Care2 member? Log in
|
|
 |
Georgia Poised to O.K. Bible Study in Public Schools
Target: Governor PerdueSponsored by: Defcon - Campaign to Defend the Constitution
The Georgia State Senate passed two pieces of legislation that pose a serious threat to the separation of church and state. One would create state-funded Bible
classes in Georgia public schools. The second would allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed by county governments.
Both bills are on Governor Sonny Perdue's desk, and
he is contemplating whether to sign them. That's why we need you to take action today.
The religious right will stop at nothing to push their theology in the public square or our public schools. And now, they want to use public dollars to do it!
Take action now and demand that Governor Perdue defend the Constitution and Georgia's citizens from these attacks on
the doctrine of separation of church and state.
Sign Petition! see who signed this
We signed the “Georgia Poised to O.K. Bible Study in Public Schools” petition!
# 100:
7:07 am PDT, Apr 6,
Elizabeth Weitzen, California
# 99:
7:06 am PDT, Apr 6,
Shirley Morgan, Missouri
# 98:
7:06 am PDT, Apr 6,
Caitlin Chronis, Wisconsin
# 97:
7:06 am PDT, Apr 6,
Robert Spiro, New York
# 96:
7:06 am PDT, Apr 6,
Adam Schneck, New York
Don't bring the Bible into schools and we won't bring learning and free thought into churches!
Don't bring the Bible into schools and we won't bring learning and free thought into churches!
# 95:
7:06 am PDT, Apr 6,
Caroline Hudak, New York
# 94:
7:06 am PDT, Apr 6,
Jess Pelon, Massachusetts
My forefathers came to this country to avoid religious persecution. They fought to create this country and assure religious freedom and tolerance for all religions. Church and state should be separate, and one religion should never be taught to the exclusion of others. It is the parents' responsiblity to see that their child is taught whatever religious beliefs they see fit. It is the school's responsibility to see that all different religions are respected and that none are seen as superior to others. They are all just different paths to the same place.
My forefathers came to this country to avoid religious persecution. They fought to create this country and assure religious freedom and tolerance for all religions. Church and state should be separate, and one religion should never be taught to the exclusion of others. It is the parents' responsiblity to see that their child is taught whatever religious beliefs they see fit. It is the school's responsibility to see that all different religions are respected and that none are seen as superior to others. They are all just different paths to the same place.
# 93:
7:05 am PDT, Apr 6,
Name not displayed, Ohio
I thought the United States was against promoting only one religion. I guess not...
I thought the United States was against promoting only one religion. I guess not...
# 92:
7:05 am PDT, Apr 6,
Erik Kline, Georgia
# 91:
7:05 am PDT, Apr 6,
John Miskelly, Maryland
# 90:
7:05 am PDT, Apr 6,
Hilary Sachs
, Maryland
# 89:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
Name not displayed, Pennsylvania
Offering a bible study class as an elective is one thing. Forcing one religion down an entire population's throat is another. Humans are thinking beings and religion is personal (not factual) and it is up to the individual to decide his/her own faith.
Offering a bible study class as an elective is one thing. Forcing one religion down an entire population's throat is another. Humans are thinking beings and religion is personal (not factual) and it is up to the individual to decide his/her own faith.
# 88:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
Cyrus Haskell, Texas
The separation of church and state are crucial to American's First Amendment rights. Keep religion out of public schools and government.
The separation of church and state are crucial to American's First Amendment rights. Keep religion out of public schools and government.
# 87:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
Karen Sewick, Illinois
It is totally inappropriate to MANDATE the study of any religious text in the public school system. Period.
It is totally inappropriate to MANDATE the study of any religious text in the public school system. Period.
# 86:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
Nanette Llerena, Florida
# 85:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
KS Graffmo, Sweden
# 84:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
Melissa Bauer, Georgia
# 83:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
Maida Wilson, New Mexico
Separation of church and state. It's in the Constitution. Want to live in a country run by religion? Move to Iran!
Separation of church and state. It's in the Constitution. Want to live in a country run by religion? Move to Iran!
# 82:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
Name not displayed, Rhode Island
# 81:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
Amy LeVasseur, Pennsylvania
# 80:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
Claire Uziel, Washington D.C.
