, and even the laws of the land," he wrote. "Our judges, too, have lent a ready hand to further these frauds, and have been willing to lay the yoke of their own opinions on the necks of others; to extend the coercions of municipal law to the dogmas of their religion, by declaring that these make a part of the law of the land."

The only people who believe this country was founded on Biblical principles are Fundamentalists  like that phony American history "expert" David Barton who Glenn Beck and Mike Huckabee are constantly promoting.

The teaching of the Bible in public school will no more inform students about the history of this country than reading Harry Potter will teach them about science.

It is yet another sneaky attempt to teach religion in classrooms dedicated to the learning of facts and not primitive superstitious nonsense.

Of course what can you expect from a state which has a "museum" dedicated to teaching children a fable about a giant boat that magically fit two of every animal in the world?

If this Governor Bevin is so keen to have the children of Kentucky learn about the foundations for democracy he would be better served having them read about Greek and Roman history rather than from a book of iron age fairy tales.

Study shows that exposure to religion renders children unable to differentiate between fact and fiction.

Courtesy of Waking Times: 

A study conducted by researchers led by Kathleen H. Corriveau of Boston University examined how religious exposure affects a child’s ability to distinguish between fact and fiction. They found that religious exposure at an early age has a surprising effect: it makes children less able to differentiate between reality and fantasy. 

The researchers presented three different types of stories – religious, fantastical and realistic – to a group of 5 and 6-year olds. Religious children were divided into three groups: children exposed to the Christian religion either as churchgoers who attended public school, non-churchgoers who attended parochial school, or churchgoers who attended parochial school. The fourth group of children included non-churchgoing children who attended public school and had no exposure to religion in either church or school. The goal of the research was to find out if religious exposure would affect the child’s ability to identify if the lead character in each of the stories was real or make-believe. 

The study found that children who attended church services and/or were enrolled in a parochial school had a much harder time differentiating between fact and fiction when compared to children of non-religious background. The study, published in the journal Cognitive Science, states: 

“The results suggest that exposure to religious ideas has a powerful impact on children’s differentiation between reality and fiction, not just for religious stories but also for fantastical stories.”

I am still often puzzled that there are people who do not simply recognize this by casual observation.

There is a reason why scam artists often target deeply religious people, they are the most gullible.

And that is the same reason that politicians invoke god, religion, and the Bible in their speeches.

They know that religious people are predisposed to accept things without the benefit of evidence.

Let's face it, without religious indoctrination there would be NO president Trump.

It requires the dulling of critical thinking skills to convince people to vote for idiots, assholes, and criminals.

And religion serves that purpose quite nicely.

So I stand by my contention that introducing religion to children is in fact a form of child abuse. But will add that in the long run it is also an abuse of our basic human right to use our intellects to protect ourselves as adults.

California Christian school uses modern technology to indoctrinate children with superstitious nonsense.

Courtesy of The Orange County Register:  

A dozen second-graders in Kim Kihm’s Bible class watched slide shows about the Ten Commandments on the classroom’s smart board and scrolled through Bible passages on their iPads. 

While reading about the Good Samaritan, the Capistrano Valley Christian Schools students formed hearts in the air with their arms and sang a Bible verse about loving your neighbor as yourself. 

“I like how we can use iPads so we can read and see pictures how it was back then,” said Scarlett Vukich, 8, of San Juan Capistrano, about the lesson. 

It’s all part of the school’s digital Bible pilot program, which goes beyond teaching the Bible with high-tech tools. 

With the help of a $1.5 million grant from two south Orange County families who wish to remain anonymous, Capistrano Valley Christian Schools are creating a web-based program that teaches Christianity using evidence they say can prove the truth of the Bible to better equip students to defend their faith – a discipline known as Christian apologetics. 

“Our goal is to revolutionize the way the Bible is taught in Christian schools so kids will be firm in their faith,” said Kim Van Vlear, director of Bible curriculum development at the schools. “We want to show why the Bible is true with proven evidence like science, archeology and history.”

You know using science to teach religious faith is sort of like using water to build a campfire.

I still think that indoctrinating these children into ANY religion that informs them to mistrust facts and science is a form of child abuse.

If the tenets of your religion are so compelling then why can't you wait to teach them to people once their minds have fully matured and their critical thinking skills have kicked in?


