Animals
Filmchat has an email interview with Philip Pullman. This quote from Pullman is worth thinking about.
But that doesn't prevent me from pointing out the arrogance that deforms some Christian commentary, and makes it a pleasure to beat it about the head. What on earth gives Christians to right to assume that love and self-sacrifice have to be called Christian virtues? They are virtues, full stop. If there is an exclusively religious sin (not exclusively Christian, but certainly clearly visible among some Christians) it is the claim that all virtue belongs to their sect, all vice to others. It is so clearly wrong, so clearly stupid, so clearly counter-productive, that it leads the unbiased observer to assume that you're not allowed in the religious club unless you leave your intelligence at the door.
And maybe this offers some insight into the current divisiveness in the homeschooling community. One group of homeschoolers have decided that they should be the voice for all homeschoolers because they are more 'moral' then the rest of us. Those of us who don't measure up to the Fundamentalist Evangelical Christian mold should be excluded from the homeschooling club. When we start our own inclusive/secular groups the Fundamentalist Evangelical Christians flock to them and attempt to take them over because as JJ explained over at Unity~N~Diversity
The biblical principles crowd (several posters here, apparently) is commanded to believe that we ALL belong under their religion's rule. From a biblical principles "education" directive called CLASS:". . .the teacher must self-consciously teach all subjects in the framework of biblical authority. . . The proper method is to use the Bible in each and every course both directly and indirectly. Biblical doctrines must regulate the way we teach and learn. . . . teach the student to reason biblically.. . .This worldview is a unified system of principles that . . . requires that every thought be made captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ.. . .Culture, society, and education are thus bound to religion.. . .Christ is now reigning, but not everyone has bowed the knee to His authority. Not every area of life and thought has been made subject to Him. Christian education serves as part of His purpose to subdue people from all nations to the glory of God."
I for one am tired of them trying to ram their beliefs down my throat. Secular homeschoolers have as much right to homeschool as the Fundamentalist Christians do. We also deserve to have homeschooling groups that meet our needs. Homeschooling Groups that are focused on HOMESCHOOLING, not groups that are intent on ramming their worldview down everyone's throat.
As an interesting aside I learned during the Christmas Holidays that The Golden Compass has been banned from the reading list at Clarkdale (Meridian, MS) Public Schools and one of the Mobile, AL County Public Schools.
- Exclusivism = Bigotry
Unity~N~Diversity post on how Exclusivism = Bigotry. Sadly enough most of the Christian Homeschool Groups I know fit this description to a T, excluding those of differing beliefs from their groups and homeschool resources. Then many of these same Christians...
- Kestrel9000 Attacks Homeschooling At Daily Kos
First off I am going to take umbrage at the title of the post, Revisionist History: The Christian Right and the Miseducation Of Our Children. Shining Celebi and Lord Epa are mine and The Big Kahuna's kids they do not belong to anyone else. The idea...
- Stupid Comments Of Public School Jingoist
Lately I have read with amusement the comments on some blogs by non-homeschoolers bashing homeschooling. You would think if they were going to comment on another parents educational choice they would at least take the time to find out something about...
- Here They Go Again Bashing Homeschooling
A small minority of homeschoolers hold a very public Creationist Science Fair, and now the general public thinks all homeschoolers are creationist and that homeschooling should be strictly regulated on a national level or altogether banned. Carlo elaborates...
- Newscientist Bashes Homeschoolers
I really resent NewScientist assumption that all homeschoolers are religious nutcases that teach their children Creationism instead of real Science. New Scientist investigated how home-schooling, with its considerable legal support, is quietly transforming...
Animals
Filmchat has an email interview with Philip Pullman. This quote from Pullman is worth thinking about.
But that doesn't prevent me from pointing out the arrogance that deforms some Christian commentary, and makes it a pleasure to beat it about the head. What on earth gives Christians to right to assume that love and self-sacrifice have to be called Christian virtues? They are virtues, full stop. If there is an exclusively religious sin (not exclusively Christian, but certainly clearly visible among some Christians) it is the claim that all virtue belongs to their sect, all vice to others. It is so clearly wrong, so clearly stupid, so clearly counter-productive, that it leads the unbiased observer to assume that you're not allowed in the religious club unless you leave your intelligence at the door.
And maybe this offers some insight into the current divisiveness in the homeschooling community. One group of homeschoolers have decided that they should be the voice for all homeschoolers because they are more 'moral' then the rest of us. Those of us who don't measure up to the Fundamentalist Evangelical Christian mold should be excluded from the homeschooling club. When we start our own inclusive/secular groups the Fundamentalist Evangelical Christians flock to them and attempt to take them over because as JJ explained over at Unity~N~Diversity
The biblical principles crowd (several posters here, apparently) is commanded to believe that we ALL belong under their religion's rule. From a biblical principles "education" directive called CLASS:". . .the teacher must self-consciously teach all subjects in the framework of biblical authority. . . The proper method is to use the Bible in each and every course both directly and indirectly. Biblical doctrines must regulate the way we teach and learn. . . . teach the student to reason biblically.. . .This worldview is a unified system of principles that . . . requires that every thought be made captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ.. . .Culture, society, and education are thus bound to religion.. . .Christ is now reigning, but not everyone has bowed the knee to His authority. Not every area of life and thought has been made subject to Him. Christian education serves as part of His purpose to subdue people from all nations to the glory of God."
I for one am tired of them trying to ram their beliefs down my throat. Secular homeschoolers have as much right to homeschool as the Fundamentalist Christians do. We also deserve to have homeschooling groups that meet our needs. Homeschooling Groups that are focused on HOMESCHOOLING, not groups that are intent on ramming their worldview down everyone's throat.
As an interesting aside I learned during the Christmas Holidays that The Golden Compass has been banned from the reading list at Clarkdale (Meridian, MS) Public Schools and one of the Mobile, AL County Public Schools.
- Exclusivism = Bigotry
Unity~N~Diversity post on how Exclusivism = Bigotry. Sadly enough most of the Christian Homeschool Groups I know fit this description to a T, excluding those of differing beliefs from their groups and homeschool resources. Then many of these same Christians...
- Kestrel9000 Attacks Homeschooling At Daily Kos
First off I am going to take umbrage at the title of the post, Revisionist History: The Christian Right and the Miseducation Of Our Children. Shining Celebi and Lord Epa are mine and The Big Kahuna's kids they do not belong to anyone else. The idea...
- Stupid Comments Of Public School Jingoist
Lately I have read with amusement the comments on some blogs by non-homeschoolers bashing homeschooling. You would think if they were going to comment on another parents educational choice they would at least take the time to find out something about...
- Here They Go Again Bashing Homeschooling
A small minority of homeschoolers hold a very public Creationist Science Fair, and now the general public thinks all homeschoolers are creationist and that homeschooling should be strictly regulated on a national level or altogether banned. Carlo elaborates...
- Newscientist Bashes Homeschoolers
I really resent NewScientist assumption that all homeschoolers are religious nutcases that teach their children Creationism instead of real Science. New Scientist investigated how home-schooling, with its considerable legal support, is quietly transforming...