(October 25, 2010 at 8:23 pm)katinator44 Wrote: Just some background before I get into the discussion topics for you guys:
I attend a small private University which has no set denomination or religion. One reason I looked into this school was for that reason. I come from a highly religious small community and wanted to get away from all the religious pressure I was experiencing there. I was hoping coming here would allow me to feel more open about my beliefs and not be so scared to express them-but it has done the opposite.
I'm in choir and we've been rehearsing for the Christmas concert since August. We're singing about 13 pieces and 12 of the 13 are sacred. I understand Christmas is a Christian holiday but I also know Christmas has numerous secular songs and almost has a separate identity in US culture with Santa, gifts, ect. Last year we sang this cute "12 Days of Christmas" tune that was fun (and was secular). I can't help but feel offended and oppressed when I'm singing about the glory of Jesus and God when I don't believe in either...and I came to this school thinking I could get away from pretending I believe something I don't.
It's also becoming a slight issue in my science class. My teacher will often say "because God made it that way" for things that just occur in nature. She doesn't do it often but it just makes me realize I'm right where I didn't want to be.
Christianity seems to be following me everywhere on campus...
So this brings me to some tough questions:
- Is it alright for the choir to be singing so many sacred songs? It is for a Christian holiday but the University doesn't have an official religion. Why sing just Christian songs? Why not throw some secular and maybe even Jewish songs in there too? Does the fact that we're singing for a Christian holiday justify my University singing sacred songs despite there being numerous secular songs for Christmas?
- Whose rights outweigh whose? In the United States there is the freedom of religion...but when does it get to the point that you're actions are stepping on someone else's rights? If I were to protest and get us singing secular songs would that be stepping on their rights to practice their religion for a religious holiday?
- What point is too far? I understand incidents like my teacher aren't that important since she doesn't do it often and I could always complain...but what point is it just too much? At what point does expressing your faith become an attempt to convert others to your faith?
Like I said...some hard questions. I've been pondering my personal answers to these questions but often get blocked by my bitterness toward the school and religion. I do my best not to let it bias me but in this case I feel like religion is being shoved down my throat and I can't escape it. I'd like to hear what you guys have to say about these answers...not only do I wanna hear many angles to these questions but I'm also curious to see what you guys really think.
Well, I hate to say it but they are a private school. As such, they can do pretty much whatever they please. I'm not telling you what to do, but if it was me, I'd find another school. Any college that allows a science teacher to interject his/her religious beliefs in the science classroom is doing a disservice to the students and to itself. The next time your science teacher makes such a comment, ask her what her religous beliefs have to do with teaching you science. Frankly, I'd nail her to the wall on the issue.
'The difference between a Miracle and a Fact is exactly the difference between a mermaid and seal. It could not be expressed better.'
-- Samuel "Mark Twain" Clemens
"I think that in the discussion of natural problems we ought to begin not with the scriptures, but with experiments, demonstrations, and observations".
- Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
"In short, Meyer has shown that his first disastrous book was not a fluke: he is capable of going into any field in which he has no training or research experience and botching it just as badly as he did molecular biology. As I've written before, if you are a complete amateur and don't understand a subject, don't demonstrate the Dunning-Kruger effect by writing a book about it and proving your ignorance to everyone else! "
- Dr. Donald Prothero
-- Samuel "Mark Twain" Clemens
"I think that in the discussion of natural problems we ought to begin not with the scriptures, but with experiments, demonstrations, and observations".
- Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
"In short, Meyer has shown that his first disastrous book was not a fluke: he is capable of going into any field in which he has no training or research experience and botching it just as badly as he did molecular biology. As I've written before, if you are a complete amateur and don't understand a subject, don't demonstrate the Dunning-Kruger effect by writing a book about it and proving your ignorance to everyone else! "
- Dr. Donald Prothero
