BWA6067@TAMAGEN (02/08/90)
Elizabeth wrote: -------------------------------------------------------------- It has amazed me to hear many Christians actually voice the opinion that we shouldn't force Christianity on people who have their own beliefs, ie by prayer in school. Yet aren't we called to spread his word? When you go to witness to someone does it ever occurr to you *not* to because you should respect their choice of belief????????? -------------------------------------------------------------- I appreciate your concern, Elizabeth, but in the context of issues like prayer in public schools, it's not so much a matter of bold witnessing as it is legislating outward conformity to a particular religious standard. Legislating prayer in public schools is vastly different from talking to someone individually--witnessing to them--about Christ. -------------------------------------------------------------- Madalyn Murry O'Hair, an atheist whose efforts successfully eliminated the use of Bible reading and prayer from all public schools 15 years ago, has been granted a Federal hearing in Washington, D.C. on the subject of (F.C.C.). The petition, R.H. 2493, would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the Gospel on the air waves of America. She thook her petition, with 27,000 signatures, to back her stand. If her attempt is successful, all Sunday worship services being broadcast, either by radio or television will stop. Many elderly people and shut-ins, as well as those recuperating from hospitalization or illness, depend on radio and television to fulfill their worship needs every week. -------------------------------------------------------------- This is very worrisome, but it is something that I feel can be easily and sucessfully defended on Constitutional grounds. I don't know what legal basis Ms.O'Hair is using as grounds for her suit, but I imagine it has something to do with the regulatory monopoly the FCC (a federal agency) has on radio and TV transmission. Her premise may be that an industry whose only legitimate regulation is on the federal level is itself a federal and publicly-controlled industry, in which case Constitutional precedent would require that sanction for a particular religious affiliation be removed. I'm not sure how much Constitutional precedent exists for an attack on her premise, but I feel certain that her premise could easily be dismantled, if the above is anywhere near accurate. In keeping with religious and political freedom, however, if Ms. O'Hair feels this strongly about something, she deserves her day in court. I rather suspect she will lose this one very badly. -------------------------------------------------------------- Madalyn is also campaigning to remove all CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS AND CHRISTMAS SONGS AND CHRISTMAS CAROLS from public schools. You can help at this time. We need 1,000,000 signed letters. This should defeat Mrs. O'Hair and show that there are amny CHRISTIANS ALIVE AND WELL AND CONCERNED in our country. This petition is NO. 2493. -------------------------------------------------------------- I don't find this quite so worrisome. One thing that may come out of this is that the decision to allow or disallow such activities might be left to the states, which would allow more local and regional control over them. But while I would fight the radio/TV thing to my dying breath, I don't see why defending Christmas songs and programs and carols in public schools is a priority. If my children were being taught Rastafarianism through participation in pagan religious rituals at a public school, I would object vehemently. queue ball