On Bible incident draws concerns

Posted on January 8 at 12:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Darius
"You really think the way this young man handled his freedom of speech is how people should stand for something?"
Yes, I do. He could have been nicer about it perhaps, but he explained that nerves was a part of his blurting certain things out. A minority opinion isn't invalidated simply because the majority doesn't accept it, or finds it discomforting. I don't know if your objection is to danneskjold's characterization of his classmates as ignoramuses or if it is about the tearing of the Bible, or both. The ad hominem was unfortunate, and if dannes is going to employ this tactic, he should perhaps study Twain for some more subtle nuances. :-) The Bible tearing was actually quite a good demonstration of what he was talking about. It is, after all, only a book, with no special powers. Another student could similarly have done the same presentation, with the exception of ripping up the Ayn Rand book. As long as the book is owned by the person destroying it, it is a perfectly lawful act.

As for the nation being based on Christianity, you are simply mistaken. I suggest you do some research into Free Masonry and the connections to our founding fathers. And since you like to read, I suggest you read the book "Liars for Jesus" which takes a good look at revisionist historians.

On Bible incident draws concerns

Posted on January 6 at 1:10 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Darius
Someone did stand up. But his message of independent thought was so foreign to the status quo, it was taken to be a threat, and he was sent to see a shrink.

On Bible incident draws concerns

Posted on January 2 at 7 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Bibledude
Getting into a Christian vs atheist debate here would only take the focus off the real issue, even though it may be tangentially related.

prizefighterinferno
May I ask, was anyone else(besides Elle) in the class offended by the language used by danneskjold? Did anyone else feel threatened?
What was Elle's immediate reaction in the classroom? Did she notify the teacher that she was upset? Was anyone aware that she was upset?
Did Elle say anything to danneskjold? If so, what?

On Bible incident draws concerns

Posted on January 1 at 12:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Bibledude
"it" was referring to the word species, not Christian in that sentence. Species refers to Christians.
I think the boy knows his mother is a Christian. That doesn't stop him from thinking she is errant in her beliefs. And I made mention of his open-minded Christian friends who supported him, and cautioned him not to be so blunt with them.
Your tender sensibilities ARE showing.
And any arrogance you perceive on my part could not begin to compete with the arrogance of Christian belief.

On Bible incident draws concerns

Posted on December 31 at 10:36 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

danneskjold,
I just want to compliment you on the stand you have ended up taking for your 1st Amendment rights. You may not have wanted attention, but you're getting it. Your story is circulating on atheist blogs around the country. This particular site was linked to PZMyers Evolution Blog, where a very healthy and sometimes heated discussion has been going on about what happened with you. The biggest complaint was that your side of the story wasn't being told, and conjecture was that the complainant and her family were hysterical and hyperbolic in their reaction to your inventive demonstration of the lack of mystical powers of the Bible.

There was much disagreement over whether your choice of language and approach with your audience was appropriate. It is one thing to recognize that Christians are ignorant; quite another to tell them that as you are making a presentation to them. As you may have noticed, it is quite all right for them to tell the heathen (i.e. anyone not just like them) that they are headed straight for an eternal torment in Hell, but we mustn't offend their tender sensibilities. You are correct when you say that the Christian is protected in this country. One would think it was an endangered species.

At any rate, I would like to congratulate you on your speech, nerves and all. I think the "Sand in the Vagina" comment was a colorful touch, but perhaps over the heads of your audience. I don't know if your teacher thought that was vulgar and took points off or not. Not enough information was presented in any of the articles about the parameters of the assignment.

You certainly have my sympathies for having to undergo a psych exam to return to school. In my estimation, you didn't pose any threat and shouldn't have been disciplined at all. Indeed, it is your fragile young classmate who perhaps needs some psychiatric intervention. I shudder to think how she will handle the world at large past high school if this is the sort of trauma that sends her sniveling to her daddy.

May you keep the courage of your convictions. What a wonderful free-thinking mind you have! And it seems you have some pretty good friends of the Christian bent who are more open-minded than most. Don't hit them over the head with that "idiot" stuff --as long as they don't hit you over the head with their Jesus stuff!
Cheers!