# 79:
7:04 am PDT, Apr 6,
David Jury, Ohio
# 78:
7:03 am PDT, Apr 6,
Victoria Cuffel, Indiana
As a Christian, I strongly oppose teaching the Bible in public schools. Not only is it against our fundamental national law, the Constitution, but since teachers bring their own attitudes and backgrounds to inflect their teaching, such teaching is bound to become sectarian and oppositional to parents and children's denominational beliefs. Bible teaching and indoctrination should be left to the churches, not imposed by secular government.
As a Christian, I strongly oppose teaching the Bible in public schools. Not only is it against our fundamental national law, the Constitution, but since teachers bring their own attitudes and backgrounds to inflect their teaching, such teaching is bound to become sectarian and oppositional to parents and children's denominational beliefs. Bible teaching and indoctrination should be left to the churches, not imposed by secular government.
# 77:
7:03 am PDT, Apr 6,
Kimberly Egan, Connecticut
# 76:
7:03 am PDT, Apr 6,
Brooks Ahlfenger, Indiana
# 75:
7:03 am PDT, Apr 6,
DIA REDMAN, Minnesota
# 74:
7:02 am PDT, Apr 6,
Heather Calloway, Kansas
# 73:
7:02 am PDT, Apr 6,
Name not displayed, Georgia
# 72:
7:02 am PDT, Apr 6,
Gladys Seykowski, Florida
# 71:
7:02 am PDT, Apr 6,
Donna Donaldson, Texas
If you sign this bill, you brand yourself as a tool of the religious right, a group set on denying equal rights to anyone who does not hew to its own limited view of the universe. You will also be in violation of the US Constitution's Bill of Rights, which guarantees the right to worship as one believes (or not at all). This does not give anyone the right to force his own religious views on another by disguising it as education. The only educational value to a course of this nature would be to pull aside the veil of hypocrisy that so many alleged "Christians" wear. Be a man and stand up for the law of the United States. You can still go to the church of your choice and hold your own opinions. Just allow your schoolchildren to matriculate sans religious oppression.
If you sign this bill, you brand yourself as a tool of the religious right, a group set on denying equal rights to anyone who does not hew to its own limited view of the universe. You will also be in violation of the US Constitution's Bill of Rights, which guarantees the right to worship as one believes (or not at all). This does not give anyone the right to force his own religious views on another by disguising it as education. The only educational value to a course of this nature would be to pull aside the veil of hypocrisy that so many alleged "Christians" wear. Be a man and stand up for the law of the United States. You can still go to the church of your choice and hold your own opinions. Just allow your schoolchildren to matriculate sans religious oppression.
# 70:
7:02 am PDT, Apr 6,
Jordan Williams, Texas
i think you should be able to choose if you would like to be religious or not..
i think you should be able to choose if you would like to be religious or not..
# 69:
7:02 am PDT, Apr 6,
Ellen Schoenberg, New York
In view of the latest scientific findings, religion should not be taught in our public schools
In view of the latest scientific findings, religion should not be taught in our public schools
# 68:
7:02 am PDT, Apr 6,
Anna Marie Carter, New Jersey
# 67:
7:01 am PDT, Apr 6,
Bonnie Faith-Smith
, Massachusetts
# 66:
7:01 am PDT, Apr 6,
Douglas Hunt, Tennessee
As ordinaed clergy I strongly object to this inappropriate insertion of the study of a scriptural text into the public school curriculum as a separate topic apart from other major religious and cultural texts such as the Quran, Bhagavad-Gita, etc. This seems a transparent ploy to put the teaching of meaning of sacred texts under the control of local school boards and teachers who are ill equipped for such an undertaking.
As ordinaed clergy I strongly object to this inappropriate insertion of the study of a scriptural text into the public school curriculum as a separate topic apart from other major religious and cultural texts such as the Quran, Bhagavad-Gita, etc. This seems a transparent ploy to put the teaching of meaning of sacred texts under the control of local school boards and teachers who are ill equipped for such an undertaking.
# 65:
7:01 am PDT, Apr 6,
John Love, Washington
The last time Americans combined church and state we burned people at the stake.
The last time Americans combined church and state we burned people at the stake.
# 64:
7:01 am PDT, Apr 6,
Name not displayed, Georgia
What an abomination. Our freedom of choice is what makes this country great. Why would you want to change that now when we are already challenged in so many ways?
