Child suspended for his religious beliefs

[kiltmanfortywo]

Pastafarianism is not a real religion, it was made up as a parody religion. I am willing to bet the farm that this kid, and anybody else, doesn't actually believe in pastafarianism. Those who claim to are merely protesting organized religion and nothing more. Trying to support the claim that he was suspended because of religious beliefs is bullhonky and as valid as me saying that if i go to school naked, I can't be held accountable because my religion, Nopantsism, forbids it.

 

[sabotstarr]

Pastafarianism is not a real religion, it was made up as a parody religion. I am willing to bet the farm that this kid, and anybody else, doesn't actually believe in pastafarianism. Those who claim to are merely protesting organized religion and nothing more. Trying to support the claim that he was suspended because of religious beliefs is bullhonky and as valid as me saying that if i go to school naked, I can't be held accountable because my religion, Nopantsism, forbids it.

Now theres nopantsism?????????? Hurray.
Now my empty void can be filled with the love and care of the pant-less almighty being.
and obviously it is, although you have to admit it is a good idea.

 

[mike1921]

It's not a religious debate. The kid is disrupting class.

Actually he's dressed oddly. There's a difference.

I think in his place, I'd come in the next day in a full length veil, see if that's "disruptive" too.

I'm of the mind that he actually shouldn't be allowed to come in a pirate outfit, but I was used to school uniforms, so that's probably influencing my idea of what's normal school-wear. The crux of the matter is whether they're consistently applying the "dress like a normal person" rule to include all religious clothing.

If they are, then more power to them and the kid was just being an ass. If not then they're favouring one religion over another, no matter how much of a joke some people think it is. Once again, I don't think the CoFSM is any more or less ridiculous than Christianity, Judaism, Islam or any other religion; they're all equal in terms of evidence for their supernatural claims. The question at hand is whether they're equally treated by the school's policy on proper dress.

I'm sorry, are you honestly saying that a burka is more distracting than a kid dressed like Captain-fucking-Morgan? Because that's the crux of the issue, not some bullshit religious debate. People are using this as an excuse to dredge the idiotic cries of "THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS RELIGION" rather than letting the school do its job; provide a relatively stress-and-distraction-free environment for students to learn.

If you get stressed out by a guy dressed up as a pirate you have issues. And I don't see how anyone could be that distracted at school unless they're an idiot or it's something that can't leave their line of site, is effecting their desk, or making a sound.

 

[Riding on Thermals]

::snip::

My apologies for the hostility, I guess I'm a bit high-strung at the moment.

Generally, when someone gives their opinion and it's then refuted they supply some type of argument to validate their claim.

And yes, I would like to hear what constitutes a religion for you if you're willing. That's our entire debate so I would like to see where you're coming from.

As it stands your only requirement is that the religion be believed in, so could this kid wear a giant Santa suit to school once my religion "Christmasicism" takes off?

 

[JWAN]

Its not recognized as a religion, I guess the kid is SOL.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Wow, that kid is cool, and any religion, can be made if they have 250 followers and an established place of worship.

 

[frank220]

As a fellow Pastafarian, I know his pain. I wore a pirate hat to school and i was threatened with detention 3 times.

 

[magicaxis]

Someone who's religeon demands it. Who the hell goes to some boring building every sunday to listen to a robed man read to them for an hour or two? Who wears a turban? Who Meditates? In this case the pirate costume is just the same.

 

[magicaxis]

Uh...... i think the school did a good thing i mean who the hell goes to school dressed as a pirate?

Someone who's religeon demands it. Who the hell goes to some boring building every sunday to listen to a robed man read to them for an hour or two? Who wears a turban? Who Meditates? In this case the pirate costume is just the same.

 

[Kingdudeacus]

R'amen

If i came to my school in a pirates costume i would have to die cause im a ninja through and through ,but you don't just mess with some ones religion i need to give that principle a bitchslap.Also im gonna start saying R'amen before i eat because its genius.

 

[Seanchaidh]

Yeah, I absolutely agree that the kid's quite a prick. Modern Jews, Christians and the like do accept evolution though by the way.