This shit just pisses me off.

Handed out in a public elementary school in the Ohio.

Source

If you go to the source you will see that the parent has already contacted the Freedom from Religion Foundation and those folks don't play around.

Hard to believe this is still happening in this day and age, but there you have it.

Things will not change unless people stand up and force them to change.

Meanwhile in Michigan public schools.

How, how, how can anybody condone interrupting a child's education to take them off campus to be indoctrinated?

Can you imagine the outcry if the kids were to be taken to a mosque to read passages from the Koran?

Then there would be a huge outcry about the separation of church and state wouldn't there?

The Hobby Lobby's "Museum of the Bible" a monument to misinformation currently being built within walking distance of the Smithsonian Institute.

Courtesy of TPM:

The museum will be a living, breathing testament to how American evangelicalism can at once claim it is under siege from secularists, the LGBT rights movement, or feminism—yet also boast of acquiring a prime private perch, strategically located at the nation’s epicenter of law and politics, and nestled among its iconic public monuments. If you ask its creators, it’s meant to protect American Christianity from persecution. But it may be the most strident example yet of how that expression of religion, which in many ways is running counter to trends in American public opinion, continues to flex its political—and financial—muscle.

The building is being built by the Green family, owners of the Hobby Lobby arts and crafts stores, and it is supposedly being built to educate people about the "facts" of the Bible and the history of its creation, so the building will of course be awash in misinformation, much like Ken Ham's Creation Museum in Kentucky.

Oh but folks will not have to actually visit the museum in order to be confronted with religious propaganda: 

“The subway stops in Washington are ugly, so we will put on there an electronic billboard talking about the museum,” he (The museum director.) said recently at an event for donors. “So when people are just coming to Washington, they’re going to hear about the Bible even if they’re just coming to see Congress.”

I can see the brochures now: "Come to Washington DC for the history and the politics, stay for the Christian indoctrination."

It just must be terrible to be so persecuted in this country that you are able to build a giant museum to celebrate your holy book.  

How do these people get through their days?

Public school nurse in Pennsylvania refuses to treat student because she did not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Some students sit, while others stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Courtesy of The Friendly Atheist:  

An eighth grader from Wilson Middle School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania was sitting in the nurse’s office last Thursday, waiting to be treated, when the Pledge of Allegiance was recited over the intercom.

The girl did not stand, which is apparently a choice she makes often. 

However not usually in front of the school nurse it seems: 

The school nurse ordered everyone present to stand up, but the student remained seated as she typically does. She reports that subsequently, when it was her turn to be seen by the nurse, the nurse asked loudly, “Why didn’t you stand for the Pledge?” The student replied that the Pledge exercise is voluntary and that no explanation for opting out is needed. Shockingly, the nurse responded by ordering her out of the room, yelling, “Fine! Then leave! I have the right to not service you!” 

The student reports that she left the nurse’s office in tears and went to the administrative offices to call her mother. A secretary then led the student to an office, but at that time the same nurse appeared again, saying, “She isn’t calling a parent until I have a long conversation with her!”

Ultimately the girl saw her counselor who was only minimally helpful so the student told her parents, and they contacted the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center who sent this letter to the School District:

To say that the actions of school district staff in this situation have inflicted trauma upon this child would be an understatement. She was bullied and subjected to public embarrassment for doing nothing more than harmlessly exercising her constitutional rights. The actions of the nurse are indefensible, as she provides an example of the kind of overzealous, dangerous patriotism that any true patriot would loathe. The student was left angry and scarred by this mean-spirited hostility, which is only made worse by the fact that it came from a person trusted with the health and well being of students. Moreover, the nurse’s refusal to give the child medical attention calls into question her fitness for the job.

You know as somebody who was forced to not only participate, but as a TA sometimes asked to lead the pledge, I have to say I am very inspired by the young people today making this stand (Or if you prefer, sit.) against religious indoctrination. 

I have always felt that the Pledge of Allegiance was a little to fascist for my tastes anyway, and participating in this ritual, or not, in no way indicates the level of a person's patriotism.

If I had it all to do over again I would have sat in my chair for every pledge from the first grade on.

