Student Suspended for Religious T-Shirt

[dokterew]

"God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion".

If the kid is so damn religious and believes that, then he should be going to a separate school. Otherwise, he's just trying to stir the pot. He got what he deserved.

facepalm x2.

The separate schools are for Catholics. The "poor boy" who was offended seems to have stirred the pot by being a tattle-tale.

[dokterew]

Too bad the religious right will take this and run with it as a case of religious persecution.

Yeah, good thing to take away freedoms in this country.

I'm just saying that the precedent has been set many times that public schools are basically supposed to be religion free. The t-shirt itself is no big deal but combined with preaching to the other kids, it sort of runs afoul of the set rules.

...
Personally, it annoys the hell out of me when someone starts preaching religion to me. Things like this remind me of that Westboro Baptist Church group who court controversy constantly.

It sounds like you want to ban kids with religious or faith beliefs from attending public school. It's their right and nature to outwardly express those beliefs in our country.

Comparing this to Westboro is like comparing the Pope to Bin Ladin.

[Linebacker Blitz]

I would honestly just laugh at the kid if I was in high school, but I wouldn't report him for wearing an "offensive" t-shirt. Just move on with your life.

[slowhand_bc]

I recall my best bud getting sent home from high school for wearing his "I got drunk silly at Tilly's" t-shirt. Hmm, well I guess in hindsight they were right about that one

[Clambake]

tempest in a tea pot.

It's a public school and the message on the shirt was harmless. The school authorities massively over-reacted.

If the reports of the kid harassing other kids by preaching at them are true then suspend him for the behaviour, regardless of what his shirt says.

I also wonder if the student was, say, a muslim and was similarly Mohammed-obsessed if the school would have reacted the same way. Or if they would have simply let it slide to avoid the inevitable backlash and accusations of racism.

No way to know for sure but I know which way I'd bet.

How is sharing your faith equal harrassment ??

[C.M.Burns]

How is sharing your faith equal harrassment ??

If he keeps at it and keeps at it and keeps at it when he's been asked to stop that crosses the line.

I defend his right to have a religious point of view and have some freedom to express that on his t-shirt in school. His t-shirt isn't speaking, it can be pretty easily ignored. No harm no foul. But preaching and evangelizing to others is something else altogether. That violates someone else's "personal space".

Wearing a shirt that expresses your religious point of view is one thing; pestering people about Jesus after those people have expressed indicated they don't want to talk about Jesus is something else entirely.

[slowhand_bc]

True story. Saw a girl wearing a "sperm dumpster" T-shirt the other day. Couldn't have been more than 13 years old. She was with her mother. And this kid gets suspended?

The world is being run by crazy people. (TM)

I believe it but it's just bloody unbelievable that any mother would let her daughter wear something like that.

[kronyk]

How is sharing your faith equal harrassment ??

Speaking for myself... religion is poison, and hearing about how great your imaginary friend is is like getting asked for smokes by some bum at 7-11, and I consider that borderline harassment.

[dokterew]

Speaking for myself... religion is poison, and hearing about how great your imaginary friend is is like getting asked for smokes by some bum at 7-11, and I consider that borderline harassment.

Speqking for myself, religion is the ultimate freedom and joy. Why not try to share it. It's unfortunate doomsday evangelists set the standard, thought still the "truth" of religion, it's really the opposite of what it's all about.

It's curious people are so offended by it, annoyed I can appreciate, but im annoyed by Tim hortons and rona commercials during cfl, but I don't complain to have it banned.


Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2

[pappcam]

Speqking for myself, religion is the ultimate freedom and joy. Why not try to share it. It's unfortunate doomsday evangelists set the standard, thought still the "truth" of religion, it's really the opposite of what it's all about.

It's curious people are so offended by it, annoyed I can appreciate, but im annoyed by Tim hortons and rona commercials during cfl, but I don't complain to have it banned.


Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk 2

The trouble with preachy types for me is that I lump them in with the general "religious fanatic" group which does include Westboro and things like that. It's unfortunate that some people's lives aren't complete until they've tried to convert everyone they meet.

I'd ban Tim Horton's and Rona commercials to if I could.

[iiebg]

How come they didnt ban his buddy? I guess an "I with stupid" shirt isnt as bad.

I wonder if the shirt comes with "Kick me" already printed on the back.

[grainshoveler]

id ban all commercials...not like that will ever happen...lol

[dokterew]

The trouble with preachy types for me is that I lump them in with the general "religious fanatic" group which does include Westboro and things like that. It's unfortunate that some people's lives aren't complete until they've tried to convert everyone they meet.

I'd ban Tim Horton's and Rona commercials to if I could.

