60 replies to this topic

[katinka]

Hey guys, a friend brought an interesting topic up, and i thought i'd get your opinions on it. I'm not going to mention any names, but i'll briefly convey the situation. My friend had gotten an assignment via email from one of her teachers, and was shocked to learn that this teachers email had a very christian message stated very obviously in the address. She was a bit shocked, as she is very liberal and jewish. What do you guys think? Is that appropriate?

[Transparent Reality]

What do you mean address? If it's in the body of the e-mail like a signature, I wouldn't care too much about it. I would only regard it offensive if say, your teacher came up to me and started trying to convert me from my pagan gods.

Use your common sense and judgement. Assuming you take public transportation, you probably see people handing out religious pamphlets and preaching everywhere (there are usually quite a few a DeKalb as well). I don't really think it's a big deal.

[djharkavy]

angelicmidnite, on Sep 19 2006, 10:06 PM, said:

Hey guys, a friend brought an interesting topic up, and i thought i'd get your opinions on it. I'm not going to mention any names, but i'll briefly convey the situation. My friend had gotten an assignment via email from one of her teachers, and was shocked to learn that this teachers email had a very christian message stated very obviously in the address. She was a bit shocked, as she is very liberal and jewish. What do you guys think? Is that appropriate?

Is this a signature in the teacher's personal email, or is it something in the BOE email. Does the teacher regularly contact students using this email account, or was this something unusual?

Many factors to deal with. Primarily, the question would be was there any intention to prostletyze, or was this just an unintentional action.

[techkid]

People have the right to practice thier religion and to tell the world who/what they believe in. The problem starts to form when religion is brought into the classroom and the teacher tries to force his/her beliefs on his/her students. That is a problem. What you are talking about is just the teacher expressing his/her beliefs and it is harmless. Really there are more important things in this world to worry about than what a teacher's email contains.

[tycoonboy388]

I know the teacher. The teahcer used to hand out comic strips in DeKalb avenue station (I don't know if this has continued), and when I first saw the teacher handing stuff out I thought it was a joke, but then I read onward, and I found out it wasn't. Then I noticed the following day the teacher kept a Bible on the desk, and it kind of scared me, especially when I in passing mentioned our encounter outside of the class, and the teacher asked if I liked the comic book and asked if I wanted more of them. I hadn't worn my star of David in years, but from that day on, I always wore it in that class, because I thought it'd help stave off the teacher and the preaching nature that was exhibited.

This particular teacher is very good at keeping faith out of the classroom. While the subject this teacher taught to me was filled with religious references, the teacher played it off well and their personal beliefs did not come into play at all. It never occured to me until I saw what this teacher did after school that I made any note of it and I put my foot down.

If your friend is concerned, she might want to have her parents do something about it. Unless this comes directly into the classroom, and I can't see a situation where it would, I doubt it needs to come to that. Especially since this was the teachers personal e-mail account, its another thing that can't really be fought. This teacher is a very good teacher, and has a lot of skill when it comes to keeping their faith out of the classroom. Though it doesn't help to think of one of your teachers as a what some people might see as a crazy subway preacher.

[katinka]

This was the teachers personal email acount, and it was in the name, not the signature, but i suppose you are right. tycoonboy, i'm pming you with a question.

[Wenger]

angelicmidnite, on Sep 19 2006, 10:06 PM, said:

Hey guys, a friend brought an interesting topic up, and i thought i'd get your opinions on it. I'm not going to mention any names, but i'll briefly convey the situation. My friend had gotten an assignment via email from one of her teachers, and was shocked to learn that this teachers email had a very christian message stated very obviously in the address. She was a bit shocked, as she is very liberal and jewish. What do you guys think? Is that appropriate?

Religion shouldn't be brought into classrooms at all. It is a myth, all of them are. I simply cannot understand how humans let themselves get brainwashed it. I find it amusing to think that there are people who actually believe in things such as Hindu gods with thousand gods and because of their religion become vegetarians and practice arranged marriages. It's so stupid, but then again, what do you expect? Most people are gullible.

[escsamx]

I would think it better if you kept your opinions to yourself. Nobody here has said "your religion is stupid. Why do you even practice it?" Religion is not fake and it is not a silly joke, but however you are. What kind of love can God give a person that refuses to love him? How sickening.

[missgoodytwoshoes]

Wenger, on Jun 4 2008, 10:33 PM, said:

Religion shouldn't be brought into classrooms at all. It is a myth, all of them are. I simply cannot understand how humans let themselves get brainwashed it. I find it amusing to think that there are people who actually believe in things such as Hindu gods with thousand gods and because of their religion become vegetarians and practice arranged marriages. It's so stupid, but then again, what do you expect? Most people are gullible.

Wenger,
You're right, it is amazing how gullible people can be, but it is even more amazing how ignorant people can be. You don't even know anything about Hinduism, so you shouldn't judge people who believe in it, and you should get yourself educated. If you don't want to believe in it, good for you. But if others want to, who are you to call them gullible? What's so gullible about that in the first place? Also, agreeing with escsamx, who is an 8th grader, no one has said anything about YOUR religion. It's ok for you to have an opinion, but if it's going to be so controversial, you should keep it to yourself. And besides, no one asked you.

[Wenger]

missgoodytwoshoes, on Jun 5 2008, 02:14 PM, said:

Wenger,
You're right, it is amazing how gullible people can be, but it is even more amazing how ignorant people can be. You don't even know anything about Hinduism, so you shouldn't judge people who believe in it, and you should get yourself educated. If you don't want to believe in it, good for you. But if others want to, who are you to call them gullible? What's so gullible about that in the first place? Also, agreeing with escsamx, who is an 8th grader, no one has said anything about YOUR religion. It's ok for you to have an opinion, but if it's going to be so controversial, you should keep it to yourself. And besides, no one asked you.

