Today, as I read it, certain items of concern stood out to me. I noticed the emphasis by the Soviets of the separation of church and state, and the insistence that children not be taught the gospel. The churches of that day were required to register and also abide by certain rules as set forth in the Legislation Regarding Religious Cults. Some of the rules had to do with children. They were not permitted to attend the churches or be baptized. Unfortunately, many churches compromised, registered, and lost their children. They did not pray in front of them or teach them God's Word.
Those who refused to register were persecuted. Their pastors were taken to labor camps, and sometimes even killed. One of the main charges that was brought against them was that they were, "teaching religion to children." They were charged with violation of Article 142 of the Criminal Law Code, "The breaking of the laws of separation of the church from the state and of the school from the church." The separation of church and state and school and church was cited as reason not to teach children religious faith in churches and homes!!
As I read, I thought of my own country, a country that was founded on religious freedom, and yet now is governed by this same doctrine of separation of church and state. This doctrine is not found in the Constitution. Rather, it was a line from one of Thomas Jefferson's letters, where he expressed his own opinion with which many founding fathers disagreed. This line was brought into American law by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Emerson v. Board of Education (1947) Now this line is used to deny religious freedom all over the country. It has eeked its way into our nation's consciousness with such pervasiveness that even private businessmen wonder whether it's legal to play Christian music in their place of business. Some Christian students erroneously think they can't pray or read their Bible at school, and some teachers wrongfully forbid them from doing so. In many public schools across our country, the Bible is not studied at all, even for historical significance and impact.
Just as the now defunct Soviet Union violated the religious rights and freedoms of its citizens through the "separation of church and state," we Americans are at risk of the same. Our freedoms are already being subtly denied even now, and even worse, the common thought of individuals is being conformed to align with this "separation of church and state mentality."
As case in point, I offer this anonymous comment that was posted on a recent post about homeschooling.
"Homeschooling for the purpose of purely a religious thing is wrong. I'm not against homeschooling, in any, way, shape or form; but not for religious purposes. Children should be exposed to the schools theories also. Imagine the shock they will get in life when they leave home and find out - they will feel lied too and may even feel that they can no longer trust their parents/religion. What they need is to be exposed to these things and in return - talk about them as a family and love them.
Homeschooling, however, should be considered when the school is not working for the betterment of your child - ex: temperment and learning style of your child doesn't match what the school expects, and the school is unwilling to change anything, or if your child needs individual attention that the school is unable to provide. Than, homeschooling is a viable option.
As much as you love your kids, you can't shield them from the world. Better that they learn the evils of the world NOW when you are able to talk with them and guide them than 20 years down the road when they feel they are "free" and no longer trust their parents who never told them about the world they live in."
This sentiment is not unusual. I have actually heard it from Christians and other individuals on numerous occassions. Many believe that it is acceptable to homeschool for academic reasons, or if your child has a learning disability, or if he is gifted. There are numerous acceptable reasons to homeschool, but in the minds of many, religion is not one. It is an oh so subtle indication of the fruit of the doctrine of separation of church and state. Though this commenter was well-intentioned, his comments are fraught with misconceptions and falacies which can be used against us despite their error. We must recognize the subtle danger of such thinking. We must learn from history. We must see the danger of the doctrine of separation of church and state. Let us not be naive and think that the fate of Konshaubi Dzhangetov and Georgi Vins could not some day be our own.
Choose you this day who you will serve...
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Grace and Peace,
Angel
Angel
14 comments:
We each have choices to make, some base their choice from fear instead of from Trust.
I haven't read the book, but my father fled a communist country and I grow up knowing the importance of our American freedoms.
We do need to open our eyes, to search scriptures for our answers and to not get swept up in this world and its ways.
I want you to know that I am praying for you...and your Knight.
Can't wait to hear how God blesses you this week.
xoxo
Kimmie
mama to 7
one homemade and 6 adopted
Absolutely spot-on! The public schools are the institutions that are keeping our nation's children from hearing the truth, not vice versa.
Great post -- I didn't completely the comment about religious reasons being the wrong reasons for homeschooling, either. (They seem to be the best reasons to me!)
The use of "separation of church and state" as an excuse to ban faith from the public sphere has always been a peeve of mine, too. I never thought it could go so far as to prevent people from teaching their faith in their own homes, though.
