News To Discuss

Original Url = http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/11/14/indianapolis-schools-ban-atheism-websites/

any thoughts?

That's kinda funny..... isn't there something seperating church and state somewhere in the constitution or some ***? So its ok to look up stuff on christianity, but not on Wiccan views? 1 word comes to mind: Hypocrite (and pardon my spelling, only give a damn about it when it pertains to a school assignment). Also looking up stuff on ghosts and spirits is banned, if I'm reading that correctly? Still funny though....

This is the sort of *** that must make lawyers smile: such a painfully easy case of a huge magnitude. It can't go wrong.

Personally I think it's pretty sad when I see something like this and think, Well the moral primarily christian/catholic majority is oppressing the little guys again, and I'm completely unsurprised by it.

You'd pretty much expect them to pull something like this by now.

Also as a side note.. Satanists wouldn't want kids from public schools to view their sites (Or any kids at all) 18+ onry.

This is really concerning, but Indiana is also the only place I ever get to travel that has a White Castle, so I dunno.

I'm kinda ok with them banning the views on certain websites, as long as they're doing it for the -right- reasons.

the right reason would be:
Imagine that you're a rebellious 13 year old and just watched The Craft while drinking copious amounts of alcohol and thinking that hocus pokus type spells actually work and that lightning strikes won't kill you, but grant you 'his' power (Thanks, Fairuza Balk D:!!!). You have a problem with authority and want to go all out to show you're 'different' and unlike the other sheep in the flock, so you pull a bunch of stupid ***and start sacrificing small animals and/or annoying other people with shouts of "Satan for president!!", scribbling on the toilet stalls about how demons eat the souls of unbaptized babies etc etc.

This kind of behaviour not only pisses off those around you, but gives a bad name to the followers of those religions, making them all seem like goat-slaughtering nutjobs.

But it really hits hard on those who are truly interested in what Wicca and the like really mean.

While a lot of people will be annoyed with this move by the schools (and quite rightly so), I'm trying to see it as a way to ease up on the already easily messed up atmosphere that there is in schools today.

I see your point Israfel, and you do make a good point. Sadly just based off my personal experience/opinion, Moves like this are rarely for the right reasons you note, but more born out of discriminatory lack of understanding.

I don't get why he was up in arms about banning sexuality stuff... it is school after all abnormal or not pretty much all of it will be banned. Anyways really why not? Only problem they really had was singling out certain religions.

I can't speak from an american PoV though I can assure you that in many parts of england there are the same discriminatory views thrown around by the school board, though it doesn't gain as much notoriety as it does in america D:

It really sucks that it has to be this way >_< Feels like the darn dark ages, heck... we could always start fining people for not going to church again!!(lol)

Hmmmm I bet you it wouldn't take longer before I start getting paid not to go to churches

lol each to their own my friend ^^

Just wanna clear up though... that I'm really not up for fining people for not going to church e_e lol...

(They actually did it in England for a time during the rule of Elizabeth I
http://www.localhistories.org/christian.html , hence the little joke ;) )

Well they should be banning normal/mainstream religion sites too.

This news makes me think that they think atheism is at part with Occult Practices. Also banning LGBT or any sexual Identity sites? (Don't blame them because if you search "gay" a *** will most likely pop out somewhere)
But anywho, so if a kid wants to know about being gay or something what? A pop up will come up and shout at him saying you're going to hell?

I doubt there is a pop up like that. And really I don't doubt that pretty much anything sex related isn't blocked to an extent.

As far as that and everything else there is probably the slight concern that the more info easily accessible especially to kids the more likely they will get into that kind of stuff. Which well should be an obvious duh.

And well when you go outside the mainstream by a bit you gotta expect that (though really aethism I thought that was pretty popular by now). I mean the average person can be fine with having gay or wiccan friends but at the same time not want anything help influence their kids along those lines.

I dont mean to start a argument but just a thought. dont those site blockers work of the sites age rating if youll call it that. im about positive you cant block by exact content. article seems bogus to me.

I second this.

Ignorant people make rules based on their ignorance.

Personally, I could be up in arms about it, especially considering I've been a practitioner of Wicca for over 10 years now. But honestly, something as trivial as being unable to Google the subject doesn't concern me. If children are truly interested like I was and just aren't doing it for attention, there are plenty of other ways.

I don't think the First Amendment covers what you're allowed to Google while at a learning institution.