First of all, I have no religion. I'm an Atheist, which is a pretty clear fact to anyone who's read my post. How do you know that I don't know anything about Hinduism - it's a religion with beliefs that limit one's own independence. That's the only point I'm trying to make. I consider anyone following a religion gullible, not only Hindus. As for no one asking me, I could say the very same thing about you.

[tycoonboy388]

Wenger, on Jun 5 2008, 07:05 PM, said:

First of all, I have no religion. I'm an Atheist, which is a pretty clear fact to anyone who's read my post. How do you know that I don't know anything about Hinduism - it's a religion with beliefs that limit one's own independence. That's the only point I'm trying to make. I consider anyone following a religion gullible, not only Hindus. As for no one asking me, I could say the very same thing about you.

I still think its rather pretentious for you to blatantly suggest that people are inferior for believing in a religion. Many amazing people have believed in some divine being, and to completely rule out those doctrines I think is a pretty ignorant outlook. The beauty of our society is that we are free to believe what we choose to believe, more importantly that while we give no preference to any faith, we respect all beliefs and the decision to not prescribe to a faith. No one is stopping you from being an Atheist, none of us are attacking you because you do not believe in a higher power. We are attacking you because you fail to see the good that religion can provide to a person, that you see no positives associated with religion.

[Wenger]

tycoonboy388, on Jun 5 2008, 08:43 PM, said:

I still think its rather pretentious for you to blatantly suggest that people are inferior for believing in a religion. Many amazing people have believed in some divine being, and to completely rule out those doctrines I think is a pretty ignorant outlook. The beauty of our society is that we are free to believe what we choose to believe, more importantly that while we give no preference to any faith, we respect all beliefs and the decision to not prescribe to a faith. No one is stopping you from being an Atheist, none of us are attacking you because you do not believe in a higher power. We are attacking you because you fail to see the good that religion can provide to a person, that you see no positives associated with religion.

Historically, I don't see someone being religious as a bad thing, as there was a weaker understanding of science. The fact that many intellects have indeed been religious isn't something you have to point to me. 93% of Nobel Prize Winners in Science are or have been Atheists. I find it funny how religious people consider themselves to be tolerant of other faiths, even though their beliefs go against others, along with criticizing them. Religion "may" provide some good to people, but it has had terrible consequences and effects on society for thousands of years and at present. The notion that it brings unity is absurd, as it only separates people.

[leo2car]

Let's return it to religion in school, if this is going to turn to religion in the world, i would lock this topic.

Teachers could not not preach religion, we have religious schools for that. But they can inform us, like in Global, of what they belief and feel and how it has altered history, if they don't, that is so bad. English teachers can bring it up again so students can better understand the texts.

[Wenger]

leo2car, on Jun 5 2008, 10:24 PM, said:

Let's return it to religion in school, if this is going to turn to religion in the world, i would lock this topic.

Teachers could not not preach religion, we have religious schools for that. But they can inform us, like in Global, of what they belief and feel and how it has altered history, if they don't, that is so bad. English teachers can bring it up again so students can better understand the texts.

What a great comment! Yes, naturally, anyone who wants to better understand history would have to study religious beliefs and texts. That of course, isn't objectionable, it's simply part of being knowledgeable.

[PongyN]

Now you're just not making sense. First you're ranting and raving about religion in the classroom. Now, you're saying it's part of being "knowledgeable?" Don't tell me the almighty cynic is backing down from his soapbox in the midst of a little reaction from his peers?

[Wenger]

PongyN, on Jun 5 2008, 11:29 PM, said:

Now you're just not making sense. First you're ranting and raving about religion in the classroom. Now, you're saying it's part of being "knowledgeable?" Don't tell me the almighty cynic is backing down from his soapbox in the midst of a little reaction from his peers?

No, I was simply saying how I understand that studying it knowledgeably isn't wrong, such as analyzing the effects it's had on society, but for it to be in schools, such as in the pledge of allegiance ("one nation under god", where it has nothing to do with academics makes no sense and is insulting to many people. I don't know what "cynic" you are talking about, but I hope that you now understand what I'm differentiating between.

[PongyN]

Wenger, on Jun 5 2008, 11:50 PM, said:

No, I was simply saying how I understand that studying it knowledgeably isn't wrong, such as analyzing the effects it's had on society, but for it to be in schools, such as in the pledge of allegiance ("one nation under god", where it has nothing to do with academics makes no sense and is insulting to many people. I don't know what "cynic" you are talking about, but I hope that you now understand what I'm differentiating between.

Saying there isn't a god is as much a leap of faith as saying there is a god. To each his own.

[Wenger]

PongyN, on Jun 6 2008, 12:36 AM, said:

Saying there isn't a god is as much a leap of faith as saying there is a god. To each his own.

There's a difference between simply believing in God, probably one who's an agnostic, rather than actually practicing a religion. Frankly, if you just believe that there is a God, then it's simply a matter of personal opinion, but all religions are so ludicrous that the fact that they are actually practiced is disgraceful.

[z2z007]

It sounds like you are opposed to organized religion not the concept of religion itself.

[Wenger]

z2z007, on Jun 6 2008, 08:54 PM, said:

It sounds like you are opposed to organized religion not the concept of religion itself.

What causes you to think that I'm not against the concept of religion? I most certainly am, because I strong believe that people should be independent and free from it.