How Christian fundamentalists plan to teach genocide to schoolchildren

How Christian fundamentalists plan to teach genocide to schoolchildren

www.guardian.co.uk

This fall, more than 100,000 American public school children, ranging in age from four to 12, are scheduled to receive instruction in the lessons of Saul and the Amalekites in the comfort of their own public school classrooms. The instruction, which features in the second week of a weekly "Bible study" course, will come from the Good News Club, an after-school program sponsored by a group called the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). The aim of the CEF is to convert young children to a fundamentalist form of the Christian faith and recruit their peers to the club.

There are now over 3,200

(visit the link for the full news article)

Just so as you know that it isn't just the moslems that are dangerous!

So apparently this can happen in a country where fundies regularly complain about being repressed, being ruled by atheists, liberals, science, etc.

Even more important, the Good News Club wants the children to know, the Amalakites were targeted for destruction on account of their religion, or lack of it. The instruction manual reads:


"The Amalekites had heard about Israel's true and living God many years before, but they refused to believe in him. The Amalekites refused to believe in God and God had promised punishment."

The instruction manual goes on to champion obedience in all things. In fact, pretty much every lesson that the Good News Club gives involves reminding children that they must, at all costs, obey. If God tells you to kill nonbelievers, he really wants you to kill them all. No questions asked, no exceptions allowed.

And the SCOTUS decided:

In the majority opinion that opened the door to Good News Clubs, supreme court Justice Clarence Thomas reasoned that the activities of the CEF were not really religious, after all. He said that they could be characterized, for legal purposes, "as the teaching of morals and character development from a particular viewpoint".

As Justices Souter and Stevens pointed out in their dissents, however, the claim is preposterous: the CEF plainly aims to teach religious doctrines and conduct services of worship. Thomas's claim is particularly ironic in view of the fact that the CEF makes quite clear its intent to teach that no amount of moral or ethical behavior (pdf) can spare a nonbeliever from an eternity in hell.

And of course I wonder who it is says what the word of god is?? Hmm...????

it's not fundamentalist islam that is going to destroy the US, it is not the NWO that is gearing up for a civil war, nor democrats, Scientists, Liberals and Atheists - all those people are happy for you to follow whatever myth you want to - it is these so-called christians who cannot stand free speech or free thought!

Never mind what Jesus might have said about forgiving they neighbour - these "christians" want to teach kids that old testament HEBREW values are actually how christians should behave!!

www.guardian.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

Originally posted by Aloysius the Gaul

Just so as you know that it isn't just the moslems that are dangerous!

Please give me a break, do we have to run through the numbers? I am sick and tired of these kinds of posts that try and paint a bad picture of X religion, while saying "Look, see muslims aren't so bad!". The fact of the matter is, yes they are public enemy #1 until they stop with their jihad machine to take over the world.

Religion in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages.

As far as that article is concerned, I would look into the writer's background. If I had to guess, I would say left-wing, liberal views, probably smokes pot, cares for the environment and wears clothes made from her own hair. Yes I am talking about Katherine Stewart who also happens to have written a book about her article there so go buy a copy today so we can finally uncover and put a stop to the evil that is Christianity.

Well ok, I could be wrong about the smoking pot part.

www.thegoodnewsclub.com...

[url=http://www.amazon.com/Good-News-Club-Christian-Americas/dp/1586488430/]http://www.amazon.com/Good-News-Club-Christian-Americas/dp/1586488430/[/ur l]

Just get me the hell out of this country!

It's not safe being an Atheist here anymore.

(Maybe a Zombie Invasion wouldn't have been such a bad idea after all! At least they're legally dead from the neck up and keep their rotting mouths shut!).

Get the drones ready, those churches are harboring terrorists.

reply to post by Aloysius the Gaul

Misquoting the instruction manual betrays your fear.
There is nothong in it that instructs children to "obey" to the point of murder.
You would do your prejudice better duty than to exaggerate what is already extreme enough.
Lying, even if well-intended, demeans your position to one of weakness.

Since when does the Constitution or the SCOTUS have any business in what a state or private school does, anyway? Turning schools into a "government" function is one of the greatest mistakes this country ever made.
Schools should be a reflection of the community, not of the mindset of the government.

Sometimes, well-intentioned people miss the forest for the trees.
Our public schools are a complete failure. Why not permit the intrusion of a little morality and responsibility into the "socialization" that we've come to expect (mistakenly) from our schools?

Personally, I don't care if it's Islam, Judaism or Hinduism or Zoroastrianism; but a little social and personal responsibility would add to the rounding of our most troubled students and schools.

