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Gwinnett: Islam Controversy
(WSB Radio) -- A Gwinnett County church is urging its members who have seventh graders at Trickum Middle School not to let them participate in Friday's special presentation on the religion of Islam.
Richard King, youth minister at Mountain Park First Baptist, sent out an email warning of the event, asking for prayers that it not go forward, and urging parents to let their children opt out if it does.
"In middle school, those are formative years and they take a lot of things to heart that they hear and they're processing a lot of information," he tells WSB's Sandra Parrish.
King says while students are also taught about Christianity and Judaism as part of the study of Middle Eastern religions, no speakers are brought in for those as they are for the "Islam 101" presentation.
"My concern is that it was not a balanced approach and I think that someone from the Christian community and the Jewish community should have the opportunity to speak," he says.
Sloan Roach, a spokesperson for the Gwinnett County school system, says most students are already familiar with the other two religions. The presentation, which she says has been going on for seven years, includes speakers on the history of Islam, its beliefs, culture, and practices.
Roach says parents who do not want their children to participate can choose for them not to participate.
What others are saying
- IdeasAs a student teacher in Gwinnett and a student in general we have discussed this issue in class. One suggestion, why not make it balanced, if that is after all the main issue, and invite speakers for the other 2 religions? Also, remember there are extremes in all religions, not all Islamics are awful people and not all Christians are wonderful either. Keep that in mind and remember that it is a standard that has to be addressed in school.
- We must protect our childrenI don't have children in this particular school, but I support all who are opposed to a Muslim speaker coming into your school to preach a sanitized version(lies)about how Islam is a religion of peace. Parents don't be fooled. Yet another way the Islamists are trying to get the West to buy into the lies..through our children.
If you ask most people about Islam, they know nothing. I encourage everyone to do some research about what Islam teaches. You will find a religion steeped in 7th century Arabian society that condones killing of innocents (Christians and Jews), condones a husband hitting his wife if she is not obedient, lying, men are able to marry up to 4 wives, and honor killings. It doesn't end there, but you get the point. Islam is NOT a religion of peace!!Is this what we want our children to learn? - Furthering the causeI fully plan to take this info and spread it to whoever needs to hear it. Consider this a wake-up call to Mrs. Sands. I will be notifying the Supreme Court if I have to. As a Christian, I am asking, NO DEMANDING, for equal representation. This is not about exclusion, it's about inclusion!!!!!!
- Gwinnett Islam ControversyTo continue my earlier post...
I am a retired Social Studies teacher; I taught the GCPS curriculum to ESOL students, many of whom were Muslim. My students who were in chorus were not permitted by their parents to participate in a choral presentation which had to be held in a church because our school didn't have an auditorium. The fact that no religious programming was involved didn't matter. The students were forbidden to enter a Christian church even for a totally secular school program. They were given an alternate assignment.
Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, or atheists who oppose an Islam 101 presentation in the school do so not because they are narrow-minded and bigoted but because the curriculum does not justify the one-sided preferential treatment. Can you imagine Muslim students attending a Christian 101 or Judaism 101 program? - Show MeTo anyone; show me one place in the Bible that you are require to kill any member of your family for not following the Old Testment Jewish law or New Testment Christianity, but for most pagan religions this is common. practice.
- Muslim TerroristsFort Hood and Hasan in the News....how timely!
- Worse than no religionI once worried that no religion could enter into public education. Now, something much worse has occurred -- only ONE religion is afforded passage into our children's minds guided by an outside "speaker". Mr. Edwardy and his colleagues are more than capable of presenting a secular and academic version of Islam -- at least as capable as they are to teach about Christianity and Judaism. Affording preferential focus and treatment to a single religion, REGARDLESS which religion it is, is WRONG (and, likely, violative of the opinions of the United States Supreme Court).
