Child suspended for his religious beliefs

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park92

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Aug 1, 2009
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how the fuck is wearing a pirate costume a religion is this kid's religion halloween? wtf like seriously this is more retarded than the jedi reilgion
 

KingPiccolOwned

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Arcane Azmadi said:
Well, it depends. If the school has a clearly stated uniform code which the kid was consciously and blatantly violating, then frankly the school did the right thing. Even for a satirical religion like the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, using the excuse "it's part of my religion" to justify ignoring clearly stated rules is not sending a good message; after all, the justification muslim extremists use for stoning women to death for adultery (i.e murder) is that it's part of their religion.

On the other hand, if the school doesn't have a uniform code and the kid was suspended because of what he WAS wearing instead of simply what he WASN'T (i.e uniform) then the kid is perfectly within his rights to wear full pirate regalia, especially on a holy day.

Everything is a matter of perspective.
Not if he had a bandanna or something of that manner. That is considered gang garb, and is not allowed at a school.
 

Skeleon

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Swollen Goat said:
It is my understand (and if I am wrong, please correct me) that a burqa completely covers a person from head to toe. That just seems like it would be a distraction to other kids to me.
Unless I'm wrong there are different types of burqas, some more extreme than others, as well as other religious Muslim garments.
I agree with you on the distraction-point and I think that, like with the "pirate", this'd be a situation where compromises'd be in order.
There are types of garment that are more accepted among us Westerners, such as head scarfs and/or robes that don't cover the face and every square inch of skin.
 

LockeDown

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G1eet said:
Last I checked, the largest religion in the world was Christianity. And it has nothing to do with my ideological system; it's the principle of it. I have no problem with someone believing in something bigger than themselves, I just have a problem with someone mocking that belief.
My mistake, I was operating on old data without consulting newer sources first. You're right, the dozen or more sects of Christianity edge out Islam in terms of numbers.

However, as for him using another deity to mock yours, you have every right to be upset. That's your opinion, and you are entitled to it. However he, as another free-thinking citizen of this country, is just as entitled to his opinion. And given that both your belief structures have about the same amount of raw, physical evidence to substantiate them, I'm inclined to give them both the same level of creedence.

But, like I edited in earlier, I doubt this student did this purely for religious expression, and using an established belief system (however false it may appear) as a means to perform acts merely designed for personal gain or outward harm, are unacceptable. Since he probably did it just to make fun of his classmates, or for the attention, the school was well within their right to do what they did (though I imagine the political backlash from doing so will be mighty rough).
 

man-man

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Jan 21, 2008
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Arcane Azmadi said:
Well, it depends. If the school has a clearly stated uniform code which the kid was consciously and blatantly violating, then frankly the school did the right thing. Even for a satirical religion like the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, using the excuse "it's part of my religion" to justify ignoring clearly stated rules is not sending a good message; after all, the justification muslim extremists use for stoning women to death for adultery (i.e murder) is that it's part of their religion.

On the other hand, if the school doesn't have a uniform code and the kid was suspended because of what he WAS wearing instead of simply what he WASN'T (i.e uniform) then the kid is perfectly within his rights to wear full pirate regalia, especially on a holy day.
If there's no dress code, let him wear what he wants.

If there is a dress code, things become more interesting - are concessions made in that dress code for other religious dress? Do other students breach the dress code with the traditional garb of their religion? If the answer to either of those is yes, then I see this like a case of civil disobedience - his pirate outfit might be inappropriate, but what makes someone else's religious outfit acceptable?

However it's cut, they either have to allow both pirate regalia and religious dress, or neither. That, or admit that they're making special allowance for certain religions.
 

Riding on Thermals

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Aug 28, 2008
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G1eet said:
Don't merge Christian stereotypes. I'm a Catholic, but that doesn't mean I believe in going door to door and yelling at people to "join or die" like the Jehovah's Witnesses. Spreading the "word" doesn't necessarily mean spewing Bible passages at 100 mph- it can be acting on them, like donating to the poor or making someone's day brighter by doing any old good deed.
As someone who was educated by Catholics for 12 years, I'm going to stick to my original post. It's not a stereotype I relay to you, but my view of the people I've interacted with for years. I was punished for not being faithful while being enrolled in a Catholic school to the point that I just gave it lip service out of convenience. You yourself may be a very charming and amiable person and in reality would never push your beliefs on me, but it is my experience that the average Christian (in general, and Catholics in particular) are always ready to "show me the light."

You still failed to respond to the heart of my post however. If you enjoy the rights you have to practice your religion without fear of persecution, then you must be willing to extend that same right to others regardless of your personal belief in their faith.
 

G1eet

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LockeDown said:
G1eet said:
Last I checked, the largest religion in the world was Christianity. And it has nothing to do with my ideological system; it's the principle of it. I have no problem with someone believing in something bigger than themselves, I just have a problem with someone mocking that belief.
My mistake, I was operating on old data without consulting newer sources first. You're right, the dozen or more sects of Christianity edge out Islam in terms of numbers.

However, as for him using another deity to mock yours, you have every right to be upset. That's your opinion, and you are entitled to it. However he, as another free-thinking citizen of this country, is just as entitled to his opinion. And given that both your belief structures have about the same amount of raw, physical evidence to substantiate them, I'm inclined to give them both the same level of credence.

But, like I edited in earlier, I doubt this student did this purely for religious expression, and using an established belief system (however false it may appear) as a means to perform acts merely designed for personal gain or outward harm, are unacceptable. Since he probably did it just to make fun of his classmates, or for the attention, the school was well within their right to do what they did (though I imagine the political backlash from doing so will be mighty rough).
Although my all powerful Jesus can pull rank :]
I kid, I kid.