What an abomination. Our freedom of choice is what makes this country great. Why would you want to change that now when we are already challenged in so many ways?
# 63:
7:00 am PDT, Apr 6,
Samantha Dozier, New York
# 62:
7:00 am PDT, Apr 6,
Rev. Linda Taylor-Kadonsky, New Jersey
As a non-Christian Minister and an Egyptian Priestess, I find it beyond appalling that you would force any child or any person to be made to learn about ANY religion. You people need to respect other's beliefs and honor ALL FAITHS, instead of the bigotry, intolerance and dishonor that this kind of law would mandate. I do not force my beliefs on anyone and you could do very well to do the same. This very personal issue is quite frankly, none of your business and you need to check your egos at the door before you decide to be a public servant in the United States.
As a non-Christian Minister and an Egyptian Priestess, I find it beyond appalling that you would force any child or any person to be made to learn about ANY religion. You people need to respect other's beliefs and honor ALL FAITHS, instead of the bigotry, intolerance and dishonor that this kind of law would mandate. I do not force my beliefs on anyone and you could do very well to do the same. This very personal issue is quite frankly, none of your business and you need to check your egos at the door before you decide to be a public servant in the United States.
# 61:
6:59 am PDT, Apr 6,
Preeti Khalsa, New York
What are you thinking? This is not a Christian nation, nor any other religion. Leave matters of the church to the church and quit moralizing and imposing your views. We are a free nation, at least that's what I always thought.
What are you thinking? This is not a Christian nation, nor any other religion. Leave matters of the church to the church and quit moralizing and imposing your views. We are a free nation, at least that's what I always thought.
# 60:
6:59 am PDT, Apr 6,
Name not displayed, Connecticut
# 59:
6:59 am PDT, Apr 6,
Elissa DeFalco, New York
I would like to suggest the Governor consider adding the US CONSTITUTION to his bedtime reading.
I would like to suggest the Governor consider adding the US CONSTITUTION to his bedtime reading.
# 58:
6:59 am PDT, Apr 6,
Stephenie Sasse, Florida
Religious freedom is part of our constitutional rights as Americans. No member of our government should dictate what an individual's religious beliefs should be. By forcing children in public school to take part in mandatory bible study classes Georgia is violating the essential division between church and state and violating our constitutional right to religious freedom
Religious freedom is part of our constitutional rights as Americans. No member of our government should dictate what an individual's religious beliefs should be. By forcing children in public school to take part in mandatory bible study classes Georgia is violating the essential division between church and state and violating our constitutional right to religious freedom
# 57:
6:59 am PDT, Apr 6,
Mae Wilborn, Florida
Keep it separated. There are more than one religion. You are going to run the risk of offending all of the others. Teach the children things they will need in life like how to read, write, maths, and sciences. Let them learn about God at home and at the church. I'm not paying taxes for someone to hear about God.
Keep it separated. There are more than one religion. You are going to run the risk of offending all of the others. Teach the children things they will need in life like how to read, write, maths, and sciences. Let them learn about God at home and at the church. I'm not paying taxes for someone to hear about God.
# 56:
6:58 am PDT, Apr 6,
Name not displayed, Vermont
Seperation of church and state is a founding principal of our country. Everyone has the right to worship as they see fit on their own time or in a private school
Seperation of church and state is a founding principal of our country. Everyone has the right to worship as they see fit on their own time or in a private school
# 55:
6:58 am PDT, Apr 6,
Mo Vasquez, Florida
# 54:
6:58 am PDT, Apr 6,
Loral Orow, Michigan
Selecting one religion to teach in school only creates a feeling of separation among the many of different religions. All are welcome in America. Keep the separation of church and state.
Selecting one religion to teach in school only creates a feeling of separation among the many of different religions. All are welcome in America. Keep the separation of church and state.
# 53:
6:57 am PDT, Apr 6,
Larry Smith-Black, North Carolina
The Bible belongs in Sunday School, NOT in public school.
The Bible belongs in Sunday School, NOT in public school.
# 52:
6:57 am PDT, Apr 6,
Brenna Kupferman, Maryland
# 51:
6:56 am PDT, Apr 6,
Hilary Aquino, Pennsylvania