Rewriting God and country

[cleanhippie]

As a culture war battleground, revision of the social studies curriculum standards in Texas isn't likely to stir the same level of rancor as abortion or gay marriage. Will students really care if the textbooks they skim to pass multiple-choice tests refer to "free enterprise" rather than "capitalism" or "constitutional republic" rather than "democratic republic"?

It's doubtful. But the revisions tentatively approved by the state education board's 10 Republican members do raise interesting questions. What role should politics play in what our schools are teaching (or not teaching) about American history? More importantly, how should teachers handle the growing tensions between religious conservatives and secular progressives?

Over the past year, religious conservatives clearly dominated the board's discussions and suggested revisions, which were given preliminary approval earlier this month. (A final vote is scheduled for May.) The most obvious example of that influence was the board's 10-5 party-line rejection of a standard requiring students to learn that the nation's Founders "protected religious freedom by barring government from promoting or disfavoring any particular religion over all others."

--snip--

Among other interesting revisions, the board:

-- Mandated the observance of 'Celebrate Freedom Week.'

-- Added Diwali (Hindu, Sikh and Jain) and Hajj (Muslim) to a list of teachable religious holidays.

-- Added instruction on the significance of the Social Gospel, Social Darwinism, and 20th Century missionaries,

-- Added a unit on "the conservative resurgence" of the 1980s and 1990s, including instruction about the Moral Majority, Newt Gingrich's Contract with America, the Heritage Foundation and the NRA.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2010/03/rewriting_correcting_god_and_country.html

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Why is it not enough to teach your children your beliefs at home or at church? Why do believers feel the need to constantly FORCE their beliefs onto the rest of us?

[Newest Reality]

1. Perhaps, when you are

uncertain about any rather convincing illusion, the more people you can convince, (or if that does not work, force) into believing it, the more you can continue to hedge your bet and keep yourself immune to your doubts.

A lot of human endeavors seem to work that way considering our essential dilemma of being creatures who are also symbolic.

Convincing illusions are par for the course as the alternative is ... well, fill in the blank for yourself.

[cleanhippie]

2. I think what you are describing is also called Cognitive Disonance.

And its like a disease. The only cure is constant doses of logic and reason, and even then there is no guarantee.

[FiveGoodMen]

3. "Why do believers feel the need to constantly FORCE their beliefs onto the rest of us?"

It's part of their getting-into-heaven deal.

Jesus (a character in a very old novel) told them:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" -- Matthew 28:19.

They don't want to piss off their ticket to paradise.

Also, the greedy motherfuckers preaching to them every Sunday have been stirring up this sentiment. They want to run the world.

[Adsos Letter]

4. I would think that in a US History class "Social Gospel, Social Darwinism,"

would be legitimate subjects in terms of their function as a response to historical events, and their impact on historical events. They do hold significant places in our history, whether for good or ill.

Making judgments about whether there is a god who approves/disapproves of those things would certainly be out of the question.