[Vision2020] Re: Bible in school. Was Church and state

[Ralph Nielsen]

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> From: Joshua Nieuwsma <joshuahendrik@yahoo.com>
> Date: Thu Jul 24, 2003  1:47:12 PM US/Pacific
> To: vision <vision2020@moscow.com>
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Church and State
>
>
> I for one don't want to see a bible class taught alongside mormonism,=20=

> islam, hinduism, buddhism, and any other -'isms. Why set the Word of=20=

> God equal with the words of confused man?=A0Take the Bible out of the=20=

> public schools completely!=A0It's about time the goals of public=20
> education=A0were consistent with their practices. And while we're at =
it,=20
> kick the Christian children=A0out, too. Their parents should have=20
> have=A0pulled them out a=A0long time=A0ago. It's safer outside on the=20=

> highway than in the government school classroom.=A0
> 	<snip>=A0
> Allow me also to take Mr. Moffett's statement about religion as an=20
> integral part of some classes and point out=A0that it is impossible =
for=20
> any class or "subject" (though the idea of "subjects" is a bad one=20
> anyhow. It's not how the mind works, in my opinion) to be taught with=20=

> direct foundation in God's Holy Word.
> =A0
> Mr. Moffett, your ecumenism of having every religion in a class taught=20=

> about seems=A0merely a grand utopia. Can you think of any schools that=20=

> have successfully implemented such a plan anywhere in the world,=20
> without strife and division, or an undue emphasis of one religion over=20=

> another?
> =A0
> cheers,
> =A0
> Joshua N.
>

Dear Joshua:
	First of all, a lesson in grammar. Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism, =
etc.=20
are proper nouns. They require a capital letter whether you like them=20
or not. The same is true of the Bible, which is under discussion here.=20=

It is a proper noun, not a generic term.
	Although many religions claim they have the true Word of God, =
none of=20
them have any objective proof. Religious warfare has been around for=20
centuries and is still with us today. A few days ago I asked (your=20
brother?) Luke for an official divine definition of exactly what=20
constitutes "God's Holy Word, the Bible." We are still waiting. The=20
reason is that all holy books have been written and compiled by human=20
beings, usually men.
	I am personally well acquainted with the Bible. I have a couple =
of=20
dozen different translations, languages, and versions on my shelves. I=20=

also have copies of various other allegedly divine books. Once you=20
realize that they are all of entirely human origin, you soon feel that=20=

none of them is worth a single drop of blood.
	Go in peace.
	Ralph Nielsen=

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<excerpt><bold>From: </bold>Joshua Nieuwsma <<joshuahendrik@yahoo.com>

<bold>Date: </bold>Thu Jul 24, 2003  1:47:12 PM US/Pacific

<bold>To: </bold>vision <<vision2020@moscow.com>

<bold>Subject: </bold>Re: [Vision2020] Church and State



I for one <bold>don't</bold> want to see a bible class taught
alongside mormonism, islam, hinduism, buddhism, and any other -'isms.
Why set the Word of God equal with the words of confused man?=A0Take the
Bible out of the public schools completely!=A0It's about time the goals
of public education=A0were consistent with their practices. And while
we're at it, kick the Christian children=A0out, too. Their parents
should have have=A0pulled them out a=A0long time=A0ago. It's safer =
outside
on the <italic>highway</italic> than in the government school
classroom.=A0

	<<snip>=A0

Allow me also to take Mr. Moffett's statement about religion as an
integral part of <italic>some</italic> classes and point out=A0that it
is <italic>impossible</italic> for any class or "subject" (though the
idea of "subjects" is a bad one anyhow. It's not how the mind works,
in my opinion) to be taught with direct foundation in God's Holy Word.

=A0

Mr. Moffett, your ecumenism of having every religion in a class taught
about seems=A0merely a grand utopia. Can you think of any schools that
have successfully implemented such a plan anywhere in the world,
without strife and division, or an undue emphasis of one religion over
another?

=A0

cheers,

=A0

Joshua N.


</excerpt>

Dear Joshua:

	First of all, a lesson in grammar. Mormonism, Islam, Hinduism, =
etc.
are proper nouns. They require a capital letter whether you like them
or not. The same is true of the Bible, which is under discussion here.
It is a proper noun, not a generic term.

	Although many religions claim they have the true Word of God, =
none of
them have any objective proof. Religious warfare has been around for
centuries and is still with us today. A few days ago I asked (your
brother?) Luke for an official divine definition of exactly what
constitutes "God's Holy Word, the Bible." We are still waiting. The
reason is that all holy books have been written and compiled by human
beings, usually men.

	I am personally well acquainted with the Bible. I have a couple =
of
dozen different translations, languages, and versions on my shelves. I
also have copies of various other allegedly divine books. Once you
realize that they are all of entirely human origin, you soon feel that
none of them is worth a single drop of blood.=20

	Go in peace.

	Ralph Nielsen=

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