Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1+some 2/3/84; site dual.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!dual!mats From: mats@dual.UUCP (Mats Wichmann) Newsgroups: net.misc Subject: Re: Prayer in schools and WHY Message-ID: <274@dual.UUCP> Date: Mon, 13-Feb-84 04:01:10 EST Article-I.D.: dual.274 Posted: Mon Feb 13 04:01:10 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 14-Feb-84 01:37:37 EST References: <198@mi-eec.UUCP> <623@ihuxp.UUCP> <270@dual.UUCP> Organization: Dual Systems, Berkeley, CA Lines: 59 | Having just read some of the articles concerning religious instruction in schools, and in particular my co-worker Erik Fair's response, I must say that I have learned something. As a confirmed, life-long atheist, I have always felt that religion had no place in the school system. Our constitution guaranteed religious freedom, presumably including the right not to practise a religion at all. How are my rights being upheld if I am being forced to study a particular religion??? The first thing I objected to was having to say the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of every school day (something the `progressive' Berkeley school system discontinued rather early on in my life). I have no particular objection to pledging allagiance to this country (this is where I have spent my entire life, after all, I WANT it to continue), or even its flag (although that is somewhat of a contrived symbol), but I object to the reference to God in the Pledge, as if he were taken for granted. Another thing that bothered me early on was film and television depictions of court trials - you know, Perry Mason and all: each person who took the witness stand swore to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, `so help me God'. I used to ask why I should swear by something I didn't believe in, and what such an oath would mean (still do question this, for that matter). So much for background. I still believe (or refuse to believe) in the same things as before, although the radical days of my early youth in Berkeley (days when we felt that displaying a Cuban flag on flag day seemed like an appropriate gesture to many of us) are in the past. But I now feel that religion has a part in the school system of this country. The schools are supposed to prepare you for the rest of your life; religion is such a large part of so many people's lives that to ignore it is a mistake. But I feel that it is very important for the schools not to present any one view, whether it be religious or non-religious, as being correct. It is very valuable for each youngster to have explained to him/her/it what the various major religions of the world are about, and especially how they influence what is happening in the world today, as well as their historical implications. To present any one view as correct, whether it be evolutionist, creatonist, or any other, is imposing a judgement or the youngster that no individual should have the right to do. If we were able to provide instruction about religion in the manner I have described, it would be a very valuable part of the learning experience for the children attending school in this country, or, in fact, anyplace on the face of the globe. But from what I have seen, this cannot be in the current climate in this country. Somebody or other is always trying to impose his will on as many people as possible, be it Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, or whoever. Following someone whose two main attributes seem to be a tremendous personality and a burning need to line his own pockets seems extremely shortsighted. But as the saying goes, `There is none so blind as he who will not see'. Let us not encourage blindness in our children by forcefeeding one doctrine or another down their throats to the exclusion of all others. Mats Wichmann Dual Systems {ucbvax,amd70,ihnp4,cbosgd,decwrl,fortune}!dual!mats