Some are going to cry out, "But what about "indoctrination?"
My response, is that we've had 50 years of failed indoctrination, and it's time for a change.
If your family and personal values are so weak that a couple of hours of disparate thinking threaten your child, then your child is doomed to followerhood, anyway. And so are you.
jw

You might want to check out this thread too, posted yesterday on the same topic.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by freedomguy

Religion in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages.

Religion is also the source of altruism and benevolence. The first "charity" hospitals were religious-based. the largest and most beneficent charities are religious-based.

I can take your misbegotten quote, and substitute the words, and come up with better arguments than this:
"Government in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages. "

"Education in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages."

"Heterosexual Marriage in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages."

"Capitalism in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages."

"Socialism in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages. "

Come on, this is pathetic. Pick your demon, exaggerate all your prejudices, abandon personal responsibility.

jw

Originally posted by Aloysius the Gaul

Just so as you know that it isn't just the moslems that are dangerous!

So apparently this can happen in a country where fundies regularly complain about being repressed, being ruled by atheists, liberals, science, etc.

Even more important, the Good News Club wants the children to know, the Amalakites were targeted for destruction on account of their religion, or lack of it. The instruction manual reads:


"The Amalekites had heard about Israel's true and living God many years before, but they refused to believe in him. The Amalekites refused to believe in God and God had promised punishment."

The instruction manual goes on to champion obedience in all things. In fact, pretty much every lesson that the Good News Club gives involves reminding children that they must, at all costs, obey. If God tells you to kill nonbelievers, he really wants you to kill them all. No questions asked, no exceptions allowed.

And the SCOTUS decided:

In the majority opinion that opened the door to Good News Clubs, supreme court Justice Clarence Thomas reasoned that the activities of the CEF were not really religious, after all. He said that they could be characterized, for legal purposes, "as the teaching of morals and character development from a particular viewpoint".

As Justices Souter and Stevens pointed out in their dissents, however, the claim is preposterous: the CEF plainly aims to teach religious doctrines and conduct services of worship. Thomas's claim is particularly ironic in view of the fact that the CEF makes quite clear its intent to teach that no amount of moral or ethical behavior (pdf) can spare a nonbeliever from an eternity in hell.

And of course I wonder who it is says what the word of god is?? Hmm...????

it's not fundamentalist islam that is going to destroy the US, it is not the NWO that is gearing up for a civil war, nor democrats, Scientists, Liberals and Atheists - all those people are happy for you to follow whatever myth you want to - it is these so-called christians who cannot stand free speech or free thought!

Never mind what Jesus might have said about forgiving they neighbour - these "christians" want to teach kids that old testament HEBREW values are actually how christians should behave!!

www.guardian.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

edit on 5-6-2012 by Aloysius the Gaul because: (no reason given)

Right...so just because someone reads about king Saul who was an Israelite who lived 3000 years ago in a different time where it was kill or be killed and if you spared any of your enemies they would grow up to come kill you in your sleep later in life, naturally that means christians will obey that baloney instead of Jesus. Dude you are stupid and this is nothing but propaganda when my brothers and sisters were being slaughtered at the hands of the Romans, being burned at the stake and thrown to lion and gladiators for sport, they did not fight back, they just died for their beliefs they didn't fight back or murder, but were murdered instead.

I pity you if you cannot tell the difference between a real believer in Jesus and someone who advocates murder.

Originally posted by jdub297
reply to post by freedomguy

 

Religion in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages.

Religion is also the source of altruism and benevolence. The first "charity" hospitals were religious-based. the largest and most beneficent charities are religious-based.

I can take your misbegotten quote, and substitute the words, and come up with better arguments than this:
"Government in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages. "

"Education in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages."

"Heterosexual Marriage in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages."

"Capitalism in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages."

"Socialism in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages. "

Come on, this is pathetic. Pick your demon, exaggerate all your prejudices, abandon personal responsibility.

jw

edit on 5-6-2012 by jdub297 because: (no reason given)

It is pathetic.

How would Education have caused suffering?
How would Heterosexual Marriage hold the human race back?
That is probably the most stupid and ridiculous retort I have ever read.

This thread is about religion, don't be trying to take it off track.
The OP was clearly trying to diminish the cruelties of islam by pointing to the linked article.

reply to post by lonewolf19792000


This article makes some very bold claims, that if true, makes all Christians look evil to the average heathen. And if not true, the "Good News Club" should be filing a lawsuit.

As I said in the duplicate thread. I want to see this manual, which they selectively quoted.

Originally posted by jdub297
reply to post by Aloysius the Gaul

 

Misquoting the instruction manual betrays your fear.
There is nothong in it that instructs children to "obey" to the point of murder.

you didn't bother to read it did you -

Asking if Saul would "pass the test" of obedience, the text points to Saul's failure to annihilate every last Amalekite, posing the rhetorical question:

"If you are asked to do something, how much of it do you need to do before you can say, 'I did it!'?"

