Texas parents are complaining that a program to distribute free Gideon Bibles at schools may have backfired. So many Bibles were distributed to students in Plano and Frisco that students reportedly began to use them as weapons, sold them, or even uses the pages to roll joints. In one particularly disturbing account, a Jewish boy was attacked by Christian students throwing the bibles at him.
The American Civil Liberties Union has issued a report on the abuse. Various complaints have been filed over the program by Gideons International. We previously followed one such controversy in Frisco where the violence has been reported, here.
The attack on the Jewish student occurred at Frankford Middle School in Plano.
It appears “going Biblical” in Texas schools can have a slightly more threatening meaning than other states.
For the story, click here.
Praise the Lord Sezmus,
I found my salvation. Amen brotha, I no longer need the divine order of the most holy buffalo of the western plains of the south fork of the mississippi delta basin. Amen brotha and sista’s please pass the basket as god never meant for me to be poor. I will take away the evil that sunburns your soul. This is the least I can do for my faithful followers.
FFLeo:
Thanks a lot FFLeo. Pretty soon you’ll be telling ’em there is no Santa Claus.
Um, for y’all former baptized Southin’ Baptists–like me–please be aware that the Landover Church is a pardy’ and not the True Gospel.
I read 2 full web pages a’fore I realized that it was satire….
I shoulda knowed that ’cause seamus linked to the religious site.
Byron,
Maybe it’s time to start wondering how many pinheads can dance on the head of an angel. Another thought: Who needs reason and logic when you’ve got faith???
seamus:
That website is pure gold!
Byron:
Imagine all the time lost and intellect wasted on parsing this collective delusion of religion.
But even Aquinas wouldn’t stomach these religious fools, He did say, after all, “Beware the man of one book.” More importantly he was a believer in rational thought and that man could “know” things independent of divine revelation–quite revolutionary for the version 1.0 fundamentalism he had to suffer. He also famously said “”Nihil est in intellectu quod non fuerit prius in sensu.” (There is nothing in the intellect that did not first start in the senses).
Aquinas seems a man torn between his rational side seeking truth where both he and Aristotle thought it would be found, and the conventions of the theocratic age in which he lived. He tried to walk the middle ground and felt it shifting beneath his feet. Maybe that is what prompted his lament, “All that I have written seems like straw to me compared to what I have now seen.” One wonders if it was a mystical religious experience showing a deeper and richer theology, or a flash of reason thrusting this collective delusion front and center. History doesn’t tell us, but I think I know.
Seamus:
Indeed you are correct. It should have been the Jewish kids beating their Torah’s into spears as the old saying goes. But these Christian kids are more “orthodox” it seems.
Mespo,
Check out the web site for Landover Baptist Church. You’ll dig it the most me thinks. Also based on those passages, all from the pre-Jebus Old Testiment, shouldn’t the Jewish kids have been beating up the “Christian” kids? Just saying.
can the dark ages “be” far behind.
(the devil made me do it)
Mespo:
I read a good book review on Rodney Stark’s “The Victory of Reason” and one of the quotes [from the review] was about Thomas Aquinas being the foremost authority on “Angelology” or the study of nothing. The author of the review was making the case that Aquinas could have used his considerable intellect to solve some of the problems of the Middle Ages rather than be distracted by the RCC and it’s desire to “prove” the tenants of faith.
When you read about the rise of religious fundamentalism in this country one wonders if we are headed back to a time when men wondered how many angels could dance on the head of a pin and the associated dismantling of reason. When Jews are “stoned” with bibles can the dark ages we far behind?
Those Gideon folks have made it as far north as Massachusetts. Not long ago, they were passing out Bibles outside of a middle school in Danvers. They weren’t on school property though. A number of parents whose children attend the school were upset and complained to the principal. The principal, other school administrators, and the police department were on hand to watch the distribution.
I guess no one threw the holy books at other students–or used the pages for rolling joints…at least not as far as I’ve heard.
I’ve included a link to an article that was published in the Salem News, a local paper, on Septmenber 25, 2009.
“Some upset over Gideons’ Bible handout to students”
http://salemnews.com/punews/local_story_267235627.html
Y’all non-Texas folk aint got no nowledge of theys slow, drawlin’ Texican voice.
Bible = Bauble
Them kids wuz juss a’ throwin’ them Gidyon Baubles as alms to the poor jerwish lad who wuz a’needin’ a bit of christian chararty and larnin’…,
A favorite Texas sayin’ of mine—when Texans are surprised, shocked, or disgusted—is:
“I’ll tell you what!”
However, they *Never* ‘tell you what’…
I’ll tell Y’all what!
BH,
That is a good comparison. I can picture the Minister of Silly Walks going down the school hallways with a bible in his hands.
Sounds more like a Monte Python skit than reality. 🙂
I am not surprised at these bible throwing incidents and attacks because they happened in the great State of Texas. We have learned here that anything stupid, crazy, illegal, racist and criminal can and will happen in Texas. This incident of not only allowing bibles in a public school, but allowing them to be used as weapons is commonplace in the home of the American Taliban. Will someone please let Texas secede?!
marianne:
“Any literature should be passed out to those that actually want to read it, and have some comprehension what the contents are about.”
************
I suspect it is you who needs a session with your Holy Book. These kids probably did read it, and acting in accord with its instructions, did mount the attack on the non-believer:
“Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed.” (Exodus 22:19 NAB
“They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.” (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB
“Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT)
All in all, I find Bible tossing more acceptable than this little scene from Judges:
“Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber’s family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor. Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. “Please give me some water,” he said. “I’m thirsty.” So she gave him some milk to drink and covered him again. “Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.” But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died. When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, “Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for.” So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple. So on that day Israel saw God subdue Jabin, the Canaanite king. And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin, until they finally destroyed him.” (Judges 4:17-24 NLT)
Holy,indeed, but I suspect you are missing out on the obvious “glory and majesty” of the pages because, like many Christians, you’ve never read the book.
Forget about the link above:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfgZH8kFAKc&hl=en&fs=1&]
And to think that Willie got his start selling Bibles outside or Waco. But I could not pass in this one, roll me a fat one and sit back my friend. Looks like Willie again:
I’ll Never Smoke Weed With Willie Again – The most amazing videos are a click away
I am starting to think most of this generation cannot read, and do not appreciate anything they are given to read anyhow. This is the video generation.
This is the fault of those handing out bibles. To give them out to such children in an indiscriminate manner is foolish.
Any literature should be passed out to those that actually want to read it, and have some comprehension what the contents are about.
If these students had been handed “War and Peace,” they would have done the same thing.
Throwing Bibles.
I’ll admit it’s a compelling visual, but when asking myself WWJD that’s usually not on the list.
Religion’s going up in smoke. Munchies laden with sugar and/or artificial dyes linked to behavior problems and hyperactivity.