One of those Duggar family reality stars is trying to frighten me into becoming religious. Good luck with that.

Jess (Duggar) Seewald

This from a screed found on the Facebook page from this home schooled, unsophisticated, former reality star: 

I will speak to you a hard truth. I do not write this because I think that it will bring me popularity. It won't. But it is Truth from the Word of God: the Bible. To not tell people this is to hide the truth from them. To keep silent is to not care for their eternal destiny! I care about you, and this is why I am speaking out!

By "truth" of course this minimally educated shut in is talking only about what she has learned in the Bible. And as far as she is concerned there is really nothing else of any importance worth reading.

God's judgement isn't something to be taken lightly! It should scare you! Man's "judgement" is a 1000x lighter... usually just a voicing of disapproval. But when unbelieving, sinful men die and stand before God, He justly condemns them to hell.

Yes first this "God" creates man "in his image" and then hides his presence from him his entire life, only to judge him at the time of this death and condemn him to an eternity of pain and suffering for being human.

Sounds fair.

First off, our human hearts are bent toward sin and not righteousness. We shouldn't follow the inclinations of our heart, but rather we know what is right and wrong according to what we find in God's Word: the Bible. Secondly, God isn't slacking to fulfill His promised Judgement on sin--it's coming. And the only reason you're are alive right now is because He is merciful and has kept your heart beating for another day. He is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance. But He will not hold back forever. The hours of your time here on earth are ticking away. You're not promised another day, or even another breath. God's Day of Judgement draws near. It will come as a thief in the night--when you least expect it. Everything that you have done in secret will be exposed. Nothing we do is hidden from God's view.

And here we are worrying about a little government snooping into our private phone calls and e-mails. Apparently God is the biggest spook of all. 

This is one of my biggest condemnations of religious indoctrination.

The "if you don't believe you'll be sorry" approach.

And my biggest complaint is that these are the tactics that they use on small children. Which has resulted in literally billions of children throughout the years lying in their beds at night terrified that at some point in their future they will be judged unworthy by God and sent to a place of eternal punishment, while their friends and family are welcomed into Heaven to enjoy eternal life at the side of their Lord.

There is literally no form of child abuse that tops this for emotionally scarring people for the rest of their lives.

And this poor ignoramus continues to spread this nonsense to others, without any real understanding of the damage she will ultimately do to the idiots that listen to her.

Apparently people are still surprised that secular parents are raising children with good morals and values.

Courtesy of LA Times:  

So how does the raising of upstanding, moral children work without prayers at mealtimes and morality lessons at Sunday school? Quite well, it seems. 

Far from being dysfunctional, nihilistic and rudderless without the security and rectitude of religion, secular households provide a sound and solid foundation for children, according to Vern Bengston, a USC professor of gerontology and sociology. 

For nearly 40 years, Bengston has overseen the Longitudinal Study of Generations, which has become the largest study of religion and family life conducted across several generational cohorts in the United States. When Bengston noticed the growth of nonreligious Americans becoming increasingly pronounced, he decided in 2013 to add secular families to his study in an attempt to understand how family life and intergenerational influences play out among the religionless. 

He was surprised by what he found: High levels of family solidarity and emotional closeness between parents and nonreligious youth, and strong ethical standards and moral values that had been clearly articulated as they were imparted to the next generation. 

“Many nonreligious parents were more coherent and passionate about their ethical principles than some of the ‘religious' parents in our study,” Bengston told me. “The vast majority appeared to live goal-filled lives characterized by moral direction and sense of life having a purpose.” 

My own ongoing research among secular Americans — as well as that of a handful of other social scientists who have only recently turned their gaze on secular culture — confirms that nonreligious family life is replete with its own sustaining moral values and enriching ethical precepts. Chief among those: rational problem solving, personal autonomy, independence of thought, avoidance of corporal punishment, a spirit of “questioning everything” and, far above all, empathy. 

For secular people, morality is predicated on one simple principle: empathetic reciprocity, widely known as the Golden Rule. Treating other people as you would like to be treated. It is an ancient, universal ethical imperative. And it requires no supernatural beliefs. As one atheist mom who wanted to be identified only as Debbie told me: “The way we teach them what is right and what is wrong is by trying to instill a sense of empathy ... how other people feel. You know, just trying to give them that sense of what it's like to be on the other end of their actions. And I don't see any need for God in that. ...

