Suing Christian Schools for Child Abuse
Offline America isn't ready for this yet, but at some point I would like to see class-action suits on behalf of those of us who attended Christian schools and were harmed because of it. One of the reasons I like Brian Flemming's movie so much is he went back to the scene of the crime and interviewed the principal of his old school. I wish I had the guts to do that.
At the Christian school I attended, most of the teachers focused on the Old Testament. As a result, I got mind-fucked by--how did Dawkins put it?--"the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”
As you can imagine, being subjected to threat of hellfire on a daily basis created a lot of misery. If I thought there was a chance of winning such a lawsuit and thus closing down such torture facilities, I would try to get something going.
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As a side note, I didn't get a decent education in science. I was taught creationism and believed it until my curious mind got me in trouble.
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If there's a potential lawsuit, I think this is a good approach. The number of jobs you're excluded from if you don't believe in evolution is considerable.
On the other hand, I feel relatively certain that there's a loophole since theist schools are private.
Atheism isn't a lot like religion at all. Unless by "religion" you mean "not religion". --Ciarin
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I attended Lutheran Schools for 9 years, plus I was unlucky to have a parent that was a former Lutheran schoolteacher. It was common to publicly embarrass any child that decided to use their mind and think outside the propaganda and dogma. Public punishment was common including being paddled, sat in a corner for hours, or being made to stand in front of the class until it was over. I received all of these more than once.
All of their training however provided me with far more knowledge than the typical believer, which I have used for many years to fight back against the myths of Christianity. Most Christians have no real idea what their religion teaches beyond the standard Jesus died for you and me bit. Since I was forced to learn the Bible I went further in college and in my adult life discovering many of the impossibilities and misinterpretations. The study of ancient history became a hobby, which reinforced my position that Yahweh was based on the beliefs of ancient savages. I have met few Christians that know the Bible or ancient history as well as I, including well-known evangelical singers, I know 1 or 2 personally. My current knowledge is all thanks in a large part to the imparting of forced beliefs at parochial schools to save my soul. Perhaps I was lucky, some of my school friends haven’t done so well. I don’t think a lawsuit is possible since my parents and yours gave permission to indoctrinate us with BS and punish us as appropriate.
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"I guess it's time to ask if you live under high voltage power transmission lines which have been shown to cause stimulation of the fantasy centers of the brain due to electromagnetic waves?" - Me
"God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, - it says so right here on the label. If you have a mind capable of believing all three of these divine attributes simultaneously, I have a wonderful bargain for you. No checks please. Cash and in small bills." - Robert A Heinlein.
I always studied on my own as I had a curious mind, so the creationism BS didn't hamper me in science. I actually went on in enginering and R & D. I imagine though if you didn't learn any science but the lies taught in Christian schools it could cause problems in the real world.
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"I guess it's time to ask if you live under high voltage power transmission lines which have been shown to cause stimulation of the fantasy centers of the brain due to electromagnetic waves?" - Me
"God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, - it says so right here on the label. If you have a mind capable of believing all three of these divine attributes simultaneously, I have a wonderful bargain for you. No checks please. Cash and in small bills." - Robert A Heinlein.
I sometimes wonder if having a good science education would have given me more options. I just don't know.
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A lot of crap went on at my school. After teaching for a year, one of the teachers ended up in a mental hospital (or so the rumors went). Before that, she terrorized a classroom of kids. Once I walked into the bathroom and found a girl lying on the floor, nursing some serious teacher-inflicted bruises on her backside.
I could share more stories, but I don't want to relive it just now. I'm still pissed at how I was terrorized emotionally at that place. It was like Jesus Camp with physical abuse for eleven years.
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Isn't "abuse" defined by law? A private Christian school shouldn't be able to find a loophole in the law. Of course, there is the statute of limitations, which kind of sucks. By the time some kids realize it was illegal for them to be treated in certain ways, it's too late to press charges.
I remember cases where marks were left. One teacher (fourth grade, I think) tied up two boys and dared them to jump out the second-storey window. One of the students is in prison for hiring someone to commit murder. (His brother is a preacher [con man].) The other student also had run-ins with the law. The problem with private schools = zero accountability. It was a very small school (14 in my graduating class), yet a lot of the students ended up with severe psychological trauma. Hell, one of the teachers (also a preacher) was having sex with boys. One of the boys committed suicide.
I believe the psychological trauma of being indoctrinated with a belief in an evil god who is going to throw people in hell is just as bad as the physical and sexual abuse. Too bad it's not illegal. The 1st amendment right to freedom of religion shouldn't include child abuse.
Sweet Zombie Jesus on a stick, I'm tired. I'm probably typing in circles.
Good night.
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I agree 100% Iruka. As some may know if you read my essay on child indoctrination, I spent my entire schooling career in christian schools. The way children are brainwashed and and constantly have to reaffirm their belief is nothing short of abuse. Free thinking and doubt is ALWAYS suppressed. If 'goddunit' isn't good enough for you, then you need to ask jesus to help you.
I too feel my science education is lacking. I was taught creationism,and evolution was ridiculed in depth, with basic arguments I could refute today. At the time though, it seemed the pinnacle of science to me. My High School physics and chemistry seemed about par,although they taught that every great scientist was a devout christian, and gave the impression no secular person had ever contributed greatly to the sciences or arts. Whenever a important secular person had to be taught,they always made sure to teach that their life and accomplishments were empty and meaningless without god,and they died sad and lonely. Everything was designed to instill fear and obedience to god.
