Social conservatives have long pointed to the constitutional bar on government-sponsored prayer in public schools as the source of many of society’s ills. Just last week, when a gunman opened fire in a crowded movie theater, some trotted out the “If only we had prayer in schools” argument as a solution for preventing such tragedies.
Texas state Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, however, has her own solution. In a post on her Facebook page Monday, she seems to accept the fact that government-sponsored prayer is not allowed in public schools — though students are free to pray in public schools as long as it’s not officially sanctioned by administrators — and she offers an alternative:
I say have a reading out of Proverbs each day in our classrooms.
No, really, she said it. Here’s her full post:
Formal prayer has been taken out of our schools. How about this idea? Read from the book of Proverbs from the Bible. Proverbs is a book of wisdom. Proverbs is in the Holy Scriptures for Christians and Jews. As for other religions — the wisdom won’t do them any harm. This nation was built on Christian and Jewish values and the Bible was actually used in the classrooms in our early days. To toss the very foundation on which our country was built because of political correctness is wrong and we see the results in society today. I say have a reading out of Proverbs each day in our classrooms. What do you think?
Ever mindful that not everyone shares the same faith, Riddle assures all who don’t follow the Bible that “the wisdom” in Proverbs “won’t do them any harm.” See? She’s thought of everything. Except maybe the inevitable avalanche of lawsuits.
The wall of separation between church and state, according to Riddle: It’s about two inches tall and you can just step over it whenever you like.
*shaking head*
I would make a comment on her page but she banned me.
This is ridiculous considering not everyone is religious. So why push this agenda onto everyone? Shouldn’t this type of activity stay in church or in private? (In other words, don’t force everyone into this daily bible reading.)
This is what happens if you repeat the lie that there’s no such thing as a separation of church and state long enough. This. Right here.
Fine, so long as readings from the Koran, Tao and Torah are also included. Won’t harm the Christians.
I saw “Debbie Riddle Has An Idea” and immediately groaned.
Proverbs is a great read. Not in public school however.
This just pisses me off to no end.
She can’t even spell “religion” correctly.
5:3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
That does seem awfully good advice to be reading to second-graders, doesn’t it? Or from Chapter 11, one to give Riddle a case of the fan-tods:
“25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”
“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” (I Corinthians 14:34-35)
That’s a horrible comment.
I wish her and the rest of the Christian fascists in this country no harm. Just shut up and quit forcing your interpretation of the Bible on everyone else.
That’s all.
If you’re a true tfn supporter, I recommend you rethink your posts. I’m suspicious of your real objective.
I thought I was replying to Rex Craigo below.
Hit the wrong button.
(This comment removed by site staff)
Rex that’s a horrible comment. See my misplaced post above.
“Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (I Timothy 2:11-14)
“Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.” Thomas Jefferson, February 10, 1814
I have an idea too- I will send my child to school with the Satanic Bible and demand equal time. My child is not a Satanist and neither am I, but she does understand what a religious zealot is and would love to zing those kind of people.
Toss the foundation? Lady, sometimes foundations are found to be ineffective and weak, and must be replaced. Trying to build upon a rotted foundation is folly, and results in the entire structure being destroyed. Religion is that rotted “foundation”. How arrogant can you be?
The instant such a ‘rule’ comes into existence, I will stop using public schools.
No, I’m not ‘the other religion’, nor am I a anti-theist … but I do strongly believe that religion does NOT belong in our schools, politics or any other aspect of a secular society.
KEEP RELIGION IN THE CHURCHES WHERE IT BELONGS.
(Freedom of religion also means freedon FROM religion.
Ironic that people are using quotes not from proverbs.
If you are going to go down that rabbit hole why not….
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”
Pvbs 21:9
How about THIS idea … let’s read from the US CONSTITUTION every day … the BILL of RIGHTS, the DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE … or even better, teach our children the LAWS of this country. You can (and should) teach your personal belief system within your own home or place of worship – where your personal beliefs are not forced upon those who may not desire to worship or believe as you do.
No, Debbie.
No.
Well, maybe if everyone in schools prayed not to be shot by a madman at the movies (or at school, in a restaurant, at the post office, etc., etc., etc.,), and their prayers were granted, it would help avoid these mass murders.
Otherwise, I don’t see how the one can be related to the other.
As of 9:26 AM, Representative Riddle does seem to have grasped the problem: “You are correct – I thought that reading a verse from Proverbs would be a good thing for all the kids – I still think that would be the case – but as you say it would open a can of worms that would not be good.”
She probably will be inclined to try religious approaches again in the future, but she can understand the problem if it is explained politely and carefully.
As Mr. Spock would say “Fascinating”
She complains that many teenagers have lost direction because they have babies at 15. A simple reading of Psalms 137:9 would fix that: “Blessed is he who seizes your children and dashes them against the rocks”.
Alternatively, how about comprehensive sex education so that they’re responsible about it and use contraception when they have sex? But of course as a Good American Christian she would be vehemently against that.
The reason the bible was used in early american schools is that it was one of the few books written then. Boy what a mish- mash of learned thought.
Look at her FB page now. She’s been buried.
There’s a time and a place
Now she has deleted that page entirely. She also posted another update about how awful all the people are with their abusive language, etc., but I read most of the comments, and the majority of them weren’t abusive. So why didn’t she simply delete the abusive comments and leave the others? Because they made arguments that revealed her ignorance. Debbie Riddle, I’m betting you’re reading this. You want a civil debate about why it’s a bad (and illegal) idea to read Proverbs in public school? Simply respond here. We’ll keep it civil. But I’m guessing you don’t have the courage.
Let’s also debate the whole “America was founded on Christian principles” nonsense that right-wingers like to promote.
Hey, thats marvelous. Riddle lives near Cargill! Contagious virus regarding inability to read the US Constitution?
Even better, medina’s opponwent in Tuesdays Supreme Court primary is a full blown evangelical creationist activist. Dvid Barton, the wild man from West Texas and a completely uneducated stone thrower for Jesus, supports Medina’s opponent. Enough said. What makes these folks think they speak for most Christians or their denominations? They clearly do not. America has bred a whole genration of Rush limbaugh wanna be haters. Scary bunch of people. Whew.
Debbie Riddle got posted to FSTDT.
How’s this for a proverb for people seeking knowledge:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5