That last part is dead on.

You know I don't talk about it much but I was married for fourteen years to the daughter of a minister.

She had a lot of weird hangups concerning nudity, alcohol consumption, and using curse words, but virtually no problem with lying, taking things that did not belong to her, or saying terrible things behind people's backs.

In the marriage it was also up to me to deal with setting guidelines for the children, and it was not uncommon to have little to no backup from my Christian wife.

However I must have done something right, because my daughter is an even bigger stickler for the rules than I am, and often functions as my moral sounding board when I stumble into a gray area.

And NO she did not get that way by way of HER Fundamentalist mother either.  Trust me on that.

Ohio Republican Governor forcing public schools to partner with faith based organizations in order to qualify for tax dollars set aside for mentoring program.

Courtesy of Cleveland.com:  

Gov. John Kasich's $10 million plan to bring mentors into Ohio's schools for students now has a surprise religious requirement – one that goes beyond what is spelled out in the legislation authorizing it. 

Any school district that wants a piece of that state money must partner with both a church and a business – or a faith-based organization and a non-profit set up by a business to do community service. 

No business and no faith-based partner means no state dollars. 

"You must include a faith-based partner," United Way of Greater Cleveland President Bill Kitson, told potential applicants at an information session the United Way hosted Thursday here in Cleveland. 

Asked why the governor is mixing religion with a state program - items usually required to be kept separate - Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said: "The governor believes faith-based organizations play an important role in the lives of young people." 

And Kasich's recorded video welcoming the applicants made the importance he places on faith in this effort clear. 

"The Good Lord has a purpose for each and every one of them (students) and you're helping them to find it," Kasich said on the video.

Yes the Governor believes that "faith based organizations play an important role in the lives of young people" and that "the good lord has a purpose for each and every one of them" because he is an Evangelical. And Evangelicals simply cannot accept that others will be offended by the inclusion of religion into a public school that is supposed to serve students of all faiths, or not faiths.

That is why the separation of church and state is so vital. And why people like Governor Kasich refuse to accept that it even exists.

Hobby Lobby owners plan to open museum dedicated to the Bible in Washington D.C.. Oh goody, another museum dedicated to Christian mythology.

Courtesy of the New York Times:  

The evangelical Christian family that owns Hobby Lobby, the chain of craft stores, made history two weeks ago when the Supreme Court overturned the Obama administration’s mandate that family-owned companies must provide contraceptive coverage to their employees. 

Now, the family is looking to build a permanent presence on the Washington landscape, by establishing a sprawling museum dedicated to the Bible — just two blocks south of the National Mall. 

The development of a Bible museum has long been a dream of the Oklahoma-based Green family, which has built Hobby Lobby into a $3 billion company in which its religious beliefs infuse every aspect of the business, from the music played in its stores to being closed on Sundays.

But on the heels of the company’s legal victory, the project is raising concern in some quarters that the Greens’ museum could blur the line between educating and evangelizing. Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby and the son of its founder, has referred to the Bible as “a reliable historical document,” and, as part of the museum project, he is developing a curriculum to “reintroduce this book to this nation.”

Just what we need, a powerful corporation dedicated to giving Creationsist Ken Ham a run for his money in dumbing down American schoolchildren.

You may remember that Steve Green, of the Hobby Lobby owning Green family, has also been working to introduce a Bible curriculum into public schools in Oklahoma. 

Apparently these people are determined to push their religious belief into every facet of our lives, and after their Supreme Court victory they may believe that there is nothing to stop them.

Of course if the millennials are any indication their days of spreading misinformation and lies may well be coming to an end in the very near future.
 

Canadian teenager fights, and wins, to have a "sexual purity" course taught by conservative Christians removed from her school's curriculum.

Courtesy of Think Progress:

 After a Canadian high school student filed a human rights complaint against her school district, saying that her rights as a nonbeliever were violated by being required to attend a course on sexual purity taught by a conservative Christian group, school officials agreed to reconsider the curriculum. The anti-abortion group that taught that abstinence education course, Pregnancy Care Centre, won’t be invited back next year. 

