No Compulsory Religious Education

This letter is in response to the article "Teach children the facts about all of the world’s religions" by Phil Doubet Sunday June. 1st 2008.Pg. A –5 in the OP ED section of the Peoria Journal Star.

Mr. Doubet’s article was based partially on a potpourri of theistic criticisms currently levied by leading atheists such as Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Professor Richard Dawkins. Specifically, Mr. Dawkins in his book "The God Delusion" strongly suggests that rearing children religiously is a form of child abuse. This dogmatism however is unsupported by evidence, and is meant to be more sensational and emotional than factual.

This is why it is quite disturbing to see that Mr. Doubet perpetuates these fallacious and disingenuous arguments. Mr. Doubet paints his portrait of deception on a flawed canvass by referring to the imputation of religious values as "indoctrination" and further uses the broad brush of stereotypical criticism to suggest that religious parents do not teach their children to think critically about religion. This is coupled with the statements that religious parents have "violated the basic rights" of children and stripped them of their "innocence" by teaching them religion at all. As a final insult the suggestion is made that religious people do not live "useful" lives because of our inability to think critically and develop our minds.

In between his religious insults Mr. Doubet offers a solution posed by Daniel Dennett, a cognitive psychologist, who feels that education on all religions should be a mandatory and compulsory part of all public and private school educational curriculums. As set forth in the article, broad religious information and education superficially appear as if it may have some merit. However, the true purpose of this entire suggestion is revealed in the following statement, " By teaching our children the facts of religion, and only the facts, we can defend against the future excess of it." In essence the true aim is to cause one to question all religious beliefs and therefore minimize the impact and proliferation of religion in general.

Surprisingly it was atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair who in 1963 won a landmark decision (Murray v. Curlett) that effectively banned religion from public schools. It is quite a conflict that the new atheist strategy is to reverse current law by reverting back to a form of pre 1963 public school agenda. In essence Mr. Doubet suggests that educators use a method of religious eclecticism to level the playing field by teaching only "the facts" of all religions. This is a daunting, if not impossible, task for any number of reasons.

At What Age Does This Religious Education Begin?

Quite interestingly, the very complaint that is leveled against religious parents becomes this idea’s first impassable obstacle. Under Mr. Doubet’s construct the Public School system would possibly be engaged in "violating the rights" of children and "stripping them of their "innocence" by instituting Compulsory Religious Education at too early of an age.

Who Screens Information?
A Director of Compulsory Religious Studies would have to be added to the Public School payroll in order to screen material insuring suitability for classroom education. Will this person be a minister or secular educator? Either way religious studies administration at a public school level under current law is highly problematic.

Who Compiles and Packages Information On All Religions For The Public Schools?
Most individuals involved in the study of religion on a full time basis often spend years if not lifetimes doing so. Compulsory education as Mr. Doubet and Mr. Dennett suggests not only is problematic but a time consuming issue that would demand more from both students and teachers than what a pre-graduate level education is designed to accomplish.

Who Determines The "Facts" Of A Religion?
Mr. Doubet suggests that only "the facts" of all religions be taught. This is a highly subjective pursuit, as many religions (if not all) believe their entire system to be factual. For example, within Christian religion, it is "fact" that Jesus not only lived, but was God and that he died for the sins of humanity and was resurrected the third day as proof of his power and authority over sin, death and life. These are facts of the Christian religion. The facts are further supported by verification of eyewitness testimony, and from other biblical and non-biblical sources and events. Can we expect that Mr. Doubet under his construct, is willing to include within his brand of "fact-based" religious education, these material "facts" of the Christian faith?

Another example; in the Jewish faith, Moses and Abraham are not mythic characters and the Kingdom of Israel under David’s reign is not a fairy tale. Is Mr. Doubet willing to concede these "facts" in his suggested educational curriculum?

I believe that the answer to both these questions is a resounding NO. In Mr. Doubet’s view, "facts" are limited by the belief of antisupernaturalism which reduces spiritual, codes and the acts of God within all religions exclusively to naturalistic and human efforts. This approach to religious material in general is very disingenuous and is a deliberate attempt to confuse and moderate the student, not educate them. In essence, a system implemented as he suggests, under current law, would be the ultimate in neglect, abuse and psychomanipulation of impressionable school-aged children.

Solution
Both religious and non-religious families should continue to build a sound foundation of moral values for their children. Religious families should continue to build a solid and strong foundation based on religious values and scriptures that have met and satisfied spiritual yearnings over the years.

It is beyond the current duty of the public school system to introduce morality and religion to our children in any form. We do not want state sponsored, socialist, religious agenda or dogmatism taught to our children under the guise of educational psychology. Our children are a captive audience, and our schools do good to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic while maintaining the necessary standards of education and the broad competitiveness that is essential in the modern workplace environment.