There's certainly quite a few Christians around who aren't "modern."

 

[Seldon2639]

Uh... No matter the religious views, there are articles of clothing which are prohibited in school. Even normally protected expression can be limited in a school setting if it causes a disruption. That's been upheld over and over again by the Supreme Court(Tinker v. Des Moines, Bethel School District v. Fraser, and Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier).

Religious or not, if it caused a disruption in a classroom, or reasonably could be expected to, the school has the right (in loco parentis) to step in and make him change. That's how the school system functions.

The funny part, of course, is that all the people saying "it's an awesome religion, I hope the principal gets punished" would sing a different tune if they didn't just think the religion was kookie and fun. If, for instance, his religion required him to dress in clothes emblazoned with racial and ethnic slurs, no one would be stepping up and saying "b... But it's his religion".

Either be in favor of all disruptive religious expression in school, or none of it

 

[tsb247]

I thought it could be a viable religion until I read that they worship the "Flying Spahghetti Monster". You can't just make up your own religion and expect people to heed to your beliefs without question.

If I said I worship "Pizza Man" and he commands me to come to school nude, do you think people would have a problem? Using this logic, no, no they wouldn't, because it's my beliefs.

But that kid is awesome. I have to admit that.

I second this. It makes a lot of sense.

 

[WorldCritic]

I'm actually too focused on how weirded out I am about that article to think straight.

 

[Ninonybox_v1legacy]

that was...interesting

 

[michael_ab]

woah.... 11 pages... holy shit.... umm did anyone mention "talk like a pirate day"? it is really a holiday in america im not kidding, its on the calander, maybe he could say is late festivities??

 

[The_Prophet]

You know, if I went to school in a priest's habit, I'D probably get suspended and you all would be on the side of the school. What, pirates make it okay?

But I think that people should be able to wear whatever they want as long as it's not profane or disgusting.

*snaps fingers* You got it right. Sadly the escapist is even more anti-theist than last year. We (religious people, your post makes me believe that you are religious) can only hope that the moderators will do something about this.
(Ok, admittedly they have done something because I noticed a decline in anti-theist flamer population last month.)

Well, that certainly seems to be the case. Halo flaming seems to be falling off a bit, but religious intolerance is in full swing as usual. I'm honestly surprised by the differences in people's reactions to any situation when the word "religion" is inserted. You could take the exact same news story, change a few words around to imply the presence of Christian/Catholic faith, then post it on The Escapist. The reception (I believe) would be wildly different in that case, which goes to show that people tend to only support like-minded individuals, regardless of any more serious issues (as with the recent anti-smoking topics around here, where I've come across some pretty harsh and rather discriminatory opinions. Some people seem to think that intolerance is alright as long as it's a popular enough hate figure).

Obviously some basic decency laws need to be observed at school, but I don't see the harm in letting kids wear what they want. In some of the schools in my area, camo clothes have been outlawed. I think this is stupid. You don't instantly become a highly-trained marine when you wear it, for goodness sake! And the kids don't have more "attitude" when wearing camo than they would wearing gangsta or rap attire (I believe that was the moronic reason given for the ban-that the clothes are "violent," an opinion which is idiotic).

Edit: And regarding the big pile of religion-related bile which is currently passing for a discussion, I was under the impression that the Church of the FSM was created by Atheists for Atheists for the express purpose of satire. A person who believes in a satire... That's like the guy who thinks Jonathon Swift actually wanted to eat babies. I'm pretty sure you could put every single member of the Church of the FSM under oath in open court and they'd all swear they don't believe he(she?) actually exists.

Yeah, I see.
(Sorry for the late response)

 

[michael_ab]

Seriously, I can make up a religion right now and go to work tomorrow dressed as a CLOWN. Then ill most likely get fired. but its good to know I can WHINE about it here and some of you lot will call me a messiah.

Sometimes I hate people.

i can see your reasoning... but fun fact, it isnt considered a "religion" untill it has 1mil worshipers, and the flying spagetti monsters does have in excess of 1mil worshipers