Comments on: Jesus is Better than Santa

By: Bobby LaLay

Bobby LaLay — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:27:46 +0000

“This is a teacher who had the Ten Commandments posted in the classroom. Religious books were on the classroom bookshelves. The teacher’s school-funded website had links to Christian organizations (one link referred students to “evidence for creation”).”

FIRE HIM NOW! Whatta schmuck!

By: J Sveda

J Sveda — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:50:26 +0000

That list isn’t very thought-out. He’s mixing two different things – Santa Claus as fictional character, and the ‘real world’ Santa Claus Grotto thing.

And the usual issue – when did undoubtedly Jesus helped anyone? When a weaker child is badly harrassed by stronger child, willl that first child’s prayers change that other’s child behavior? I doubt it. The cases of alleged divine intervention are inevitably prone to “post hoc ergo propter hoc” fallacies.

By: Steven Carr

Steven Carr — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:24:56 +0000

My point is that 10 Commandment supporters are way too clever to actually put up the Biblical text, where children can read how this alleged god punishes children for the sins of their fathers.

10 Commandment supporters always try to use their own version of the 10 commandments, because they know that the Biblical text is not acceptable to modern minds.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:56:49 +0000

Why? Why don’t we also put up something from other religions too while we are at it?

Mriana, Steven was referring to the fact that there are three versions of the Ten Commandments in the Bible. Only once is the list actually called the Ten Commandments, and it is substantially different than what is commonly known as the Ten Commandments. Check out Exodus 34. Posting those makes Christianity look ridiculous.

By: Mriana

Mriana — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:33:34 +0000

Steven Carr said:

I’m all for posting the 10 Commandments in classrooms, but 10 Commandment supporters have more sense than to put such a bizarre text where children can read it.

Why? Why don’t we also put up something from other religions too while we are at it? It hard seems right to put up something from an Abrahamic religion and neglect the rest. Why have them at all though? Why are they needed in a public classroom? I don’t see any need for them in a state ran public school.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:41:27 +0000

‘Why Jesus is better than Santa Claus’ – I love it. He’s a believer, and he himself makes the comparison with another fictional character.

By: Richard Wade

Richard Wade — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:13:48 +0000

Principal Paul Simmons said “he’s observed Roger’s class several times and never heard him speak about religious material.”

That’s because he can see you sitting there, dumbass! Principals set the tone for what the teachers think they can get away with. Rogers was doing his thing in class because he knew Simmons would turn a blind eye to it.

By: The Unbrainwashed

The Unbrainwashed — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:58:21 +0000

@ Siamang:
What an interesting phenomenon. I’m thinking it occurs because these individuals work their entire careers with the concept of design. They note the parallels in nature (they’re tenuous but do exist) and see this as rational evidence of their irrational faith. Francis Collins, albeit not an engineer, is a great example of someone who continually rationalizes his beliefs with pseudoscience. Many engineers, being scientific individuals by day, are subjected to the same doubts.

By: Friendly Atheist » Jesus is Better than Santa | Nth Avenue

Friendly Atheist » Jesus is Better than Santa | Nth Avenue — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:30:15 +0000

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By: Steven Carr

Steven Carr — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:10:42 +0000

‘This is a teacher who had the Ten Commandments posted in the classroom.’

No way! I’m sure this is a lie.

I find it impossible to believe that the text of Exodus 20 was posted in the classroom.

What might have been posted was her personal rewrite of Exodus 20, but I am certain that she did not want people to know what Exodus 20 says, so she did not post the Biblical text in the classroom.

I’m all for posting the 10 Commandments in classrooms, but 10 Commandment supporters have more sense than to put such a bizarre text where children can read it.