Idiots. Absolute idiots.

It's this type of bigotry that helps breed the kind of religious intolerance that is becoming more and more rife in society and leads to the tensions we experience.

It was a role play - a game, not a recruitment drive.

Used to do it all the time in my confirmation group, on account of how it helped understanding of other religions, belief structures and ideologies.

Extrapolating the stance of the parents would lead to religious segregation at just the time when unity is key.

But I suspect that the people complaining wouldn't be too unhappy about segregation.

Bigotry?

Seriously?

These kids were expected to pray to a being that is not their own which is more or less blasphemy for their own religion.

This is absolutely unbelievable that the teacher would do this, role play or not.

Sorry for the DV but your comment is a direct insult. I too would not pray to another god, so I guess you lump me in with the idiots.

Yes, seriously. Utter and contemptible bigotry. They were expected to take part in a role play. A role play

Do I really need to point out that Jews, Christians and Muslims all worship the same god?

This is not blasphemy by any stretch of the word.

Blasphemy, in case you're not sure, is one of three things, and it is very rigid.

1) Denying the existence or works of God
2) Rudeness or contempt directed towards Jesus Christ
3) Mocking Holy Scripture or holding it up to contempt or ridicule.

Nothing that doesn't fit into these categories is blasphemy and taking part in an exercise that demonstrates another method of worship of the same Abrahamic God does not fit.

What's unbelievable to me is that anyone would get upset by this.

See my comments above - Jahweh, Allah and God are all aspects of the same deity.

I'm in complete agreement with you here.

I should wonder what these parents will think when it comes time for drama class!

In theory that is correct, but not in practice. Arabic people are worshipers of the God of Abraham, the same as Christians. The problem is that Abraham had 2 sons, Isaac and Ismael. The teaching from the bible is that Isaac is the son of the "promise" and is the one who is in the line of Jesus. So to worship Him in a Muslim fashion is to deny Christ, something I would never do. When you mention Jahweh I assume that you are referring to the Jewish faith. Most Jews will not write or say his name, for fear of pronouncing it wrong, so the will say "the Name" or write it out as "G_d". The Jews are a step closer to the message of the Gospel because they follow their faith through Isaac, but the stop short of receiving Jesus as the promised Messiah. So again the problem with Judaism is that it leaves Christ out of worship, something a Christian (myself at least) should not do, and should not be ridiculed for not doing.

Sorry Tundra, but if you completely agree with that comment you too are lumping me in with the "idiots." On the other hand I do not think you or Pock are idiots.

I think you sort of have a point. Where do we draw the line between teaching religion and teaching about it. How upset would people be in some sort of ancient religion role play? Just a thought.

I'm less upset by the activity than the fact the students were punished because they did not wish to participate, as I would have not either.

And at what point are you being ridiculed?

Also, at what point are these kids who are, at the risk of repeating myself, acting out a role play being asked to deny Christ?

They are not being converted. They are not even taking part in a religious ceremony. They are acting it out.

****

Just as an aside, because you may be interested, while the Jews do have issues with saying the name of God, it isn't Jahweh, or Jehovah, or YHWH (which is the closest Roman translation of the Hebrew) contains all the right sounds, but just in the wrong order.

Wow, I didn't know that blasphemy was defined exclusively for the Judeo-Christians.

You should instead be ridiculed for basing your beliefs around a two thousand year old family tree from a infamously inaccurate text.

Demonstration or not, I wouldn't take part in it. Even just acting it out.

Would you take part in a demonstration of say, killing a loved one? Even if the person wouldn't be harmed, I wouldn't do it, it's just too real.

OK, yes, there are other forms of blasphemy, but as this was being levelled from a Christian point of view, the Christian definition of blasphemy seems the most relevant here.

I think the point is not whether the kids and parents are foolish for making a fuss about praying to another god (even in roleplay situation) but whether the school should have utilized some of that religious tolerance they talk about and allowed the children not to roleplay by praying. They could have done all that was required for the lesson without praying to what they feel is a false god.

You know very well that if it was the reverse, it would have been a huge nightmare.

Actually praying to another god won't teach them anything. I assume it is meant to instill more of that tolerance which is fine and good, but should work both ways.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that is silly for them to get upset about it. I am just saying that it should work both ways. If Muslim students are forced to pray to the Christian version of God, than fine, it is reasonable for the other kids to pray to the Muslim version of God. However you and I know there isn't a chance in Tartarus (been watching Xena DVD's recently) of the Muslims being asked to do that.

Edit:
but perhaps, tolerance has to start some somewhere. You probably can't force both groups to understand and tolerate each other, perhaps starting with the group that is more open to other ideas and concepts, who is more open to accepting other methods is the best way to creating tolerance on both sides.

My kids were taken on a school trip to a local church. I'm an Atheist, should I have stopped them going because churches go against my religious beliefs.

My eldest boy got detention for refusing to play rugby for PE. I HATE sports, should I have whinged and moaned like a b***h because his human rights were violated? No. He was at school and therefore if he refuses to participate in an activity that is required then he deals with the detention.

From the article...

A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION!!!!!!!!!!!

NOT forcing them to worship a god but a DEMONSTRATION of how others worship.

I can only imagine the kind of bigoted bulls**t that would be spouted if this was Muslim parent whining about their kids taking part in a practical demonstration of how Mass is conducted.

MUSLIM PARENTS ANGERED BECAUSE CHILDREN FORCED TO WORSHIP CHRIST

Comments on hypothetical headline:

If they don't like it go back where they came from

Typical Muslims whining again

Ect, ect

The Muslim religion isn't specific to a race, it has millions of followers from all races and walks of life so why not learn about it side by side with other religions?

I don't agree with ANY organised religion but if schools persist in teaching about religion and the bible then you can't single out one religion to direct dislike and bigotry at.

This whole article is IMO media bulls**t that feeds into the misguided and hysterical anti-Muslim sentiment that is sweeping the western world.

*Edited to add*

If these parents didn't want their kids learning about religion then as a parent in this country (not sure about the US) you have the option to opt out of your children taking RE. My kids like RE as they are broad-minded and enjoy learning a variety of subjects, however if it was purely up to me and i didn't care about my kids opinions I would opt them out for the obvious reasons of my dislike for organized religion and my Atheist beliefs.

The parents in the article could have opted their kids out but I strongly believe that it wasn't a problem to them until it came to their kids learning about the "dreaded" Muslim religion.

As usual, people are all for religion as long as it's their religion.

I like the idea of learning about other religions. I even like the idea of kids trying out different faiths' prayers or ceremonies, if they are comfortable with it. But when a student says they're not comfortable with it, and a teacher punishes them because they won't do it, that is crossing a big line.

Faith is personal, sacred, and deeply, deeply felt for a lot of people. I think that has to be respected, and it doesn't sound like it was in this case.

Maybe they should have just crossed their fingers and played along...

Everyone knows when you cross your fingers you don't mean it.

Please stay on topic instead of taking a cheap shot at The Bible and his religion.
That whole exercise these kids did or were supposed to do was to teach understanding. Hell, maybe it might work. I suggest you try it.

Edit: Btw, I'm Atheist. But I believe in respecting other's religious preference.

Bottom line: HUMONGOUS error in judgment by the teacher to even try this stupid exercise.

Show them a video. Fine. But she had to know there would be a problem with forcing them to "role play".

I love how religion always brings out the fire in people.

I agree, and to take it to an extreme as I love to do: I would not feel comfortable say kissing another man to learn about homosexuality. If others feel this is a good way to learn, go ahead, but me? No thanks.