Where is it then? Everything I read in your own link says he was banned from using the Declaration because it contains the word God. What else is there to this story that you inferred and please share this insight with the rest of us with a link. And whether or not is major headlines is irrelevant.

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JMS gets another English lesson:

Quote:

there is no "mostly unique;" thats like saying "sometimes always," its an oxymoron - its either one or the other.

The result:

Quote:

By the mid-19th century unique had developed a wider meaning, “not typical, unusual,” and it is in this wider sense that it is compared. The comparison of so-called absolutes in senses that are not absolute is standard in all varieties of speech and writing.

...but I'm betting you left out some key ideas in your description. If you can't provide a cite, don't expect many of us to put much credence in your description. Or Hannity's (especially Hannity's).

...the story refers to him handing out a lot more than just the DoI; if his purpose is to teach religion, that's inappropriate. However, I see nothing wrong with teaching history. But as GlowDog states, it sounds like there's more to the story. And your description isn't exactly accurate.

Very mature. And cogent.

Yes, he handed out other historical documents.

The point you are missing is the irreconcilable difference that exists between truth and post modern secularists desire to erase any and all references to God from the public. You simply can not accurately discuss the founding of the US, the precepts on which it was founded, and the precepts of freedom on which it was founded, void of God. It can't be done. That is, if you stay true to the thoughts of the founders and the documents on which these thoughts are expressed (the documents used by this particular teacher). But obviously, that hasn't prevented post modernists from trying.

According to our founders, our freedom comes not from government, but from God. That is a historical fact, whether you like it or not. Not teaching that fact as a part of a school curriculum is false. But since truth doesn't exist in post modern thinking, I suppose that explains in some measure why it wouldn't matter.

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"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival."
Winston Churchill

without some recognition that when the chief architect of these founding documents (Thomas Jefferson) discussed a higher power, one he seldom entitled God, he wasn't talking about Yahweh, he was talking about a deistic view of a divine creator.

After all, Yahweh wasn't known for his strong stance on human rights.

But, you're right, I'm all for a discussion of the founding fathers' take on the divine, since that's a mighty interesting discussion that doesn't necessarily serve the interests of those Christians who might attempt to co-opt and own our history.



Catz

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Job 13:5 (New International Version)
If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

and am very much aware that Jefferson was a deist (although a member of a Christian church--I believe Anglican). I am not suggesting the founders were necessarily referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the fact is, it matters not a twit as to which "God" the founders may have been referring. What matters only to post modernists is the very mention of the word God.

But in all honesty, it is very difficult for me to imagine that Jefferson didn't have Yahweh in mind when he made reference to God. Jefferson seems to have believed in Yahweh, but only to the extent of deist thought. Jefferson was very much a product of the Enlightenment, and Jefferson dismissed anything that transcends the rational process.

How you been? When are you coming to H-town? How's the family?

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"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival."
Winston Churchill

"After all, Yahweh wasn't known for his strong stance on human rights."

I will disagree with you there, however. The entire premise of the Christian faith can be likened to being purchased out of slavery into freedom. God has a very long record of freeing people from bondage and slavery, from my reading of Scripture.

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"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival."
Winston Churchill

teaching the Declaration with the mention of founders religious beliefs= good

teaching personal religious beliefs by using the Declaration (like this teacher did) = bad

documents to promote his own religious beliefs...

I think that Jefferson was quite precise in his references, hence he used the term "creator" more often than any other appellate in reference to the divine.

The tribal deity yahweh is not congruent with deist thought.

Thus, he believed in intelligent design, but not in tribal deities like Yahweh. After all, Jefferson is the one who said this of the Bible, "Finding wisdom in the bible is like searching for diamonds in a dunghill."

I've been good, we had a great holiday. I came down with a bad case of something on Sunday though and was sick on Mon/Tues. I'm still not 100%, but couldn't stand staying home from work in bed anymore.

My bro is living with us, as you may remember. We are having some difficulties persuading him that he needs to get a job and move out. Perhaps we've made it too easy for him to stay with us.

But his projected move-out date, will he or nil he, is Jan 9.

Catz
[/quote]

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Job 13:5 (New International Version)
If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.