I can't pretend to care one way or the other, but in my opinion religion in every flavor is always going to make some people into extremists. This is a subtle version of it, but religion can really effect how people think. If a policy like this is going to be in place it has to cover the entire board. If you are going to allow a "mainstream" religion to be taught or researched you need to allow all of them, or it isn't just in my opinion. At least this is how it should be in a public setting. If it's a private school of some sort the rules may differ a bit.
I consider myself to be an agnostic.

Admittedly, I just skimmed over the American Constitution. It might be in there somewhere, but all I found was the Governmental Structure explanations, and amendments. However...




Now if I recall correctly, School does not equal Congress[IE: Government]. According to the excerpt, the school merely banned the sites from being viewed from their computers, not suspend or expel students for choosing to exercise said Religions/Philosophies.

That being said, I believe the school is perfectly within their rights. The school provides a service. That service does not require them to allow internet access of any sort(This may be untrue for certain States/Schools). So, if you don't like it, go somewhere else!

inb4 "But public schools have Government Funding! They should have to follow the Rules!"

If you want to pay for it out of your pocket instead, be my guest. <.<

Edit: I'd like to add that I have the right to also view pornography and play games.

I just look at this from an ethical point of view (currently taking an ethics class in college, for a career in IT, does not make sense). I think if a school is going to block certain websites about religion in particular, they should block them all. I will agree with you on one thing, if you don't like it, go somewhere else. Luckily I am no longer in high school, haven't been since 2001. I also have the right to play video games, and view pornography, as does every other person in this world. I just find it a little hypocritical that they would block other religions from being searched (Wicca, Witchcraft, Satanism as the original article states) but would not block mainstream religions from being searched. I understand the porn being blocked, but blocking sites that talk about paranormal activity.... what are kids going to do, run around the school screaming there are ghosts trying to eat their souls? Some of this I get, some I don't, but to each city, state, whatever, they do as they see fit for their kids. I suppose its all about the children right? And to quote a famous comedian, "F**k the children!" "He's not going to attack the children, is he?" "Yes he is."

While your post has validity, we all know that despite the fact we have this "separation of church and state" it is merely not true. Look at Proposition 8 in California, a bill largely supported by CHRISTIAN churches. It got passed. Separation of church and state in the USA simply does not exist.

Wicca is a new religion based on very ancient rituals and beliefs, but the religion itself is only 50-60 years old. It is misunderstood, and the fact that Hollywood exploits it doesn't make it any easier for people like myself. (Charmed, The Craft ect.) Go into any Barnes and Noble's bookstore and read a book by a reputable Wiccan author, and you'll find out it's nothing like these shows/movies portray. However, people are easily blinded by what's in the media.

I can't speak for anything else, because I simply did not care enough to research. I went to public high school. Those sites were blocked there too. But they couldn't stop me from roaming the local bookstore to pick up new material, or surf the internet at home.

Until they start telling students they can't surf those websites on their free time, on their own computers at home, I'm sorry but no law is broken here. Hypocritical? You bet. What else do you expect from a nation who writes an Amendment about freedom of religion and has "God" as a part of every government piece of paper or ritual? (The Pledge, swearing in on the Bible in court, swearing in the President ect.)

Back at my High School they made it very apparent that if your a minor the schools rules are law no matter how stupid the rules in turn are. They also banned various websites but Chicago-land is more liberal then Indiana for one. It seems to be a trend that with the more conservative a state is the more over religious/ anti gay it is.

But in a high school the following didn't even apply at all.
You did not have the right of free speech (Saying certain things could be warranted as a class disruption)
You are liable to body/locker searches with only probable cause.

For Example from my old hand book. Class of 2007(Thank god Im outa there hah)
"Searches of Students and their Possessions
Students and their belongings, including student lockers and autos on school property, may be searched by administrators if there
are reasonable grounds to believe that evidence of a violation of school rules or laws has occurred."
Just throwing that out there. A big *** you to unlawful search and seizure.

I checked the technology section and there isnt anything as harsh as Indiana Schools.

Shield your eyes, boys, this one is powerful with the magicks and ***!

*Uses Rampart <_< >_>*

`_`

All this talk just reminds me of the days when Wiccaan was on the Windower team and the windower forums were a lot more active with random BS threads. lol Then all hell broke loose! Always happens when the wiccas intervene.

Hey! :(

Yea Hey :(

It's okay, by that definition I'm obviously also apart of the brood/circle/horde/TVshow so we can be bad people together! lol

Oh and I have no clue what Wicca is or what Wiccans are, I'm just being conversationally mean. :c No Heys! Unless Wiccans are Navi-followers, in which case go to hell. lol <3!

Navi? You mean the annoying fairy in Ocarina of Time?