Aren't you glad we don't live in America?

[Dagsannr]

Check it out; atheist kid in small town American asks his school not to have a christian prayer at the graduation ceremony reminding them that, according to the constitution, it's illegal. End result? School drops the prayer but the entire town turns on him.

http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comment ... prayer_at/

I know it's America, and they have a completely different set of rules, but if you want to show him that he's got support, even over this side of The Pond, I'm sure he'd appreciate it.

Thanks for reading!

[Peter Henderson]

Even Norn Iron isn't quite as bad as that !

[Roger Stanyard]

Even Norn Iron isn't quite as bad as that !

Nowhere near as bad! NI is living in the 21st century (as is the Republic). I must admit the affair is deeply troubling - death threats, imprisonment and arrogant bigotry. But I'm not sure we in the UK are in any position to preach on the matter given that religious services and RE are compulsory in state schools here.

It also seems (again) that the rural deep south of the USA hasn't come to terms with history. Deep seated grudges about the cities, the northerners, the civil war, the civil rights movement, segregation....

There are other hidden agendas as well - I come from a part of the world where the Anglican tradition still influences the mindset (deeply), even in my own deeply troubled family. Fudge and compromise, if you like. It lacks the polarisation (culture wars) of the USA today.

[Michael]

Roger

Much of American fundamentalism would make any Christian an atheist

[Roger Stanyard]

Roger

Much of American fundamentalism would make any Christian an atheist

Quite frankly, Michael, the United States baffles me. It's become a deeply foreign and, at times, disturbing country. I can't get my head around the culture wars there.

On the one had, I find a kind, tolerant, generous, clever and hospitable people and, on the other, paranoia, bigotry and backwardness. That split is reflected in religion. Many Americans seem to claim that it is a very religious nation - seems to me that it is deeply divided over religion. It's not a split between believers and non-believers. More of a split between the arrogant, assertive, intollerant, politicised extremists and the rest.

My sister is an Anglican in South Africa and goes to the local Anglican church because half the congregation are black and no-one tells her what to think. That's what she feels comfortable with, diversity. Unlike the Dutch Reformed Church locally - all white and with a grudge about lost power and status. (The DRC is known locally as the Dutch Deformed Church, btw).

Fundamentalism is, in my book, a very bad idea but much more dangerous is the politicisation of religion. That is the road to hell. I suppose I could go along with the idea that in England, the established status of the Anglican church is actually the political containment of religion.

What do you think?

[Michael]

When in South Africa I always referred to the Mutch Deformed Church. There are or probably were both Coloured and Bantu DRCs , who were semi-independent

America is weird in its diversity . We have been the last two years on holiday and giggle at their absurdities with loony churches - expressed in tomorrow's rapture.

(do you know your raptureology. It is difficult to get it off the ground)

[cathy]

What is the best most practical way to show support Natman?.

[Dagsannr]

Somewhere on that Reddit article is his facebook page, letting him know that he's doing the right thing would mean the world to him I'm sure. I wouldn't worry too much though, he been getting a lot of support - to the extent that he's been offered funds to go to college in Texas (his parents have all but disowned him).

There are also email addresses of the school staff, including the superintendant, and the local newspaper, which is covering the event in a very baised manner.

I know it's not really what the BCSE is for (as it's not strictly a science thing), but I can't help but think what my kids would go through if they objected to a something like this in their school. Given the recent attempts to force religion in science, and the horrible suspicion that some community run schools are going to ignore the law and not teach evolution, it's entirely possible that, one day, a kid in the UK might have to stand up in a 'science' class and say "This is wrong."

Besides, the religious have their giant organisatons, well funded and tax-exempt. It'd do them good to remember that, on the whole, atheists and agnostics are better organised, friendlier and have the internet on their side. Instead of praying, we quite often go out and do stuff.