“If we are going to prevent the next tragedy, this needs to change.”
“We must address the true problems if we are to prevent the next tragedy.”
Less blame-making, more blame-taking for all of us. This isn’t the fault of separation of church and state. Prayer is still allowed, individually, and in clubs, in schools. It’s just not to be mandated for all.
Remember: God is “allowed” in churches, but plenty of children have been harmed therein (many more have found a good, safe, uplifted home at church than have been abused, but…)God: “I’m not allowed in schools.”
Me: “Aren’t you supposed to be all-powerful? And yet you let a bunch of hippie liberals stop you?”
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Waylon Lewis, founder of elephant magazine, now elephantjournal.com & host of Walk the Talk Show with Waylon Lewis, is a 1st generation American Buddhist “Dharma Brat." Voted #1 in U.S. on twitter for #green two years running, Changemaker & Eco Ambassador by Treehugger, Green Hero by Discovery’s Planet Green, Best (!) Shameless Self-Promoter at Westword's Web Awards, Prominent Buddhist by Shambhala Sun, & 100 Most Influential People in Health & Fitness 2011 by "Greatist", Waylon is a mediocre climber, lazy yogi, 365-day bicycle commuter & best friend to Redford (his rescue hound). His aim: to bring the good news re: "the mindful life" beyond the choir & to all those who didn't know they gave a care. elephantjournal.com | facebook.com/elephantjournal | twitter.com/elephantjournal | facebook.com/waylonhlewis | twitter.com/waylonlewis | Google+ For more: publisherelephantjournalcom
Being English, where religion and education are separate (unless you go to a specifically religious school) I don't get this God being out of schools business and what it has to do with mentally ill/unstable/unhappy people shooting people.
One, it's not true. Take England as an example. We (generally) don't have religion in schools. We also don't have people going into schools to shoot people. The main difference being guns are illegal. It amazes me that people in a modern country in the 21st century could believe that this happened because children didn't pray enough, and not because any Tom, Dick or Harry can buy a gun.
I might be imaging this, but a lot of them sound strangely glad, or vilified in their belief that religion should be taught in schools. Those signs and t-shirts sound a bit smug to me and smack of "I told you so". Despite the absurdity of the claim and the mountain of evidence that suggests otherwise.
And secondly, what kind of God could create the Earth and everything in it, impregnate a virgin, perform miracles and what not, but can be locked out of a school?! Has he gotten rusty or something? Or is getting into buildings without an invitation his achilles heel?
And finally, the stories about teachers protecting the children, and telling them that they loved them so that the children could hear 'I love you' one last time, shows more Godliness, love and compassion and restores my faith in humanity more than a million bibles on an alter covered in 'holy' water ever could.