"If only Saul had been willing to seek God for strength to obey!" the lesson concludes.

A review question in the textbook seeks to drive the point home further:

"How did King Saul only partly obey God when he attacked the Amalekites? (He did not completely destroy as God had commanded, he kept the king and some of the animals alive.)"

the lesson makes it perfectly clear that when god commands you have to obey - without question, and to the letter of the instruction. And if gods instruction is to kill (something) then you have to kill ALL of (something) - not just most, not just the strongest, not jsut the ones you don't like - ALL of them.

So again - who is it gets to decide what god is instructing you to do? And why are "christian" children being taught pre-christian HEBREW "morality"?

Since when does the Constitution or the SCOTUS have any business in what a state or private school does, anyway?

so...no separation of church and state for you then - right.....

Originally posted by jdub297
reply to post by freedomguy

 

Religion in general is holding back the human race and has been the source of suffering throughout the ages.

Religion is also the source of altruism and benevolence. The first "charity" hospitals were religious-based. the largest and most beneficent charities are religious-based.

So there was no altruism before mankind invented god?

Who/what is the religion that elephants and apes and big cats and other animals follow when they help each other, or attempt to protect their own??

What a crock of self serving manure!

Although I doubt all Christians would follow this to its genocidal extreme nowadays, it's not really unusual.

In the history of colonialism that was pretty standard.
At the Sand Creek Massacre soldiers killed even the children and babies to rid America of the "Indian problem", because "nits would turn into lice".
Apparently their severed limbs were even exhibited at the Denver Theater to great applause.
That was a part of Manifest Destiny, and God is on OUR side thinking.
And it happened in Australia, South Africa, and many other countries.

It happened under George Bush in Iraq to great applause (how many civilians were actually killed, does anybody still care?), and they say it's happening in Palestine.

Dawkins mentions a similar study done with Israeli schoolchildren on the Old Testament and the genocidal invasion of Canaan, and the battle of Jericho:
mcbrolloks.wordpress.com...

reply to post by freedomguy
This thread is about ignorance and prejudice.

How would Education have caused suffering?

Ask the Taliban and the 20th Century Marxists.

How would Heterosexual Marriage hold the human race back?

Ask the LGBT Movement. This is a plank of their "platform."

That is probably the most stupid and ridiculous retort I have ever read.

Then you have not understood History. Prejudice and fear have driven many ideologies through the centuries that make no snese today. Singling out religion or Christianity is no less "stupid and ridiculous" than any other stupid prejudice; yours included.

This thread is about religion, don't be trying to take it off track.

This thread is about prejudice, nothing less.

The OP was clearly trying to diminish the cruelties of islam by pointing to the linked article.

The OP offers no qualification or rationailzation of the fearfulness toward beliefs that do not match those of the prevailing social mindset. My examples are evidence that many alternative prejudices pervade the groups, peoples and faiths of this world.

jw

this is one of the many reasons why I have a love-hate relationship with everything christian related



but due to the organizations affiliated I seek out other paths to truth

Originally posted by Aloysius the Gaul
you didn't bother to read it did you -

Of course I did. Hebrew stories, and Bible stories, are well known to people who are not in fear that written words will threaten their very existence. I've also read parts of the Q'uran and the Bhagavad Gita. So what?
Are you scared? Are my kids in danger?

so...no separation of church and state for you then - right.....

The "state" doesn't teach my children, nor does it teach the after-school, voluntary
program you are so frightened of.

What are your feelings about children "learning" from "Grand Theft Auto" after school and "voluntarily?"

reply to post by jdub297


So teaching genocide is OK as long as the students volunteer to be taught it - k - thanks...gotcha...

reply to post by Aloysius the Gaul

So there was no altruism before mankind invented god?

No. It is pathetically simple-minded to think that any one culture or belief, or lack of belief, is "the cradle of civilization." The point is (as if this needed to be said) that religion is NOT "the source of all suffering."
Talk about a crock!

Who/what is the religion that elephants and apes and big cats and other animals follow when they help each other, or attempt to protect their own??

What a crock of self serving manure!

To stand your "crock" on its head, what religion taught elephants and apes, et c. to kill for the sake of killing?

jw

Originally posted by freedomguy
[This thread is about religion, don't be trying to take it off track.
The OP was clearly trying to diminish the cruelties of islam by pointing to the linked article.

bovine excrement.

Islam is probably the worst of tht monotheistic religions IMO - but that dosen't make nut job x-ians any better.

Why are you trying to diminish the culpability of people teaching genocide in the name of the x-ian or hebrew god by saying this?