Whose Christianity?
Well, that didn’t take long. Dr. James Dobson, having disavowed John McCain, is now going after Barack Obama.
Mr. Obama has insinuated there would be a problem, even if all America were Christian, with whose version of Christianity we would teach in the schools–Dobson’s or Al Sharpton’s? And how would the Defense Department adapt to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount?
Obama fails to mention the Sermon on the Mount was directed towards Christians, not states. Christians are to forgive, the state is to punish and deter the wicked. Christianity can flavor government (we treat enemy wounded and often go the second mile in negotiating with the North Koreas of the world). To childe government for not following the teachings of Christ makes as much sense as chiding the British for not driving on the same side of road as we do.
But Obama has a point. Whose Christianity would we teach? I would not want my children to be taught Al Sharpton’s version of the Bible, nor would I want Dobson’s Baptist teachings foisted upon my children. That’s why we have our own churches, instruct our own children in our own Sunday Schools, Catechism classes and even (in some congregations) in our own private church shools. We came from a country (Prussia) where, not only was everyone Christian, but everyone was (ostensibly) Lutheran! We got kicked out because the state church would not allow Lutherans of conscience to organize and run their own churches upholding the value and efficacy of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We would prefer to have no one’s brand of Christianity taught in the public schools. Dobson has other views of that (and I would imagine Sharpton might, too).
–Don Pieper
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Funny, I have heard the same arguments made that you site about the various versions of Christianity in reference to the various versions of the Bible. Which do you prefer? Take your pick. I agree that no versions should be taught in the public schools, however, to eliminate ALL references to God or religion in the public schools is just as wrong.
For instance, when I was growing up in HS, we put on a play called, “THE ROBE” which was about the last days of Christ and what was done with his robe when he was hung from the cross. There was not a peep from ANYONE about this very religious based play. There was NEVER a complaint about the “under God” phrase in the pledge that we said every morning at the beginning of class.
Also, along the same subject, I recently observed that the black national anthem was sung at the dedication of a new public building in CO. What is with that? I never even knew that there WAS a black national anthem?
Yes, I agree, let’s keep religion out of the schools.