Trying to Silence a Moment of Silence
According to the Dallas Morning News, “An atheist couple whose children attend a Carrollton-Farmers Branch elementary school have filed a complaint in federal district court arguing that the state's mandated moment of silence in public schools is unconstitutional.”
The claim is that one of their children was apparently asked to be silent for a “time for prayer” during the normal morning “moment of silence”.
Apparently the father also claims he doesn’t believe “there is any secular reason for a moment of silence” and that a moment of silence is just a way to allow prayer in school without calling it prayer. He asks the question, “Is there any study showing a moment of silence helps education?” But I would also ask if he has done any research to show that a moment of silence hurts education.
I fail to understand why this couple would like us all to believe that a moment of silence is synonymous with prayer. That is simply not the case. How often do we take moments of silence throughout our daily lives, even Christians, and it is not spent praying but considering what we are to do next, examining something we are working on, or simply just taking a break?
The law apparently states that one is free to “reflect, pray, meditate or engage in any other silent activities” during the moment of silence, but it seems the only requirement is to remain silent to keep from disturbing others that may be taking part in reflecting, praying, meditating, or engaging in any other silent activates.
What I find most interesting is, atheists claim they do not believe God exist and do not believe prayer does a single thing, then why such a fight against a moment of silence whereby the student is free to ponder any thoughts they seem right in their own eyes?
The father, Mr. Croft has apparently said, "I don't want my children exposed to people telling them the supernatural is real." Oh, but it is okay for all other children to be denied a moment of silence and to be told God is not real?
"I completely reject Judeo-Christian monotheism,” says Mr. Croft, and thus the matter is settled: It is clear this has little to do with the Constitution or a moment of silence, and more about his personal rejection of God.
I am glad the one Trying to Silence a Moment of Silence has been silenced: Federal Court Upholds Texas Moment of Silence Law, Allowing Students to Pray or Meditate
The claim is that one of their children was apparently asked to be silent for a “time for prayer” during the normal morning “moment of silence”.
Apparently the father also claims he doesn’t believe “there is any secular reason for a moment of silence” and that a moment of silence is just a way to allow prayer in school without calling it prayer. He asks the question, “Is there any study showing a moment of silence helps education?” But I would also ask if he has done any research to show that a moment of silence hurts education.
I fail to understand why this couple would like us all to believe that a moment of silence is synonymous with prayer. That is simply not the case. How often do we take moments of silence throughout our daily lives, even Christians, and it is not spent praying but considering what we are to do next, examining something we are working on, or simply just taking a break?
The law apparently states that one is free to “reflect, pray, meditate or engage in any other silent activities” during the moment of silence, but it seems the only requirement is to remain silent to keep from disturbing others that may be taking part in reflecting, praying, meditating, or engaging in any other silent activates.
What I find most interesting is, atheists claim they do not believe God exist and do not believe prayer does a single thing, then why such a fight against a moment of silence whereby the student is free to ponder any thoughts they seem right in their own eyes?
The father, Mr. Croft has apparently said, "I don't want my children exposed to people telling them the supernatural is real." Oh, but it is okay for all other children to be denied a moment of silence and to be told God is not real?
"I completely reject Judeo-Christian monotheism,” says Mr. Croft, and thus the matter is settled: It is clear this has little to do with the Constitution or a moment of silence, and more about his personal rejection of God.
I am glad the one Trying to Silence a Moment of Silence has been silenced: Federal Court Upholds Texas Moment of Silence Law, Allowing Students to Pray or Meditate
8 comments:
We need more of these decisions! We are the "Silent Majority"
The "Silent Majority"? There's really nothing 'silent' about Christians pickiting abortion clinics, or going on the news extolling the evils of same-sex marriage, or evangelizing. In truth, you are the "Loud, Arrogant, Brash, Selfish Majority".
The solution, as always in these type of cases, is simple.
Every parent who believes that the moment of silence is ok should pull their kids out of the school until the school decides to ignore such childishness. Since the school gets money for each kid it incarcerates, then it is in their best to keep as many kids as possible. In this case, the majority would rule and the silence the silencer if such actions were taken.
However, parents are not about to make such sacrifice...
anonymous,
So Christians are "Loud, Arrogant, Brash, Selfish"? Have you checked out some of the Atheist comments here and elsewhere in the blogsphere?
How about we stick to the facts. "Loud, Arrogant, Brash, Selfish" describes the corrupt human nature, whereby we all find ourselves when we choose not to obey God.
Tim
I completely agree with you when you speak of certain comments made by certain atheist posters, especially here on your blog (not to name names or anything). But the reason that this particular story was even newsworthy was because it happens SO rarely. ONE atheist couple stood up and said something, and that was rare enough to be a story, whereas Christian politicians and priests and groups are out there every day in every possible medium, spreading hostility and anger towards lots of different groups of people. Be honest - you can name WAY more instances of people bashing gay marriage and threatening abortion doctors than you can atheists vandelizing churches or gathering together in large groups to publicly trash the rite of communion.
I feel that most Christians don't really understand about the "No Prayer" arguments which secular people (And that includes religious people) have often argued for.
What is at issue here is not the moment of silence, even if it is wholly unnecessary (I fail to see what a moment of silence will do to the deceased, or the deceased's family members, for the matter): It is about public prayers in school.
Because govt institutions tend to be congregated by various races and religions, the idea of promoting prayers, be it Christian, Muslim or even a multi-religious prayer session, is offensive because religion is ultimately exclusive. A Christian will not see eye to eye with the Muslim's beliefs, and vice versa, and a secular environment can only be the best option to prevent potential conflict.
Besides, public schools are not evangelical places for teaching children about god. Religious people are granted their religious institutions to pander their nonsense, and religious people will do well to leave their public prayers out of public schools.
Beast
Tim
I don't think atheists, or including myself, are arrogant: We just can't tolerate the belief that the moon is made of green cheese, or other similar beliefs which are not substantiated by evidence.
As for being loud and brash, I don't really think that it is a bad thing, provided, of course, that reason and rationality prevails. Being loud and brash about the evils of slavery, for example, does civilization a world of good.
As for being selfish, I think us atheists are a lot less selfish than most Christians, particularly those who choose to pander cheap, third-rate writings and poorly-crafted books to innocent readers just to earn a quick buck or two.
Beast
My rebuttal to this issue:
http://atheisthaven.blogspot.com/2008/01/prayers-in-public-schools-separating.html
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