School gets busted for Burqas

[Maddhattter]

Thank you for the input. There shouldn't be centralized studies at all. A teacher who actually knows the subject is a master of their craft.

I think she was putting the problem more on the state board of education, rather than the teachers. Especially considering that the SBoE is not comprised of teachers.

[Forever_frost]

So, back to C-SCOPE. My district uses it. I mostly hate the pacing of the lessons. How the fuck am I supposed to teach Colonization & Geography in 2 weeks? That's some bullshit right there. But, I digress...

Who in here has access to C-SCOPE? If you are able to look at it you will see that everything that's in it is based on the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills). There's where the damn problem is. When people are placed on a committee to decide what the kids of a state learn, they really shouldn't be politically or religiously motivated. However they are. They are appointed by politicians & actually lobby to be on the committee. The lessons are ok for the most part, but some are squirrelly. That's the down fall of a purchased, pre written curriculum. Our curriculum was much stronger when it was written by teachers who actually teach the subject. Apparently, it's cheaper to pay for C-SCOPE than to pay us to rewrite the curriculum since the morons in Austin changed the TEKS in the last few years.

You are welcome to resume your arguing about religion now.

Thank you for the input. There shouldn't be centralized studies at all. A teacher who actually knows the subject is a master of their craft.

[racrguy]

I realize that in the end you don't give a shit, and that in another thread you'd have the same attitude toward any other religion, but I feel the need to make one point.

You should make a distinction in your arguments. Christianity isn't doing shit. People are.

People carry out actions. People [mis]interpret. People twist and manipulate. People judge and condemn. PEOPLE do awful shit.

Christianity, which is a belief system, has no power beyond the person.

Case in point, from your links above (one quote per article):

Link 1


Link 2



Link 3



There's an obvious theme here and it's not that Christianity is ruining villages; it's that people's fucking greed and willingness to fuck over their neighbor is ruining villages. Belief in Jesus is not ruining lives; the douchebags in charge willing to twist and manipulate the message into "pay me to fix them" is ruining children's lives.

Really... you read those articles, especially the excerpted parts, and see a men driven by "christian" values and condemn Christianity? You don't see the disconnect between what those people are doing and the actual values taught by Christianity?


What, exactly, were you taught in these "comparative religion" courses?



I truly hope that you don't honestly believe that the majority of Christians in the world fit this "African missionary, rapist, murderer, burn-em-all-at-the-stake" vision of continuing Crusades.

Only a fool would think that all christians are like the African ones depicted in the articles, I also never said they were. To more address your point that it's the people and not the religion, when the it's done in the name of the religion, and supported by that same religion, I hold the religion just as responsible as those carrying out the actions. Those in Africa are following the teachings of their holy book more stringently than those that don't act like that. People are good in spite of their religion, not because of it.

Religious people often claim it's the 'fundamentalists' of each religion that cause problems... There's got to be something wrong with the religion itself if those who strictly adhere to its most fundamental principals are violent bigots and sexists.

[Kimmypie]

So, back to C-SCOPE. My district uses it. I mostly hate the pacing of the lessons. How the fuck am I supposed to teach Colonization & Geography in 2 weeks? That's some bullshit right there. But, I digress...

Who in here has access to C-SCOPE? If you are able to look at it you will see that everything that's in it is based on the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills). There's where the damn problem is. When people are placed on a committee to decide what the kids of a state learn, they really shouldn't be politically or religiously motivated. However they are. They are appointed by politicians & actually lobby to be on the committee. The lessons are ok for the most part, but some are squirrelly. That's the down fall of a purchased, pre written curriculum. Our curriculum was much stronger when it was written by teachers who actually teach the subject. Apparently, it's cheaper to pay for C-SCOPE than to pay us to rewrite the curriculum since the morons in Austin changed the TEKS in the last few years.

You are welcome to resume your arguing about religion now.

[Strychnine]

If you think christianity isn't doing those horrible things this very day, you're fucking crazy. All one needs to do is look at Africa.

I realize that in the end you don't give a shit, and that in another thread you'd have the same attitude toward any other religion, but I feel the need to make one point.

You should make a distinction in your arguments. Christianity isn't doing shit. People are.

People carry out actions. People [mis]interpret. People twist and manipulate. People judge and condemn. PEOPLE do awful shit.

Christianity, which is a belief system, has no power beyond the person.

Case in point, from your links above (one quote per article):

Link 1

Some people may feel protective of Christianity, but Christianity is at fault here. The pastors of independent African churches may identify children as witches (for a fee) and are prepared to "cure" them (for a further fee) by exorcising the evil spirits. Such exorcisms are often violent; beating and the use of cold water to cleanse and purify the possessed being is common in many Congolese churches and elsewhere in Africa, too.

Link 2

"Where little shots become big shots in a short time," promises the Winner's Chapel down the road.