This is an interesting post and is causing me to think. Given that I send my children to public school these are issues that concern me on the other side.
That being said, I feel it my duty to be my children's religious teacher. Not even church can do it as well as I.
We Americans take everything for granted. EVERYthing.
"Let us not be naive..."
that sentence should be repeated daily.
It could so be us.
-Laura
Wow, very good post.
Faith
Excellent post, Angel. Thanks for sharing!
I understand your concern, but think it arises from misunderstandings by some of the principle of separation of church and state, some of which you mention, and not from application of the principle itself. The best response to such misunderstandings, I think, is to clarify the principle rather than attack it.
The phrase “separation of church and state” is but a metaphor to describe the underlying principle of the no-establishment-of-religion and free-exercise-of-religion clauses of the First Amendment and the no-religious-test-for-public-office clause of the Constitution. The absence of the phrase in the text of the Constitution assumes much importance, it seems, only to those who may have once labored under the misimpression the words appeared there and later learned of their mistake. To those familiar with the Constitution, the absence of the metaphor commonly used to describe one of its principles is inconsequential--no more consequential than the absence of other phrases (e.g., Bill of Rights, separation of powers, checks and balances, fair trial, religious liberty) used to describe other undoubted Constitutional principles.
Apart from semantics (i.e., use of the same phrase), the laws of separation of church and state in the United States and the former Soviet Union are fundamentally different. In the United States, there should be no serious concerns about teaching children of religion in homes. Indeed, the First Amendment's "free exercise" clause assures that each individual is free to exercise and express his or her religious views--publicly as well as privately. The First Amendment's "establishment" clause constrains only the government not to promote or otherwise take steps toward establishment of religion. The First Amendment thus embodies the simple, just idea that each of us should be free to exercise and express his or her religious views without expecting that the government will endorse or promote his or her views and without fearing that the government will endorse or promote the religious views of others.
Thanks for the good reminder! Oh, and provoking a few dormant brain cells back into action. :)
Doug,
Thanks for visiting and commenting. I appreciate your sharing your thoughts. I agree that there is a great misunderstanding with regard to the separation of church and state. The problem is that there are too many public school teachers, officials, politicians, lawyers, and even judges who are misunderstood. These are the ones who threaten to undermine our rights. The more people who embrace an incorrect interpretation, the more our rights are at risk.
I do not agree that it's semantics to compare the US to the Soviet Union! I think it is necessary to do so in order to open our eyes to the error of such incorrect application, so that we don't end up in the same place.
There are many in the US who believe that teaching religion to children is brainwashing and indoctrination, a form of child abuse even. For this reason, documents such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of a Child pose serious threats to parental rights depending on whom is interpreting. I'm not a Chicken Little, but a discerning individual who is making observations and recognizing the potential for abuse and violation of our fundamental rights.
I am also very familiar with the Constitution, Constitutional History, and Constitutional Law. I never "labored under the misimpression" that the words were there, (I read the Constitution first and always knew they weren't there) and yet I do not find the absence of the phrase to be inconsequential. Rather, I find that it was an eventual victory in the courts for Jefferson in the great debate with others like Adams and Patrick Henry. There are those of us who still side with the latter.
Thanks again for your input!
Grace and Peace,
Angel
Wow! Very well said. Until recently, I too was confused about the church vs. state thing. I didn't know about Thomas Jefferson being the one who got this awful ball rollilng, but then again, I grew up "in the system." Of course I wouldn't have been taught that! Thank you for such a great post.
Angel, I really don't think you have to worry about the doctrine of the separation of church and state being used as a bludgeon against home schooling. There are many private religious schools that teach religion as part of their curriculum, and these private schools are fundamentally the same as home schooling for religious reasons.
Of course you are correct that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty". There are people out there that would over extend the laws out of ignorance or malice, so it doesn't hurt to educate people.
I believe it was actually Everson vs. the Board of Ed. and I feel like with a little perspective, it makes sense. So imagine a Masjid opens a local private school. They want public tax money to go towards the busing of children to get to school. Are you comfortable with that? I guess I'm just saying that "separation of church and state" seems to offer more protection than persecution. Shouldn't an Islamic family be granted just as many rights as the Christian family whose kids get bussed for free? Once that line is blurred....I don't know. It's a little frightening.
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