Emily Dawson and her mother, Kathy, lodged a formal complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission after Emily was required to attend a two-day abstinence class in order to graduate. The complaint alleges that the Pregnancy Care Centre’s course used scare tactics, like misleading information about STDs and negative stereotypes about single parent homes, to dissuade students from having sex. The Dawsons identify as agnostics and were offended that they had no option to opt out of a course taught by a conservative religious organization with an explicit agenda. 

Now, thanks to the public backlash sparked by their allegations, Emily’s school district is looking for new speakers to cover topics related to sex ed. 

“We’ve heard a lot of concerns expressed from the public over the last several days about guest speakers invited to present on the topic of sexual health education,” the board wrote in a statement released Friday. “We are asking our schools in the fall to use different presenters so that we can continue this conversation, and focus on meeting the needs of students and parents.”

Well good for Emily! That is incredibly brave of her to fight for her right not to be exposed to religious indoctrination and misinformation is her classroom.

How the school did not know realize that the America based anti-abortion, pro-abstinence group would be selling their children slut shaming snake oil is a little beyond me.

The Pregnancy Care Centre is affiliated with a network of right-wing “crisis pregnancy centers” in the United States called Care-Net. Both groups are opposed to abortion and advocate for sexual abstinence until marriage. In an interview with CBC News, a researcher at the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada said it’s somewhat surprising that a Canadian public school would use a sexual health curriculum from a U.S. group, since Canada has been “far ahead of the U.S. when it comes to teaching about sexual health free of ideology or religion.”

Yeah America has a history of outsourcing our religious zealotry to other countries. Just look what we have done in Uganda.

That awkward moment when the Fox News analyst you brought on to take your side against the Atheist guest, ends of agreeing with them instead.

Courtesy of Mediaite:  

Hannity guest host Eric Bolling took on Kirsten Powers and American Atheists’ Nick Fish over complaints that the coach of Clemson University is unconstitutionally promoting “Christian worship,” including the inclusion of a team chaplain. Bolling thought it was ridiculous, but Fish argued it’s wholly inappropriate for someone in a “taxpayer-funded position.” 

Fish said Coach Dabo Swinney has basically told players, “I’m a Christian and if you don’t like that you can go somewhere else.” Bolling said he has every right to promote religion on his own time, and noted how plenty of sports teams have chaplains. Fish shot back that private sports teams can do what they want, but not public universities. 

Powers admitted she’s “sympathetic to the view that it could make people who aren’t Christians uncomfortable,” wondering why, when people of Christian faith have opportunities in their private lives to promote faith, any official position is required to promote it. 

They also clashed over whether it’s wrong to have crosses on municipal property. Fish and Powers didn’t like the idea of “endorsing a particular religion,” but Bolling thought it might carry some weight when the vast majority of the population are actually Christian themselves.

Bolling "You guys are not allowed to agree on that one."

Fox News, where you are only allowed to express the opinion that you were paid to come on and express.

I swear whenever I think that Sean Hannity is the biggest tool on Fox News, I see Eric Bolling and realize that there are really SO many contenders for that crown.

Bible study course, created by Hobby Lobby president, will soon be taught in Oklahoma public schools.

Courtesy of Raw Story:

According to the Religious News Service, the “Museum of the Bible Curriculum” created by Hobby Lobby’s President Steve Green (pictured above) will be beta-tested in Oklahoma’s Mustang Public School district beginning in the Fall of 2014. 

Green hopes the program — which will be overseen by Jerry Pattengale, head of the Green Scholars Initiative — will be placed in “hundreds” of high schools by 2016, and “thousands” by 2017. It is a four-year elective course in which students will study the narrative, history, and impact of the Bible on Western Civilization. Because the book is being taught within an academic purview, it does not violate the Establishment Clause of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in Abington School District v. Schempp. 

“Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible,” the Court decided, “when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.”

I actually agree with the judge up to a point.

An elective course that studies the impact of the Bible on Western civilization could be an interesting and informative class.

However since this is coming from the ultra religious Hobby Lobby people, it's goal is far more subversive than simple education about the impact of the book. 

“The goal is to show that the impact of this book, when we apply it to our lives, has been good, because it has. So it’s good, and it’s true,” Green said, before moving on to discuss the other section of the curriculum, which would be “the story of the Bible.” 

