Tag: education

Attacking Tolerance: Who's Bullying Anti-Bullying Educators?

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The organization People for the American Way (PFAW) has a new report out on how religious groups are working to end tolerance and anti-bullying education in schools because they believe it normalizes non-traditional gender and sexual behavior.  The arguments to end such education, as summarized by PFAW, are that 1) anti-bullying training indoctrinates children into non-normative behavior that is harmful, 2) it gives LGBT students special rights, 3) it discriminates against those who oppose LGBT rights, and 4) it removes shame from LGBT students. Continue Reading →

Attacking Tolerance: Who’s Bullying Anti-Bullying Educators?

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The organization People for the American Way (PFAW) has a new report out on how religious groups are working to end tolerance and anti-bullying education in schools because they believe it normalizes non-traditional gender and sexual behavior.  The arguments to end such education, as summarized by PFAW, are that 1) anti-bullying training indoctrinates children into non-normative behavior that is harmful, 2) it gives LGBT students special rights, 3) it discriminates against those who oppose LGBT rights, and 4) it removes shame from LGBT students. Continue Reading →

Attacking Tolerance: Who’s Bullying Anti-Bullying Educators?

Posted on by

The organization People for the American Way (PFAW) has a new report out on how religious groups are working to end tolerance and anti-bullying education in schools because they believe it normalizes non-traditional gender and sexual behavior.  The arguments to end such education, as summarized by PFAW, are that 1) anti-bullying training indoctrinates children into non-normative behavior that is harmful, 2) it gives LGBT students special rights, 3) it discriminates against those who oppose LGBT rights, and 4) it removes shame from LGBT students. Continue Reading →

Science Education is Good. Intellectual Freedom is Good.

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The first creationism bill of the year has hit the books in Kentucky, home state of the Creation Museum.  Sponsored by Republican state representative Tim Moore, an Air Force Academy alum, HR 169 would, “use, as permitted by the local school board, other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner.”  Section 3 of the bill, also known as The Kentucky Science Education and Intellectual Freedom Act, states:

This section shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion.

Discrimination against the laws of science, however, is fair game.

(h/t The Sensuous Curmudgeon) Continue Reading →

Beck's Founding Fathers

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Glenn Beck has famously postulated — on a blackboard — that if all Americans knew the history and content of the constitution the way he and his team of “expert” historian’s do, the Tea Party would be running the country’s show, not President Obama or any of his like-minded radical liberals.  Last week, Beck held the first session of “Beck University” to do just that, re-teach Americans the real intent of separation of church and state, “not what you’ve been sold.”  His first guest was David Barton, founder of Wallbuilders and long-time advocate for the separation of church and state as a way to “keep the [church’s] influence in there [government].” Continue Reading →

Beck’s Founding Fathers

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Glenn Beck has famously postulated — on a blackboard — that if all Americans knew the history and content of the constitution the way he and his team of “expert” historian’s do, the Tea Party would be running the country’s show, not President Obama or any of his like-minded radical liberals.  Last week, Beck held the first session of “Beck University” to do just that, re-teach Americans the real intent of separation of church and state, “not what you’ve been sold.”  His first guest was David Barton, founder of Wallbuilders and long-time advocate for the separation of church and state as a way to “keep the [church’s] influence in there [government].” Continue Reading →

Beck’s Founding Fathers

Posted on by

Glenn Beck has famously postulated — on a blackboard — that if all Americans knew the history and content of the constitution the way he and his team of “expert” historian’s do, the Tea Party would be running the country’s show, not President Obama or any of his like-minded radical liberals.  Last week, Beck held the first session of “Beck University” to do just that, re-teach Americans the real intent of separation of church and state, “not what you’ve been sold.”  His first guest was David Barton, founder of Wallbuilders and long-time advocate for the separation of church and state as a way to “keep the [church’s] influence in there [government].” Continue Reading →

Religious Studies in Illinois

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An excerpt from the letter that Dr. Kenneth J. Howell sent to his University of Illinois “Introduction to Catholicism” students in preparation for a test, below.  After a student anonymously complained that the letter constituted “hate speech,” Dr. Howell was removed from his position.  Alliance Defense Fund has taken up a law suit against the university on behalf of Dr. Howell, claiming that he was fired for his religious beliefs. Continue Reading →

Defending Truth, With a Capital “T”

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Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) — the legal activist organization founded in 1993 by “a band of TV preachers and right-wing radio ranters” which now constitutes the strong arm of what I call the Legal Right — is not taking the recent dismissal of a case they brought before the Idaho courts very well. The case sought to allow a charter school in that state to teach the Bible.

ADF is hopping mad and they’ve renewed an ongoing online spat with “gloating” Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU). ADF Senior Legal Counsel, David Cortman, goes all out in his bashing of both separation of church and state and AU in a recent post. “Organizations like AU have twisted the words and meaning of the Constitution to fit their own ideological agenda,” Cortman writes.
Continue Reading →

Defending Truth, With a Capital “T”

Posted on by

Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) — the legal activist organization founded in 1993 by “a band of TV preachers and right-wing radio ranters” which now constitutes the strong arm of what I call the Legal Right — is not taking the recent dismissal of a case they brought before the Idaho courts very well. The case sought to allow a charter school in that state to teach the Bible.

ADF is hopping mad and they’ve renewed an ongoing online spat with “gloating” Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU). ADF Senior Legal Counsel, David Cortman, goes all out in his bashing of both separation of church and state and AU in a recent post. “Organizations like AU have twisted the words and meaning of the Constitution to fit their own ideological agenda,” Cortman writes.
Continue Reading →