Here is something to think about:
when I interview people for positions, or contemplate working with people, I NEVER ask them about their beliefs. I don't want to know. I only want to know if they can do their job. Why would OTHER people want to know what I think about matters not related to my job? Why? so they could discriminate against me for the way I think. I can tell you would do this Greg. You would probably hire only teachers who believe the way you do. You would probably have Christian prayer in public school (and those little Muslim children can just bow their heads and pray to their God silently, and those little Atheists and Agnostics- why it is only GOOD for them to hear a good prayer).
What you want, what people like you want, is to discriminate against everything that doesn't fit your small world view. What I want, is to let people run their own courses without hurting others in the process. You want me to make sure your child who is a Jehova's witness doesn't participate in parties? You bet- I'll do that. You want me to make sure your Buddhist child isn't harassed by the nice little Christian children- I'll do that too. You want me to make sure I am sensitive to the child who brings me a picture of a cross twined with flowers she has drawn? You bet- I will be. A gift of a child, is a gift of a child- and I am accepting. I do not PERSONALLY accept any religion- and I revile the evil that religious groups can perpetrate. But unlike you, I would not discriminate against those who think differently than I do. In fact, I probably bend over backwards to make sure I do not discriminate. My ideas are my own, they are compatible with my reason, but because I am a relativist they affect ME and ME alone. This frees me of the need, nay, the compulsion that you probably feel, to foist these ideas on others. You project onto me the evil you would do were you in my place. I am sure you cannot separate your intemperate religion from your conduct. I am not you. I can separate my personal ideas, from my work when it is appropriate. |