"Pray your way to riches," advises Embassy of Christ a few blocks away.

That's what Margaret Eyekang did when her 8-year-old daughter Abigail was accused by a "prophet" from the Apostolic Church, because the girl liked to sleep outside on hot nights – interpreted as meaning she might be flying off to join a coven. A series of exorcisms cost Eyekang eight months' wages, or US$270. The payments bankrupted her.

Link 3

"Religious leaders capitalize on the ignorance of some parents in the villages just to make some money off them," said Lucky Inyang, project coordinator for 'Stepping Stones Nigeria'.

And most pastors charge a fee for deliverance -- anywhere from $300 to $2,000.

There's an obvious theme here and it's not that Christianity is ruining villages; it's that people's fucking greed and willingness to fuck over their neighbor is ruining villages. Belief in Jesus is not ruining lives; the douchebags in charge willing to twist and manipulate the message into "pay me to fix them" is ruining children's lives.

Really... you read those articles, especially the excerpted parts, and see a men driven by "christian" values and condemn Christianity? You don't see the disconnect between what those people are doing and the actual values taught by Christianity?


What, exactly, were you taught in these "comparative religion" courses?



I truly hope that you don't honestly believe that the majority of Christians in the world fit this "African missionary, rapist, murderer, burn-em-all-at-the-stake" vision of continuing Crusades.

[Maddhattter]

Okay. I come back later when I can talk on the same logical level.

Cool. See you then!

[line-em-up]

No worries. When you educate yourself on the laws of logic and how it operates, you'll fully understand how right I am. On the application of logic, that is.

Okay. I come back later when I can talk on the same logical level.

[Forever_frost]

People believe in god, does that mean he exists? Just because people practice something doesn't mean it's real. Alchemy, astrology, religion. None of which has been proven to be true.

Actually, you're not arguing if what they believe exists but rather that their religion doesn't. Study of Alchemy? Real. Actually getting results outside of a nuclear reactor? Not so much. Astrology? Same.

All of them exist. You can argue as to the basis of the religion but not that the religion exists

[Maddhattter]

Whatever you say Spock.

No worries. When you educate yourself on the laws of logic and how it operates, you'll fully understand how right I am. On the application of logic, that is.

[line-em-up]

I will believe what the evidence supports. You, by your own words, don't even believe your own holy book.



Incorrect. Logic dictates that a true dichotomy be formed. The dichotomy, in this case being belief and non-belief. If you do not actively believe, you do not believe. As I stated earlier, that does not mean that you believe the converse, only that you do not believe the assertion being discussed.

It's simple Logic 101.



Convinced of what? You've not presented a supported argument, so I've nothing to convince anyone of.



I don't hate the bible anymore than I hate the twilight books. I simply feel that both are shitty fiction and abysmal models to build one's life and/or lifestyle around.

I will, however, be glad to discuss any position you take, once you can provide some actual evidence to support your claims. Unfortunately, you've provided none, thus far.

Whatever you say Spock.

[racrguy]

You still haven't provided how I'm delusional. You stated that witchcraft didn't exist, I provided proof that it is still a form of religion held by people.

People believe in god, does that mean he exists? Just because people practice something doesn't mean it's real. Alchemy, astrology, religion. None of which has been proven to be true.

[racrguy]

Hatter, while you don't believe as I do, I am always impressed with your debates. Clear, logical and you don't resort to names. We may disagree but you are impressive. Thank you.

I like how you compliment him on everything you're not.

[Forever_frost]

I'd say delusion is a pretty fitting word. You're delusional as well.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delusion

You still haven't provided how I'm delusional. You stated that witchcraft didn't exist, I provided proof that it is still a form of religion held by people.

[Forever_frost]

Hatter, while you don't believe as I do, I am always impressed with your debates. Clear, logical and you don't resort to names. We may disagree but you are impressive. Thank you.

[Maddhattter]

Go ahead. Believe whatever you want. No sweat off my back.

I will believe what the evidence supports. You, by your own words, don't even believe your own holy book.

I am not going to try to explain another thing to you because you don't seem to understand simple logic.

Incorrect. Logic dictates that a true dichotomy be formed. The dichotomy, in this case being belief and non-belief. If you do not actively believe, you do not believe. As I stated earlier, that does not mean that you believe the converse, only that you do not believe the assertion being discussed.

It's simple Logic 101.

The only one that you've convinced is yourself.

Convinced of what? You've not presented a supported argument, so I've nothing to convince anyone of.

You are the typical anti-religion Bible hater. Go ahead and do your thing.

I don't hate the bible anymore than I hate the twilight books. I simply feel that both are shitty fiction and abysmal models to build one's life and/or lifestyle around.

I will, however, be glad to discuss any position you take, once you can provide some actual evidence to support your claims. Unfortunately, you've provided none, thus far.