Mohler, referred to in the press as the "reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the U.S.," wants Southern Baptists to lead the exodus. "I believe that now is the time for responsible Southern Baptists to develop an exit strategy from the public schools," he has written.
If Mohler succeeds, critics like Baptist critic Bruce Prescott foresee "a system of religious and home schools paid for out of public monies that will indoctrinate children in theocratic ways."
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Village Voice Cites Blog
Thanks to Fred Clarkson for calling attention to a Village Voice article on the Religious Right that references my June 17, 2005 blog "Mohler Against Public Schools" and quotes from my December 21, 2004 blog "Dominionist Press Publishes Book by Southern Baptist." Here's an excerpt from James Ridgeway's June 28th article, "Under the Revival Tent."
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3 comments:
Bruce, conservatives want to build "a system of religious and home schools paid for out of public monies that will indoctrinate children in theocratic ways"? Hmmm . . . I'm not sure how public monies will be used since most who homeschool still pay taxes and those who would get vouchers might be disqualified unless they use the money for a private school. But as far as the "indoctrination of children in theocratic ways" is concerned I think that is liberal talk for "raising a child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." That sounds great to me! Let's raise our children in the way they should go and when they are old we won't have to worry that they will depart from it. Shouldn't you be an advocate of homeschooling? It means that families have the right to educate their own children and not the state. Why are you against the rights of families? Is it because you can't control what they are learning? Weren't you liberals for civil rights back in the day?
At issue is the difference between brainwashing and critical thinking. Education teaches students to look at both sides of an issue, and come to their own conclusions, brainwashing presents only the party line. To succeed in this world people need to be able to think for themselves not wire Colorado Springs for intructions. Once the public schools are a distant memory vouchers will be extended to home school families, and watch out for graft and corruption worse than wellfare queens.
That's laughable Greek Shadow. First of all, last time I was in high school teachers had agendas and wanted to indoctrinate us in their worldview. Secondly, you suggest that conservative Christians don't think for themselves. Not only is that arrogant, but it is ignorant. Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, and BB Warfield, all conservatives, were considered to be some of the most brilliant and creative thinkers of all times. That tradition remains today. If you think you are not being indoctrinated by the media and by the powers that be, think again. Third, Colorado Springs (James Dobson) is one of the most audible on the Christian map, but by no means a true leader in the thinking Christian world. See guys like JI Packer, CS Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, and Michael Horton. They are way more influential on thinking Christians that is Dobson. And finally, where do you get the idea that the public schools will be a distant memory? That is not even in the radar screen. Oh, and by the way, if you look at the facts, homeschooled kids generally score better on standardized tests and do better in college than do publically educated kids. No drag on society there.
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