Religious Oppression
There are thousands of examples of religious oppression throughout human kinds colorful past. A few examples are so outlandish that it is easy for anyone to recognize the oppression. Take for instance the Christians being fed to the lions in the Roman coliseums or the Spanish Inquisition or the Salem witch trials. Modern day examples of oppression are at times harder to recognize. The subtle nature of some issues tends to cause huge debates on whether there is oppression or not. It is easier to see this religious prejudice when looking through the eyes of the one being oppressed. If you were looking through the eyes of the religious majority, however, you would not necessarily see the oppression but might only think you are doing the work required by your particular brand of religion.
Modern day example of oppression in public schools might be a 3rd grade school teacher in Mobile, Alabama leading the students in prayer to “our savior and lord Jesus Christ”. Another modern day example might be a 2nd grade school teacher in Dearborn, Michigan leading the students in prayer to “Allah Akbar”. One last example might be a classroom in Salt Lake City where the prophet Joseph Smith is the icon that is first and foremost on the minds of teachers in Utah. In these examples it is highly likely that some of the kids in the class are not religiously associated with the majority. The sad truth is that these examples are real and are happening today in American classrooms even though prayer in public school is no longer allowed.
A parent might have an easy time explaining to their kids that the guy standing on the corner proselytizing is not playing with a full deck of cards. It would be much more difficult to explain to your child that the school teacher, they are infatuated with, is wrong in their beliefs about religion. And what makes it even more difficult is when their public school system is promoting religion. And let us not stop there but add in the tremendous affects of peer pressure from the religious kids who hold the majority at that particular school. We all know the devastating effects of peer pressure – combine that with teacher infatuation, school districts intertwined with churches, city council meetings opening with prayer, proclamations from elected officials for National Day of Prayer, ad infinitum…...
A parent doesn’t stand a chance at battling this type of influence. The more creditability and power one holds, the more influence they wield over shaping the minds of children and adolescents.
How do you explain to your child that the most powerful person in the world, whose beliefs are counter to your own, is promoting their religious views from lofty and powerful positions? The government promoting religion is NOT “freedom of religion” but is without a doubt “religious oppression” of all who do not hold the same beliefs.
Religious oppression is wrong no matter how subtle it is and no matter what religion is involved. Please help “keep government out of religion” and “keep religion out of government”.
