Religious Freedom

[j0frenzy]

I was going to post something relevant, but it seems that other people have already talked you into wearing the cap and anything I could add at this point would seem irrelevant.
So...
DO THE LA LA LA!

And if you were interested in what I had to say, it would be making a comparison to wearing the hat and taking off shoes for sanctified grounds in some other hypothetical religion. It is not a sign of participation, it is the basic etiquette expected for those who enter.

 

[TacticalAssassin1]

Well, I went. And it was fine. I just wore a baseball cap, it was a sunny day anyway so I kinda needed it. They actually ended up running out of them to lend to visitors so my friend who was against wearing it didn't have to. They didn't really mind.
The Jewish guides were nice and everything, it was alright.

 

[TacticalAssassin1]

DO THE LA LA LA!

Also, this is a briliant idea.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Tomorrow, my school is taking myself and a few dozen other students to a Jewish museum. I'm totally fine with this, and have no problem accepting other peoples views and opinions. However, my English teacher today told the class that we would be visiting a synagogue, and that every male visitor would have to wear a skullcap. I have no problem with their beliefs, but as soon as they try to make me join in, that's where I draw the line. I'm fine with waiting outside if that's what it takes, and so are most of my friends (the ones that are even bothering to attend, anyway), but I expect that the teachers are going to force us to go with it. I know I'm the visitor, and I'm expected to join in and such, but this is compulsory and I'm not a religious person and do not wish to participate in religious activities. It's against my beliefs.

Do you think I'm in the right here? Or do you think I should just 'man up' and deal with it?
Discuss?
[sub] No flame wars please.[/sub]

Would probably help if you called it by its actual name (Kippah, for those that didnt know/were too lazy to look). Calling it a Skullcap (yes, I know thats what it is called, but there is a reason people give things names) just sounds so derogatory since probably when people think of skullcaps
<spoiler=this is one of the first things they think of>http://allpictures.co.cc/data/other/leather-skull-cap.jpg

Or maybe the plant. But thats being tit for tat.

Anyway, back to the main point, how do you know your teacher is going to force you? The teacher cant force you to do anything (well... my school could, but we signed the cards), especially not religious things if you're not religious (or even of stated religion).

Though you should know, you're taking this whole Kippah thing all wrong. Its a manners thing (yes, I get its part of the faith, but I mean for outsiders) like taking off your shoes when you walk into someone else's house (At least, I hope you would think to).

Its like how if you're foreign, you dont go shouting out whatever the hell you want during a national anthem. Its a manners thing, and its showing that you respect the culture and people whose home you are about to enter. Thats all, not some kinda religious reform, not some attempt to make you Jewish, and not some evil plot on the hands of your school.

 

[Elexia]

I visited a mosque when I was in high school, and I attended an all-girls catholic school at the time. We had to wear head scarves and cover our arms and legs (which our uniforms did anyway really). I accepted it because, say, if I was visiting a person's home and they ask me to remove my shoes as is their household rule, I'd comply. I was probably the only one in my class not bitching about the scarf messing up my hair. In fact, I asked my friend who is muslim if I could borrow one of hers, so I had a proper hijab headscarf.

I'm not offended when it's someone's way of life or faith. If they ask respectfully, I got absolutely no problem. I'm pagan and have my own rules concerning my beliefs and my home.

To each their own. Let it be.

 

[Brian Hendershot]

They are asking you to wear a skull cap not officiate a Jewish funeral or anything. Just be a man, put it on, and be respectful. It really won't be that hard on you I promise.

On a sidenote, I visited a Jewish Synagogue a few months ago (Didn't have to wear a skullcap by the way) and I was actually pretty moved by some of the stuff they said. Didn't make me turn all Jewish but I still thought it was down right poetic and somewhat true.

 

[TacticalAssassin1]

They are asking you to wear a skull cap not officiate a Jewish funeral or anything. Just be a man, put it on, and be respectful. It really won't be that hard on you I promise.

On a sidenote, I visited a Jewish Synagogue a few months ago (Didn't have to wear a skullcap by the way) and I was actually pretty moved by some of the stuff they said. Didn't make me turn all Jewish but I still thought it was down right poetic and somewhat true.

Well they did ask us to prey.

And yeah I found their customs made a he'll of a lot more sense than, say, chrisianity for example.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

You haven't said why you object. And I'm willing to bet it's not for as good a reason as you think it is. I did tons of stupid rebellious shit in high school that was ultimately meaningless but I told myself I wasn't going to conform and was going to stand up for what was right. But in the end most of it was dumb. And sorry to say this one probably is too. You're not being asked to take part in a religious ceremony, you're being asked to be respectful by keeping your head covered.

Does it matter? Does it really make a difference whether I said I didn't want to wear it because my family was murdered by a Jew, or because I'm a Pastafarian and would like to wear a pirate hat instead? I don't want to wear it, and I think they should respect my beliefs.

However, I would suggest that if you are sincerely interested in learning about what goes on in the synagogue, you should wear the skullcap as you are essentially in their "house". I think it's not much different than being asked to remove your shoes before entering a home. In the case of the skullcap and the synagogue it's maybe more of a spiritual cleanliness as opposed to the physical when asked to remove shoes. As someone who has an interest in anthropology and sociology, I find the best way to understand a culture is to try and participate in such rituals and practices.

 

[Womplord]

They are not asking you to conform to their beliefs. They are asking you to wear a hat. If they asked you to do anything that was an inconvenience, then the whole situation would change.

 

[mjc0961]

Well, I went. And it was fine. I just wore a baseball cap, it was a sunny day anyway so I kinda needed it. They actually ended up running out of them to lend to visitors so my friend who was against wearing it didn't have to. They didn't really mind.
The Jewish guides were nice and everything, it was alright.

Glad to hear it all worked out without any problems.

You might want to edit this into the OP though, otherwise people are going to just keep reading that and replying as if the trip in question was still upcoming.

 

[TacticalAssassin1]

Well, I went. And it was fine. I just wore a baseball cap, it was a sunny day anyway so I kinda needed it. They actually ended up running out of them to lend to visitors so my friend who was against wearing it didn't have to. They didn't really mind.
The Jewish guides were nice and everything, it was alright.

Glad to hear it all worked out without any problems.

You might want to edit this into the OP though, otherwise people are going to just keep reading that and replying as if the trip in question was still upcoming.

True, have been planning on it, but haven't gotten around to it.

 

[Dejawesp]

We visited a synagogue in school when studying religion. Yes you do need to wear something on your head. Not necessary a cap just anything really. I used a beret I had. In the end it comes down to the rules of the "house"

They are not trying to convert you. They just invited you to visit their temple and learn something about their religion.

If you're confident in your own beliefs then you should not be scared to observe others.

 

[BioHazardMan]

I think your making a little too much of a deal of it, sure I'm not religious but it's not like they are asking you to slaughter and animal or something. It's just a hat.