From having 5 year old recite the sinners prayer, to having middle schoolers listen to aledged accounts of hell,you're never given a break from christianity. The particular type of school I went to,known as ACE,is perverse. Every subject is dripping with christian propaganda. You have to constantly memorize scriptures as part as the curiculum. It is actaully possible to fail a maths, or science,or any test because you didn't know the right scripture verse. You have to pray before starting a test. This wasn't strictly enforced,but more often than not teachers would note if you didn't.
As has been mentioned,one good thing is that I have an above average knowledge of scripture and the christian mind. I completed 4 years of bible study, in which time I read virtually the entire bible. I had memorized 7 bible books in entirety and hundreds of individual verses.
In my experience,christian schools generally fail at their objective. They want to raise up a army for god to fight the forces of evil,in the spiritual and physical world.(Their para-military talk,not mine) Their ways can too be intense for most children though.Many have no interest in god,and are only their because normal schools wouldn't take them. Those who graduate from christian schools will either completly derail and join another religion or leave them altogether, like myself,or simply slip into a 'backslidden' lifestyle.The others will remain fundamentalist christians. I know these people.I almost was one. The ones that will never question a thing of what they were taught. The ones who believe god speaks to them. Now that I am no longer one of them,I can see how crazy they look.And I firmly believe they are dangerous.
I agree with Iruka's last post. Many who leave christians schools get very involved with alcohol,drugs,and sex. I'm not sure they would go so wild if they had been subjected to normal education and peers.
As you may sense,I am rather bitter towards my christian education and upbringing,though brainwashing would be a better word. About a 2 years before I finished,my teacher started teaching us about his new hobby,apologetics. When I was chrsitian I thought his arguments were brilliant. Now I know they were run of the mill stuff that I could easily refute. I remember he seemed to be starting a personal crusade on atheists,teaching us whenever possible how to 'combat' them. I would love to have a debate against him,perhaps in front of the youth group,to show those young minds he doesn't have all the answers. However,the wounds are still far too fresh in my mind.
I could write all day about christian education experiences,but the point should suffice. It is extremely likely the child will eventually drift from or leave the religion,at which point they will be embittered to their parents and school. I would love to see religious schools sued and banned. I DO NOT care if christians call this discrimination or persecution. I do not think a single child asks to go to a christian school. Their parents put them their before they are old enough to make decisions.As far as I'm concerned,that's abuse.
(I'm linking to my essay again for anyone who wants to read it http://www.rationalresponders.com/forum/the_rational_response_squad_radio_show/freethinking_anonymous/12697
Psalm 14:1 "the fool hath said in his heart there is a God"-From a 1763 misprinted edition of the bible
Argument from Sadism: Theist presents argument in a wall of text with no punctuation and wrong spelling. Atheist cannot read and is forced to concede.
Lets not fall into the same utopian attitude theists have. Human nature, like it or not, says that people will believe things you don't find credible. On top of that all parents have the inherent desire to control the future of their children.
However we fight absurd claims and we should. We cannot use government as a weapon against religion. Saudi Arabia does that against Shiites and non-Muslims. Iran uses government as a weapon against non-Sunnis and non-Muslims. The USSR used government as a weapon against all dissent.
Our best weapon is not government, but our voices and free speech. You can't force theism out of existence, but you can chip away at it by SHOWING, not demanding, that there is a better way to life than superstition.
It is better to make a case through voluntary appeal, than it is to beat a thought out of somebody. Forced apologies are hollow. But when someone gives an apology freely because they realize their mistake, then it has meaning and a REAL change has been made.
I am all for fighting absurd claims. I am not for beating thoughts out of people's heads. The fight is not in courts, the fight is in the free market of ideas. Our case that superstition is not needed to be good is solid. I don't think we need to use government as an iron fist. How can atheists make a case if the people we appeal to are frightened by us?
"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers."Obama
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Be careful what you wish for. WE are in the minority. What if someone wants to sue RRS for what they believe is damaging their child's Christian brain? I am not saying they are right. I am saying that we should not give them that power.
"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers."Obama
Check out my poetry here on Rational Responders Like my poetry thread on Facebook under Brian James Rational Poet, @Brianrrs37 on Twitter and my blog at www.brianjamesrationalpoet.blog
I would think the best chance would be getting them for the physical abuse.
I don't know what the laws are like there,but after corporal punishment was banned in SA,the privte christian schools got forms signed by parents saying their chidlren could still be paddled if the parent was present.
Psalm 14:1 "the fool hath said in his heart there is a God"-From a 1763 misprinted edition of the bible
Argument from Sadism: Theist presents argument in a wall of text with no punctuation and wrong spelling. Atheist cannot read and is forced to concede.
Parents were never present for "paddling" and other physical abuse at my school. And Brian, I realize it's difficult to define emotional abuse, but physical abuse and sexual abuse are fairly well-defined by law. And when there is no oversight, these forms of abuse proliferate. It wouldn't be hard to simply apply current law...if only these systems weren't so closed.
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