Christians Are Not Being Persecuted

[YDOAPS]

I have often wondered whether it would be possible for Christians to sustain their religion without the imaginary threat of persecution. I suspect not, but that really is not the point of this post. Instead, I want to draw your attention to a great letter to the editor I found in the Evansville Courier & Press. It argues that American Christians are not persecuted in the arena of school prayer, as they are so fond of claiming.

 

This letter was written in response to a previous letter complaining about how Christians "allowed one woman ... to remove prayer from our schools ... Christians sat back and let it happen without a fight." I did not attempt to find the previous letter, but I suspect it was referring to Madelyn Murray O'Hair. Regardless, the author of the response, Mr. Hartley, points out that this is untrue, noting that Christians fought hard to retain prayer in school. Defending their desire to infuse superstition into public education all the way to the Supreme Court is hardly standing by and doing nothing.

 

They lost because it is a violation of religious freedom to use taxpayer-funded schools to indoctrinate children into one particular faith. Public schools belong to everyone, not just Christians.

 

Mr. Hartley also notes that (and this is important) no child has been deprived of his/her right to pray in school. In fact, America's children are free to wallow in any form of superstition they choose at school, as long as said wallowing does not disrupt other children or interfere with the learning process.

 

True, public school teachers do not have the freedom to lead their students in prayer. However, this is not what the Christian extremists are labeling persecution. As the author suggests, "So, when Christians complain about the lack of prayer in public schools, what they really mean is they would like NON-Christians to pray to Jesus." Yep, that seems to be exactly what they are after.

 

Are American Christians persecuted? As the author of this article recommends, it is helpful to look at the evidence:

 

* American public school children are free to pray silently to whatever imaginary being they wish.

* The American government is filled with avowed Christians at all levels.

* American political candidates are united in their efforts to flaunt their Christianity to potential voters.

* It is difficult to imagine that an openly atheist candidate for virtually any public office would even be taken seriously, much less elected. In some states, it wouldn't even be allowed!

 

As Mr. Hartley appropriately concludes, persecution is not the same thing as being expected "to follow the same rules as non-Christians."

 

Christians aren't being persecuted. They've been privileged. They've been privileged for so long that they must feel picked-on whenever they are subjected to a level playing field.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself. I am thrilled to see such an important message being distributed through letters to the editor. Perhaps the day will come when I will be able to occasionally share my thoughts in this manner without fearing retribution.

from Atheist Revolution.

[Kurari]

"As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools."

 

Don't know who said it, but it's the truth.

[Yaoi Huntress Earth]

Not to mention that there are hundreds of religous schools out there yet there are almost no schools for other religions in this country. Or what about all the religious shows (that are even on basic TV) and nearly all of them are of the fundimentalist bent.

[Piprus]

In simplest terms, it's really hard to be "persecuted" when you've got a huge majority. But the xians like to twist the concept of persecution. To them, persecution happens any time someone cites them for violating the separation of church and state principle (as in compulsory prayer in public schools) , or voices a complaint at their intrusive and unwanted proseletyzing, which I would put in the same bucket as a foot-in-the-door salesman trying to sell me a magazine subscription or a vacuum cleaner I neither want nor need.

 

They don't know what real persecution is.

 

But when you try to explain that, even those simplest of concepts just go right over their pointed heads.

[Max]

I was thinking about this whole "persecution" think earlier today (while considering Paula Zahn's panel discussion on atheists).

 

Ya know, the whiners always come back to the prayer in school thing. To the best of my recollection, that happened over 40 years ago! How persecuted can you be if you have to go back four decades to come up with an example of how you have been "wronged"?

[YDOAPS]

[Grandpa Harley]

How in the name of all unholy can one actually persecute a majority when the control the govt.?

 

I am fortunate in that I live in the Old World. We exported the vast majority of our Protestant loonies prior to 1777.

 

By and large, the Church of England is pretty amiable, and unlikely to have a major surge in secular power. Sometime they flex their muscles, but for the most part it's the mouse roaring, rather than something that is a clear and present danger.

[R. S. Martin]

How in the name of all unholy can one actually persecute a majority when the control the govt.?

 

I am fortunate in that I live in the Old World. We exported the vast majority of our Protestant loonies prior to 1777.

 

By and large, the Church of England is pretty amiable, and unlikely to have a major surge in secular power. Sometime they flex their muscles, but for the most part it's the mouse roaring, rather than something that is a clear and present danger.

 

Excellent point! Now come with me to a fundy church and see if we can make that go over in Bible Belts and Bible Spots. We'd get laughed out of the house, er, church. But it would not count as persecution because it would only be the fundies sticking up for their own interests. Yeah, I find it hopelessly maddening and maddeningly hopeless. Yet I cannot and will not renounce my integrity.

[Lycorth]

How in the name of all unholy can one actually persecute a majority when the control the govt.?

 

Damn skippy. Then again, Xianity thrives on persecution complexes. After all, the devil controls the world and the world will therefore be anti-Xian until the Second Cumming