Agreed. I couldn't give two shits about whichever deity(ies) one believes in, I just don't like that one could mock them more than a devout believer talks about Him, Her, or Them.
 

LockeDown

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KingPiccolOwned said:
Okay since when has this been recognized as an actual religion? I mean one could say they worship a can of aerosol spray, but I think that something actually has to be accepted as a religion to claim that it is one. At least I think so.
From dictionary.com:

Religion-noun: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

The Church of the FSM has a set of beliefs that concern the purpose of the universe, it has ritual observances, and it has a moral code. Therefore, by definition, it is a religion. Now, whether or not is accepted as an "actual" religion by the community at large is another thing entirely. But remember that the popularity of a belief system does not equate its validity. Christianity is not more valid than Wicca, for instance, because there are fewer Wiccans.
 

101194

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So Obama's Trying to Stop Global Warming Eh? He just might be a Damn Invisible Pink Unicorn (inside joke for Pastafarians)
 

LockeDown

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G1eet said:
Although my all powerful Jesus can pull rank :]
I kid, I kid.

Agreed. I couldn't give two shits about whichever deity(ies) one believes in, I just don't like that one could mock them more than a devout believer talks about Him, Her, or Them.
And, as I said, you're allowed to be upset. However, you can't claim that his belief system is inferior or less acceptable than yours just because you disagree with it. If this child actually, fervently believes in the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (blessings and parmesan cheese be upon him), then he was well within his rights to observe the religion's holiday, and the school board was wrong. SO, basically, this boils down to whether or not the kid actually believes what he says he does, which is nigh impossible to prove.
 

G1eet

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Riding on Thermals said:
G1eet said:
Don't merge Christian stereotypes. I'm a Catholic, but that doesn't mean I believe in going door to door and yelling at people to "join or die" like the Jehovah's Witnesses. Spreading the "word" doesn't necessarily mean spewing Bible passages at 100 mph- it can be acting on them, like donating to the poor or making someone's day brighter by doing any old good deed.
As someone who was educated by Catholics for 12 years, I'm going to stick to my original post. It's not a stereotype I relay to you, but my view of the people I've interacted with for years. I was punished for not being faithful while being enrolled in a Catholic school to the point that I just gave it lip service out of convenience. You yourself may be a very charming and amiable person and in reality would never push your beliefs on me, but it is my experience that the average Christian (in general, and Catholics in particular) are always ready to "show me the light."

You still failed to respond to the heart of my post however. If you enjoy the rights you have to practice your religion without fear of persecution, then you must be willing to extend that same right to others regardless of your personal belief in their faith.
I will agree with the heart of your post, however begrudgingly. Doesn't mean I have to like it, though :p
I've just never been a fan of those who mock people's beliefs for one reason or another. But that doesn't mean I can't take a joke.

And I feel bad for you. I never got that much crap from anybody in the faith. I'm actually on speaking terms with two priests, and even though they're not young, they're fairly fresh in ideas. But I don't think the Vatican would approve of them teaching me their 60's-era ideas.

Though there is one person I've met that was uber-conservative nun who tried to convert everyone she ever met- but she wasn't even liked within our own church community. Which is kind of sad, when you think about it.
 

Felated Show Pony

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Aug 18, 2009
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This child is amazing.

Pastafarianism is the best refutation of the stupidity that is "intelligent" design that has ever come out of this debate. The faculty should respect that, or at least get the fuck out of his way.
 

Felated Show Pony

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Cid SilverWing said:
Why can't people just be atheists?
Pastafarianism IS atheism. it's just a novel way of showing that religion is shit and corrosive to logic.

It's like Buddhism. not a religion, but a philosophy. Go kid, go.
 

DCMan

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Dec 24, 2008
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if you actually took time to investigate this site it is all a farce. the guy was protesting the fact that Christianity was the only intelligent design being taught in a school district. People that go along with this do not understand the point.
 

Felated Show Pony

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DCMan said:
if you actually took time to investigate this site it is all a farce. the guy was protesting the fact that Christianity was the only intelligent design being taught in a school district. People that go along with this do not understand the point.
Every knows that though, right? i mean, it's common knowledge. isn't that the basis we're arguing on? although you may be right with some of these guys. So, good point.
 

G1eet

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Felated Show Pony said:
This child is amazing.

Pastafarianism is the best refutation of the stupidity that is "intelligent" design that has ever come out of this debate. The faculty should respect that, or at least get the fuck out of his way.
In a society founded by Puritans that still retains a large part of its heritage, I don't think so :[


Felated Show Pony said:
Cid SilverWing said:
Why can't people just be atheists?
Pastafarianism IS atheism. it's just a novel way of showing that religion is shit and corrosive to logic.

It's like Buddhism. not a religion, but a philosophy. Go kid, go.
I think he means the "type" of atheist that keeps their mouth shut when a religious debate comes up, and if asked, just politely says "oh, I don't believe in any god", as opposed to violently supporting their opinion.

Just like with any religious sect, you're going to get people of every mold. I've seen atheists that care little about anybody else's faith, and I've seen Christians that feel the same way.
 

Alex the Pally

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May 29, 2008
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Cid SilverWing said:
Why can't people just be atheists?
For the same reason not everyone can be fighter pilots: most people can't handle it, "it" in this sense being the idea that this is the only chance you get and you aren't going to get rewarded for good behavior. As compared to "it" being the ability to withstand sustained or successive high-G maneuvers, tracking a target off in the distance the size of a small bird using only your eyes and a computer, and... nevermind.

I have to say, I am impressed. The world needs more religious counter-nuts like him.

R'amen/Praise Fonzie.