The loving, private, moral, and religious based education and training of our children does not damage or abuse them. Religious education should be reserved for parents, families, and community based institutions such as churches, synagogues and mosques which are yet among the most effective methods of social education and character building within the context of American society. Thank you.

Pastor Harvey Burnett
New Bethel COGIC
Bethel Epiphany COGIC
Peoria Assn. Of Pastors For Community & Spiritual Renewal

Peoria Pastors Association Sets The Record Straight

In a Jan 30th 2008 article in the Peoria Journal Star, the Peoria Dream Center unveiled an idea to adress crime and violence within the City of Peoria by creating 10 church zones with the aim of serving the areas most effected by crime and violence.

Some of the responses to that article sought to impune the Black Church of Peoria for it's perceived, previous non-actions against crime and violence. This prompted the following response from Pastor Harvey Burnett the Executive Director of the Peoria Association Of Pastors For Community & Spiritual Renewal:

"The Black Church is where it has always been...in the middle of the conflict, suffering the brunt of poor education, economic and social inequity and desparity, and grappling with those who choose to self-medicate instead of address the establishment that has helped proliferate their condition.

The Black Church in Peoria arose in 2007 with an all inclusive community march against crime and violence on June 30th, and the Peoria Gun Exchange which lasted for 8 weeks out of the year and ignighted much conversation and ACTION against crime and violence to head off a RECORD year of murders within our city.

The Black Church initiated a ongoing dialogue between police and city officials as recently as 2008 to address and tackle the issues of crime and violence and strategize to include ALL churches (Black & White) in the process.

The Black Church in May of 2007 sought and ASKED for the inclusion of ALL CHURCHES in Liberate Our Youth Month. The Black Churches did then as they do for 2008, calling on all churches even those that are in areas usually non effected by the crime and violence, to JOIN our efforts in Liberate Our Youth Month May 2008 and activly involve themselves in helping provide solutions and support outreach addressing the problems we all see and are aware of.

The Black Church is on record to having stood at Peoria City Council to address the issues of liquor expansion and liquor proliferation, which facilitates crime and violence and has a detremental effect on families all over Peoria but especially on Peoria's minority and poor individuals.

The Black Church stood AGAINST liquor expansion and for the betterment of the entire community even asking for a reversal of liquor sales times to 2:00 AM instead of the current 4:00 AM. The Black Church LED this effort AGAINST the eventual direction of both the City Council, certain business owners and the liquor commission itself.

The Black Church responded to issues prevelant in our neighboorhoods at OUR OWN expense through many fine pastors and ministers at a grass roots level regardless of who participated and who didn't participate.

As you can see the Black Church's record is on file at both Peoria City Hall, The Peoria Liquor Commission, City Records and the neighborhoods in which we serve. Our actions are further well documented by the Peoria Journal Star and other fine news organizations throughout Central Illinois.

The question is, where have YOU been, and what have you contributed to OUR ongoing effort both by way of time, energy, prayers or finance?

As a church we do not suffer or accept an indictment of nonaction from any of those who have not answered the call to service or participated in assisting, in any way, those of us who have brought forth well thought out solutions and strategies to our City's problems of crime and violence. The Black Churches efforts is to help create a better Peoria for ALL men, women and families of all races and ethnicities in Peoria and to do our part in upholding and shaping the betterment of Peoria.

As you may see, the Black Church IS engaged in efforts that have ALREADY been set forth. Although the Dream Centers Actions are welcome and encouraged the reader need not think that our City is left without a witness and standard against crime and violence if any one individual or organization does not answer the call to service.

We move forward as the records reflect that we have always done, under the direction of God through prayer and against the tide of political corectness and racial segregation.

Thank you,

Pastor Harvey Burnett

Exec. Director

Peoria Assn. Of Pastors For Community & Spiritual Renewal"

The original Journal Star story can be viewed here: http://www.pjstar.com/stories/013008/REG_BFL0DE1S.033.php

Peoria Journal Star Recognizes Peoria Gun Exchange As 2007 Top Story

On Sunday Dec. 30th 2007 the Peoria Journal Star recognized the Peoria Assn. Of Pastors for Community & Spiritual renewal’s 2007 Gun Exchange as the 7th out of the areas top 10 news events of the year.

The gun exchange event was also recognized in conjunction with the Peoria Mayor’s request for the community to engage themselves in prayer in order to spiritually combat the antagonists that facilitate violent crime and other behaviors harmful to our community.

We give our special thanks to the Peoria Journal Star for helping to spread the word about the Gun Exchanges and for accurately conveying the Peoria Assn. of Pastor’s role in helping to serve our community. We feel that the best is yet to come.