High School Atheist Smacks Down School Prayer in TX

[daaron]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/06/01/high-school-atheist-scores-graduation-ceremony-victory/

A Texas high school will not be including a convocation prayer in its graduation ceremony this year, breaking with a 100-year tradition as old as the school itself. Mark Reyes, the valedictorian at Poteet High School in Poteet, Texas, has asked that the school observe the separation of church and state and not include a prayer in the ceremony.

Good for him! This is and always was a secular democratic republic. Tradition is a poor excuse to violate the Constitution.

[Warpy]

1. I hope the poor kid will be going to university out of state.

I know what the south does to uppity atheists first hand.

[OriginalGeek]

2. Good for that kid!

Last edited Fri Jun 1, 2012, 06:24 PM - Edit history (1)

while reading through the comments on that story I came across this pretty powerful image:

[daaron]

4. HOLY SHIT!!!!

I'd say, "Thanks for posting that," OriginalGeek, but... y'know... it hurts to say "Thanks".

Ugh. I'm embarrassed at this moment to use the term "agnostic Christian," as I have been, to refer to my beliefs. I knew shit was bad, but somehow that puts things in a different perspective. I don't know what to think - I just know that right now I seriously doubt my previous conviction that the Abrahamic religions can be saved.

I'd pray about it, but I'm not that kind of agnostic.

[OriginalGeek]

9. yeah I know what ya mean

Sadly, that doesn't even cover a fraction of a percent of what I feel has been done wrong in the name of religion.



And even still I would not ever vote to take away anyone's right to believe. But I'll do what I can to stop and/or shame and/or criticize people who would use religion in that way.

[daaron]

10. Belief, for me, takes effort.

Since I've never quite had the knack for that whole blind faith thing. It basically amounts to continuous readjusting my belief based on new information. This seems to have made it somewhat more resilient, but it's also become somewhat unrecognizable as 'belief' as the years wear on.

Maybe that's why I lurk so much in forums like this and randi.org. Perspective, ya know?

[laconicsax]

6. You should post this in Religion.

It may open a few eyes.

[Warpy]

8. Those eyes never see past the blinders

I'm perfectly willing to allow people to believe whatever nonsense gets them though the night, but once they start to organize around that nonsense, look out!

I still think many religious groups are overdue for visit from the tax man for meddling in politics. The wall of separation between church and state needs to be reaffirmed and that's one of the ways to do it. Get them out of politics and the tax man will get away from religion.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

11. That is depressing

Not because it's unexpected, but because it's entirely expected.

[Jim Lane]

12. An astounding compilation, OriginalGeek. Many thanks for passing it on!

Someone put a lot of work into assembling that, and it was worth it.

[JNelson6563]

13. Wow!

That is one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen! Brilliant!

Make it an OP!

Julie

[Rittermeister]

3. Jesus Christ. . .

The term gobsmacked is thrown about a lot these days. For once, that is how this last post has left me.

[daaron]

5. I didn't rec my own thread. I rec'd OriginalGeek's reply. nt

[laconicsax]

7. Reccing your own thread isn't a big deal.

It's just a fun thing to tease about.