A close shave.

[pr126]

The boogieman under pr's bed at night is now an oppressed minority and the moozlims have taken over.

:shut_up:

[AllPurposeAtheist]

:shut_up:

Wow..snappy comeback no doubt inspired by the oppressed boogieman. 

[pr126]

Teaching religion is like listening to second hand car salesmen, trying to sell an invisible used car.

[jonb]

The books shown are history books covering the growth of Islamic empires.
A history lesson.

If in teaching about Italy the pope was mentioned and the papal states would that make it religious education?

Is there any evidence shown religion was being taught?

[Jack89]

Drawing Mohammed is such a hot topic because radical Muslims kill people for it, not because it's supposedly disrespectful to do so.  The reason it is forbidden by Muslims is to prevent idol worship, as alluded to by pr.  Mohammed is considered a man and drawing his image may lead to worshiping him rather than Allah.  Makes sense if you're Muslim, but is ridiculous of you're not.

I see this as similar to some Jews spelling God as G-d.  To them it's disrespectful to erase the name of God so you avoid writing it.  Again, that's great for those who believe such a thing, but ridiculous for those who don't.  The difference is that we don't have radical Jews going around killing people for writing the word "God".  Would it be appropriate to forbid kids from spelling the word God in school, or avoid assignments where it would occur? 

[jonb]

Or could it be that with a 1.4% Asian presence even in a little place like Acton California there could be islamic children in the class?
To not expect them to do the work would be problematic for an all inclusive policy, so it might be better to get children to draw something else next time which would not effect anybodies education in the least.

[TomFoolery]

The boogieman under pr's bed at night is now an oppressed minority and the moozlims have taken over.

I'll be honest, when I see new topics started by pr, all I can think is "What have the Muslims done now?"

[Jack89]

Or could it be that with a 1.4% Asian presence even in a little place like Acton California there could be islamic children in the class?
To not expect them to do the work would be problematic for an all inclusive policy, so it might be better to get children to draw something else next time which would not effect anybodies education in the least.

Should we avoid teaching evolution in schools to comply with an all inclusive policy?  It obviously offends a lot of Christians and isn't necessary for most professions.  Of course not.

It seems like such a little thing to avoid the subject, but we need to recognize it for what it is.  It's falling prey to coercion.  We're afraid for our children so we comply with terrorist demands.  It's perfectly understandable.

[jonb]

Sorry I forgot how fucked up you country is, if getting ten year olds to draw pictures of semi mythical beings in history lessons is the only way that you can then be allowed to teach biology then you have to make those choices.

I feel so lucky to be on this side of the pond.

[Baruch]

Disagree. Religious education and religious practice are not the same thing. Education is rarely a bad thing. I am grateful for my own religious education.

I got my religious education outside of school.  For example when Catholicism was mentioned in public school, it was part of history, not as a religion.  I knew Cortez was a Spanish Catholic ... but I didn't need to know much about Catholicism for that.  So yes, as long as religious figures are treated as historical figures ... no problem.  Except of course that Jesus is not a historical figure, nor was Moses.  Muhammad was.

[Baruch]

Drawing Mohammed is such a hot topic because radical Muslims kill people for it, not because it's supposedly disrespectful to do so.  The reason it is forbidden by Muslims is to prevent idol worship, as alluded to by pr.  Mohammed is considered a man and drawing his image may lead to worshiping him rather than Allah.  Makes sense if you're Muslim, but is ridiculous of you're not.

I see this as similar to some Jews spelling God as G-d.  To them it's disrespectful to erase the name of God so you avoid writing it.  Again, that's great for those who believe such a thing, but ridiculous for those who don't.  The difference is that we don't have radical Jews going around killing people for writing the word "God".  Would it be appropriate to forbid kids from spelling the word God in school, or avoid assignments where it would occur?

Only ultra-orthodox Jews would get after someone for using god or God ... and only when done by Jews.  We don't try to enforce our standards outside our group ... for obvious reasons.  In a public school situation, I would encourage "god" or "gods" as standard, treating all the same way most of us treat Greek mythology.

[Baruch]

Sorry I forgot how fucked up you country is, if getting ten year olds to draw pictures of semi mythical beings in history lessons is the only way that you can then be allowed to teach biology then you have to make those choices.

I feel so lucky to be on this side of the pond.

You sent all your crazies over here ... what did you expect ;-)

[GrinningYMIR]

It always goes down to pr calling shir the equivalently of a Muslim apologist/west hater and shir calling pr an alarmist racist type deal.

I miss the randomness of these threads ;3;

[Shiranu]

It always goes down to pr calling shir the equivalently of a Muslim apologist/west hater and shir calling pr an alarmist racist type deal.

I miss the randomness of these threads ;3;

I get the Muslim apologist, but I never understood the, "I hate the west!" angle. Ah well...

[Jack89]

Only ultra-orthodox Jews would get after someone for using god or God ... and only when done by Jews.  We don't try to enforce our standards outside our group ... for obvious reasons.  In a public school situation, I would encourage "god" or "gods" as standard, treating all the same way most of us treat Greek mythology.

As it should be.  Thanks for the clarification.