“We’re as ignorant [as] we’ve ever been, would be my argument,” Green said, “because we aren’t teaching it in our schools.” 

“That would be the goal,” he continued, “to reintroduce this book to this nation, because it is in danger, because of its ignorance, of what God has taught. There is [sic] lessons of the past that we can learn from the dangers of ignorance of this book. We need to know it, and if we don’t know it, our future is going to be very scary.”

Green also labeled the Bible a "reliable historical document" which is far from the truth as you can get.

In my opinion, if this course is offered in Oklahoma public schools then it opens up the door for a course about Islam, in which the Koran is describes as a "reliable historic document."

Or a course about Sikhism where the Adi Granth is taught as a "reliable historic document."

Or perhaps an elective course that studied the Vedas as a "reliable historic document."

Each and every one of them deserve the same consideration in an academic environment, unless it can be proven, scientifically, that one book is more reliable than another.

And THAT should be the test before this course is introduced into the Oklahoma public school classrooms.

Where tax payer dollars go to teach Creationism to impressionable young children.

Slate has a map showing where in America public school dollars are spent teaching religion to students, and offers this breakdown as well:Arizona:  

Arizona: As many as 15 schools that teach creationism may be participating in the state’s tax credit scholarship program for disabled children or children attending underperforming schools. (Arizona has not released a list of private schools that have received students on this scholarship.) 

Arkansas: Responsive Education Solutions operates two campuses in Arkansas that use creationist curricula. (See Texas.) 

Colorado: At least eight schools in Douglas County teach creationism while participating in the Douglas County Scholarship Program. 

Florida: At least 164 schools teach creationism while participating in the state’s tax credit scholarship programs for disabled children and children from low-income families. 

Georgia: At least 34 schools teach creationism while participating in the state’s tax credit scholarship program for disabled children. 

Indiana: At least 37 schools teach creationism while participating in the state’s voucher program for children from low-income families. 

Louisiana: The Louisiana Science Education Act of 2008 allows teachers to use “supplemental textbooks and other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner,” specifically theories regarding “evolution, the origins of life, global warming, and human cloning”—in effect, allowing creationist material inside classroom. It’s no coincidence that the Discovery Institute, a creationist think tank that provides such “supplemental textbooks,” helped write the bill, which the American Association for the Advancement of Science described as an “assault against scientific integrity.” 

Ohio: At least 20 schools teach creationism while participating in a tax credit scholarship program for children in underperforming public schools.

The article lists several more states such as Texas, Tennessee,  Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma.

I think most of us can agree that NO tax dollars should go to help spread superstition standing in for science in our public classrooms. The fact that it is being done is simply another reason why it is important to get as many Bible thumpers out of office as possible, and start bringing our educational standards up to where we can compete adequately with every other industrialized nation.

It is no secret that the reason religious conservatives want faith taught in public schools as fact is because faith makes minds more malleable and easier to control, and facts set them free. 

After all facts are facts, and faith is faith is faith, and never the twain shall meet.

The stupification of America through Christian home schooling.

Courtesy of Raw Story:  

A popular curriculum used by home-schooled students has drawn criticism for inaccurate, misleading information and an over-reliance on rote memorization, but those aspects may not be the worst things about it. 

A lot of the material that children are exposed to in the Accelerated Christian Education is just astonishingly stupid, according to a former Christian fundamentalist. 

Blogger Jonny Scarmanga shared some of the multiple-choice questions he found in some ACE packets used by British home-school students Monday on the blog, Leaving Fundamentalism. 

In one question aimed at 9- or 10-year-old fourth-graders, students are given this example: “Children played happily in the water spout.” They are then asked to define a water spout from three examples: “a stream of water,” “two dry ducks” or “playground.” 

Another example shows that “Elisabeth Howard sat and listened carefully.” Students are then challenged to identify whether Elisabeth Howard is “a kind of airplane” or “a missionary.” 

Still another question asks 12- or 13-year-old seventh-graders to identify whether sports coaches, piano tuners or librarians “can touch the lives of their students.” 

If that sounds like a trick question, that’s because it is. 

