Rapture Countdown ... join the after-party!

Yeah, so where exactly is this post rapture party?
I am holding Mike responsible for it.

by bobbies, lol

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: Yes T, at least Dawkins is planning to start one: http://richarddawkins.net/articles/483402-updated-richard-dawkins-atheist-free-school-articles They will teach "about the gods of ancient Greece and Norse legend, and would treat the Bible as a work of literature rather than a basis for morality." In other words...No religion, and it's his right. Iván

Here in Germany public schools offer religious classes (instruction) based on the religions/denominations - public schools are secular except for these classes, and parents can decide whether their children should attend them. The remaining children - Atheists as well as children of believers in religions for which there aren't specific classes - attend ethics class instead, which is essentially philosophy and comparative religion. 

Mr ProgFreak wrote: The T wrote: There has to be a way to link this thread to libertarianism, just because it's what we do... Okay found it!  Mr ProgFreak wrote:   It would be more honest to simply keep those activities separated: 1. Help 2. Heal 3. Educate 4. Indoctrinate 1, 2 and 3 can - and should - be provided independently of 4. No it doesn't have to. If the provider of a service (education in this case) decides to teach their own version of history and related, they are entitled to. If you don't like it, you are free to choose another provider.  I knew it could be done!  I said "it would be more honest" and "should be provided independently". Private organisations (in the US) are free to teach whatever crap they want to, but it's different for public schools. Here in Germany even private schools are tightly regulated to prevent indoctrination. As far as libertarianism is concerned: IMO it's a really, really silly concept - a weird combination of social darwinism and liberalism. It's doomed to fail simply because it leads to anarchy and, essentially, bullying and stronger people/clans dominating weaker ones. This essentially diminishes the overall level of personal freedom, which, ironically, is what libertarians are supposed to be all about. Example: Abolish the police -> everybody fends for themselves -> streets aren't safe anymore -> stronger people/clans cannot be kept from bullying weaker people/clans -> for most people personal freedom is severely curtailed.

It's obvious you haven't ever read one iota about libertarianism and all what it means. But calm down Mike, I'll let you stick to the matters you know about. Politics have never been your thing, so probably you have never read Hayek, Rothbard, Paul, Mises, etc (any of the austrian economists and political proponents of libertarianism). What you're afraid of is what we call anarcho-capitalism but it's not as terrible as you mention. In fact, letting the market solve most problems without government regulation is the ideal scenario. Anyway, there's no point in debating it with you, used to the state to tell you what you can and can't say. So let's not go any further into this because there is an appropriate thread in PA for that. I was just making a joke. I'm sorry, though, that in a country as beautiful as Germany you have to be told by the
state what to teach. Anyway, the Us and Germany come from different places and their pasts have been very different.

By the way, how curious: "even private schools are tightly regulated to prevent indoctrination". Seems to me children ARE being indoctrinated, since they can't deviate from what the state wants them to think....

Edited by The T - May 28 2011 at 11:56

^Well precisely the arrogant way you seemed to agree with how your system supposedly prevents indoctrination and how you said that US institutions are free to teach "whatever crap they want to". That's all. I thought you agreed with your country's system. Of course I might be wrong. Usually your posts against religion are very arrogant so I'm not sure what surprised you here...

What liberal use of the implies sign by you Mike. 

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: Mr ProgFreak wrote: Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: Yes T, at least Dawkins is planning to start one: http://richarddawkins.net/articles/483402-updated-richard-dawkins-atheist-free-school-articles They will teach "about the gods of ancient Greece and Norse legend, and would treat the Bible as a work of literature rather than a basis for morality." In other words...No religion, and it's his right. Iván More precisely: They will teach comparative religion rather than indoctrinating the children that one of the religions is special. No Mike, seems you have troubles reading (you read what you want to understand), he said he WOULD only teach the Bible as LTERATURE, and only would teach about ancient gods. In no moment he said he would teach comparative religion, that would  imply to teach the moral values of the Bible, Qu'ran and other holy books, not to teach exclusively the literary merits or characteristics of the Bible. Now, it's true that the British system of education forces to provide an hour of worship, so most likely he will pay no school. Iván

Sorry Iván, but in this instance it is you who did not read the whole article, for he clearly says:

“I would also teach comparative religion, and teach it properly without any bias towards particular religions, and including historically important but dead religions, such as those of ancient Greece and the Norse gods, if only because these, like the Abrahamic scriptures, are important for understanding English literature and European history.”

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: I read the whole article Dean, and it says: "if only because these, like the Abrahamic scriptures, are important for understanding English literature and European history" Only because of the literary influence of the Abrahamic texts (He doesn't even mention the new Testament) in English literature and history. So no religion, only the influence of some ancient texts in English literature and history.

Alitare wrote: Aw that's all bullsh*t, baby - people just ain't no good.

Post of the month.