No offense, (of course that means Im about to offend you) but seems more like a trouble with you than the "preachy types". I do get what you're saying but still using Westboro, just because they claim to follow God/Jesus, they are the antithesis of what the Bible even teaches and many "preachy types" you refer to I would bet if you asked, condemn wholly the Westboro group. Now for "preachy" types, there is a point where it goes too far, but there is a message to be shared and people are allowed to share it whenever, wherever they want. Being "preachy" is not the way to go about it so much though I do agree, as it's usually done in judgmental ways. That's not quite how Jesus intended his message to be shared.

The problem I see is that (we'll just refer to Christianity) when someone claims they're a Christian, a non believe will default to thinking they're hateful, closed minded, Hypocritical etc. Well in reality, a Christian is a hypocrite by default (in their own belief) because no one is perfect, yet they believe in some fashion of perfection. No one can possibly live up to that. The difference then between a believe and non believe is simply the acceptance of what they believe to be Grace for their imperfection. A Christian message (in my opinion) is to accept God's grace if you can bring yourself to believe the evidence of Jesus and his resurrection. You aren't a slave to God, or required to become a perfect "good" human being. You just have a fulfillment for life and more. I'm perfectly fine if what I believe happens to be false, as I live as though it's true, and believe that it is. I find like I said earlier, there's an incredible feeling of freedom as a result.

[brewmaster]

The most important thing we can teach our kids is we must all get along. Everyone needs to think the same and offense is what must be avoided at all costs.

Amen brother. We all have the right not to be offended.

[danno]

No offense, (of course that means Im about to offend you) but seems more like a trouble with you than the "preachy types". I do get what you're saying but still using Westboro, just because they claim to follow God/Jesus, they are the antithesis of what the Bible even teaches and many "preachy types" you refer to I would bet if you asked, condemn wholly the Westboro group. Now for "preachy" types, there is a point where it goes too far, but there is a message to be shared and people are allowed to share it whenever, wherever they want. Being "preachy" is not the way to go about it so much though I do agree, as it's usually done in judgmental ways. That's not quite how Jesus intended his message to be shared.

The problem I see is that (we'll just refer to Christianity) when someone claims they're a Christian, a non believe will default to thinking they're hateful, closed minded, Hypocritical etc. Well in reality, a Christian is a hypocrite by default (in their own belief) because no one is perfect, yet they believe in some fashion of perfection. No one can possibly live up to that. The difference then between a believe and non believe is simply the acceptance of what they believe to be Grace for their imperfection. A Christian message (in my opinion) is to accept God's grace if you can bring yourself to believe the evidence of Jesus and his resurrection. You aren't a slave to God, or required to become a perfect "good" human being. You just have a fulfillment for life and more. I'm perfectly fine if what I believe happens to be false, as I live as though it's true, and believe that it is. I find like I said earlier, there's an incredible feeling of freedom as a result.

I agree with the feeling of freedom that you describe. However, I seriously believe that the Christian community would enjoy a much better image if individual Christians spent more time putting their faith into action rather than the time & effort put into promoting the message verbally, (and on T-shirts!). More program, less advertising and commercials! And yes, I realize that many Christians do what I am talking about, but people remember the kooks that deliver the extreme and intolerant and judgmental messages. How we treat our neighbours is the key, and everyone sharing this planet with us is our neighbour. When people around you see something unique and special about how you live your life and treat others, without you giving them your "message", then you really are an example for your faith.

[Canuckmedic]

Speaking for myself... religion is poison, and hearing about how great your imaginary friend is is like getting asked for smokes by some bum at 7-11, and I consider that borderline harassment.

You need to toughen up abit sweetheart.

Amen brother. We all have the right not to be offended.

Let's start our own religion, where the goal is to not offend anyone or say anything too important or something that might make you think. We'll serve vanilla milkshakes(unless of course you don't like to enslave animals for milk, in which case SOY milkshakes, and watch reruns of who's the boss) If anyone doesn't want to watch tv we'll put them in hammocks and give them earphones with white noise in them and blindfolds so that nothing offensive touches them or enters their sight/hearing.

The greatest offense is thinking differently than everyone else. Get with the groupthink.

[danno]

id ban all commercials...not like that will ever happen...lol

Ya, you would love that, only CBC and PBS to watch! And without any commercials, the CBC tab to the taxpayer would be significantly higher. Careful what you wish for .....

[nearsight]

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loca...hub=OttawaHome

Very difficult to find a reason to accept this from the school.
Unless there is more to the story than just the t-shirt, let the kid wear it.

[greenbastard69]

Wow, there's nothing wrong with wearing that shirt to school.

[BleedGreen]

I guarantee you that if his shirt said, "Life is wasted without Islam" that both the school and the human rights expert investigating the issue would turn the other way. In fact, it would be an interesting little experiment to show how Christianity is unfairly treated in today's world.