“The correct answer, for those puzzled, is piano tutors,” Scaramanga writes. “It’s not that ACE doesn’t believe that sports coaches or librarians can touch students’ lives. The point is that the exact sentence, ‘Piano tutors can touch the lives of their students,’ has previously appeared in (an ACE packet), and the student is expected to remember this. Verbatim regurgitation of previously seen material is the entire point of the ACE system.” 

The ACE curriculum relies on thousands of these multiple-choice questions to imprint the materials in students’ memories. 

The ACE curriculum is accredited by the Middle States Associations on Elementary and Secondary Schools and by government-funded voucher programs in 11 states. 

In the past, the curriculum has drawn criticism and scorn for teaching that the existence of the Loch Ness monster disproves evolution and that humans coexisted with dinosaurs. 

The materials also include a strong conservative political bias that suggests God’s own views are right-wing, while liberals are villainous, and students are taught that government programs should not be used to meet needs that can’t be filled by family members or churches. 

But those biases and falsehoods pale in comparison to a stupefying curriculum that expects to engage 10-year-olds by asking them whether an envelope is “a letter holder” or “donkey supplies.”

"Is our children learning?" Remember that famous George W. Bush quote?

Well the answer is that if you are using a Christian homes school curriculum probably not.  

The now inescapable conclusion that we MUST reach in response to what we are learning about Christian homeschooling is that it has literally NOTHING to do with education, and EVERYTHING to do with indoctrination. And to that end ignorance provides fertile soil to implant faith based "truths" to replace scientifically proven facts.

At this point I simply cannot see this outside of the context of a religion that has recognized that its influence and control over the people of this planet has a shelf life, and that the expiration date is rapidly approaching. Which is forcing them to fight with everything they have to defend themselves against progress and the logic on whose wings it is fast approaching.

I recognize that it may be insulting to those of you who still have a faith, but the facts are that it is easier to attract into the fold those who feel rather than think, and those who seek comfort rather than those who seek truth.

The Sarah Palin's of this world simply cannot exist in a world without religious faith. Nor by the way can Fox News, Right Wing radio, the "Pro-Life" Movement, televangelists, faith healers, or Islamic terrorists.

That may seem like a discordant group but all of them benefit from those who have less access to scientific information, and more access to propaganda and faith based "education."

Christian homeschooling appears to be designed to protect a base of supporters that many on the Right, both religious and political, rely on, and who they are desperately afraid of losing.

Those who don't know, believe what they are told by those who claim to have "special knowledge." And that is an important part of the business model not just for religion, but also for Fox News.

Christian private school in North Carolina refuses admission to children whose parents are gay. Because you know, WWJD?

What is the hell is wrong with these people?

Courtesy of WECT:

A private, Christian school in Wilmington has adopted a policy giving the school the right to refuse admission of an applicant whose home life includes "homosexual or bisexual activity." 

In a letter we obtained that was sent to parents of Myrtle Grove Christian School Wednesday night, the head of the school, J. Stacey Miller, indicates the school will require all families of students enrolling or re-enrolling to sign a "Biblical Morality Policy." 

The policy indicates that the school can refuse admission or expel a student who has a home life that is in opposition to a biblical lifestyle. 

The exact language of the policy is as follows: 

"An integral part of Myrtle Grove Christian School's mission is to foster spiritual development and a biblical world view in the lives of its students. This includes leading students to develop a biblical understanding of morality and to pursue a life that is governed by the biblical moral code. The school works in partnership with families to achieve these desired outcomes, which necessitates that both the school and home come under the authority of God for the benefit of the student. 

For this reason, the school reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student if the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home or the activities of the student are counter to or are in opposition to the biblical lifestyle the school teaches. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, participating in, supporting, or affirming sexual immorality, homosexual activity, or bisexual activity; promoting such practices; or being unable to support the moral principles of the school."

So not only will the school reject any new students whose parents, siblings, or house pet is gay, but if they are already enrolled and somebody detects a little "contact gay" they are kicked to the curb.

Okay I have asked this before, but I am going to keep on asking until somebody explains to me HOW these people can call themselves Christians when EVERYTHING they do is in direct opposition to the teachings of Jesus Christ?

If I were a straight parent whose children attended this school I would immediately withdraw them and send them to a learning environment that was more inclusive and accepting.

But then I'm an Atheist so my moral standards are somewhat higher.

New morality clause at Catholic school causes President of Advisory Council to resign in protest.

Newly resigned Advisory Council President Jaci Russo.

Courtesy of KATC:

The President of Our Lady of Fatima School Advisory Council has resigned in response to a new morality clause the Diocese of Lafayette has asked teachers to sign. In a letter to Principal Joni Duos obtained by KATC, Jaci Russo said the morality clause is flawed. 

"By listing these 'sins,' a number of teachers are forced to either lie about who they are, or deny the things they may have done in order to keep their jobs at Fatima," Russo wrote in her resignation letter. "This is a travesty, as I know there are teachers who have had children out of wedlock and are divorced and remarried without annulment, yet they signed the clause and continue to teach." 

Russo added, "I cannot in good conscience stand by while we prevent great teachers from doing their jobs at Fatima." 

Longtime teacher Jane Riviere, who is openly gay, said she didn't sign her contract because she couldn't "be honest to its content." The morality clause bars teachers from engaging in homosexual activity, using birth control, or being married outside the church. Riviere said Wednesday that while she does not agree with the church's position, she accepts it. 

Russo, whose children have attended Fatima for the past 10 years, questions teachers who have lied or denied things to keep their jobs. 

"What does this say about their moral fiber?" Russo asks. "Is adherence to the clause based on reality, or just what each individual is willing to admit?" 

Russo also discusses Riviere's character in the letter. She notes Riviere has touched the lives of many in the community, which she says is evident in the number of former students and co-workers who have commented about Riviere not signing her contract. 

"I don't understand how she could be such a great teacher for the past 30 years, and now be viewed as unacceptable," Russo wrote. "Isn't a woman of this quality exactly who we want to teach character to our kids?" 

Believe it or not the list of "sins" that this contract included were, non-Catholic marriages, living with a boyfriend or girlfriend, homosexual activity, becoming pregnant or fathering a child out of wedlock, and of course having an abortion or helping someone to get an abortion,

I think that it is great that people are standing up for themselves and refusing to let the church bully them into hiding who they are or judging them for who they love, or how they love.

If more people were to do this these superstitious bronze age thinking assholes would have to change their mindset or watch their schools close down from lack of teachers.

Which by the way I don't see as a bad thing.

"It's great to be a goverment paid missionary!"

"We pray they will come into God's army."

Exactly WHY does a God need an army? Never understood that.

Here's a description of what this video shows courtesy of the YouTube page:

A collection of clips showing military chaplains and some of the many fundamentalist parachurch ministries that operate freely within the military clearly stating what their real mission is. Video also shows the mission of these chaplains and parachurch ministries being put into practice in Afghanistan. 

So we not only send these young men and women into harm's way, we also expose them to the predatory practices of Bible thumping Evangelicals who are looking for new sheep to sheer.

Apparently that whole separation of church and state thing is just not a concept that some people take very seriously.

Just in time for Mother's Day, study shows that the BEST place to be a mother is in secular countries. Yeah, I said it!

Courtesy of God Discussion:

Comparing Save the Children's data with other statistics, with the exception of New Zealand and Australia, secular countries having high populations of atheists/agnostics are the best places to be a mother. Countries having the most restrictions on abortion fell into the worst countries to be a mother and conversely, those where abortion is legal were the best environments to be a mother. 

The United States ranks 25 out of 43 developed nations, up from 31 last year. 

While the US has moved up in the rankings, ahead of last year’s 31st place, we still fall below most wealthy nations,” said Carolyn Miles, President & CEO of Save the Children. “A woman in the US is more than 7 times as likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause in her lifetime than a woman in Italy or Ireland. When it comes to the number of children enrolled in preschools or the political status of women, the United States also places in the bottom 10 countries of the developed world.” 

The study analyzed factors like education, economics, health and politics for mothers and their children.

It makes sense actually, a parent who raises a child with access to logic and information to use as their guide, is ALWAYS going to do a better job than somebody who is encouraged to utilize the "spare the rod, spoil the child" approach or to tell their little one that if they misbehave they will burn for all eternity in the fiery pits of hell. Don'tcha think?

Happy Mother's Day! (Of course it will probably be even happier if you live in a secular country. I'm just saying!)