- Islamic SpeakerTo those of you who hasten to name-calling and the criticism of Christianity, understand that very many parents oppose this "instruction" because of the gross and inexcusable inbalance it represents. While the United States Supreme Court has ruled that "School sponsorship of a religious message is impermissible" (Santa Fe v. Doe, 2000). At least there should be an equal opportunity for independent speakers representative of Christianity and Judaism, or else the entire curriculum should be taught by certified teachers from within our school system. If our teachers can independently develop competency to instruct our children in every subject from phyics to physical education, then they should be able to instruct these simple Social Studies courses without the aid of Islamic "speakers."
- IslamWhen my husband and I were invited into a Muslim home for a traditional Muslim dinner, the host told my husband that if his god told him to, he would kill him. Just like I suppose the soldier was told by his god yesterday too! My God doesn't speak to me like that.
- Islam 101My child would be staying at home. Another indoctrination attempt and they don't even bother to try to cover it up. WAKE UP AMERICA FIGHT BACK RESIST The only thing the kids need to know is that the practitioners of Islam wake up every day with the long term goal of killing everyone who does not believe as they do. They are at war with us. We need to understand this and govern ourselves accordingly. The self destruction of American culture contines. This is another slap in the face to our forefathers and those who have fought, bled and died to give us an America founded on Judeo Christian beliefs.
- islamThe Ft. Hood shooter, was a recent convert
to islam. Worldwide for centuries, the
peaceful religion of islam... - I grew up a Catholic, but I was also taught to accept all other beliefs, and not disrespect them. I teach my students about Judaism, Christianity and Islam. They are 3 religions that were founded in the same region of the world, not a coincidence. 1 God to share.
- Georgia Curriculum and Islamic PresentationThe Georgia Dept. of Education defines the curriculum regarding the culture of the Middle East with this standard:
"SS7G8 The student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in Southwest
Asia (Middle East).
a. Explain the differences between an ethnic group and a religious group.
b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arabs, Persians, and Kurds.
c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in Southwest Asia (Middle East): Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
d. Explain the reason for the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
e. Evaluate how the literacy rate affects the standard of living."
Ms Roach and GCPS should note that the standard DOES NOT state that because "most students are already familiar with the other two religions," Islam should be given preferential emphasis or special speakers. That assumption is flawed, and the presentation is inappropriate unless the other 2 religions are given equal time or the presentation is done as a forum with all 3 religions. - My son is a seventh grade student at Trickum. I asked him if he wanted to hear the presentation and if there were going to be equal presentations to explain, in greater detail, the two other religions they are studying. He said he didn't care if he heard it or not (he was honest), but he didn't think he would hear as much on the other two religions as he would on Islam. If cheerleaders can't make banners with religous verses and hang them on a football field, how can other religious materials be brought into the schools and forced upon the students? Valuable school time and resources are being used to teach religion, leave that to me, the parent, and teach the academics to the students please. My son is here arguing with me that this is about learning about different cultures and that religion plays a big part of culture. So to that, I ask, when will a Minister and Rabbi be given equal time to educate the children on the two other religions they are studying? Let's just make it all or nothing.
- I read Psalm 137:9 now read Hosea 13:16 and their are more like these, what you will find is what happens to those that turn from Good/God, the mother's and childern are killed by evil hearts of man.
- PrayersLikewise.
- I think if the children were to ask questions why they kill there children it would not be answered honestly. We already give in to islamic values as it is. They pray at work when ever they want and no one can do anything about it because you infringe on their rights. The schools can't even serve pork now because of them. Enough is enough.If they can do this can christians sing Christmas carols at school and go back to Christmas break instead of winter break.
- Gwinnett: Islam ControversyYou can't mention God in school but they will bring in a speaker to talk about Islam? Maybe parents need to start filling lawsuits to stop this just as so many people do when a kid prays in class or gives thanks when competing in a schools sport.
- bigotsPretty sad to see all the bigots posting here. This is exactly why people need to know MORE about Islam and not just some statements made by extremists. Do you guys always believe everything you are told? I guess people don't think critically anymore...
- AttitudeP.S. George: What religious sect is violent today?
- AttitudeGeorge, how dare you talk about "nitwit theology" and narrow mindedness. You, my dear, sound like a Nazi. Shalome. I'm Jewish.
- GeorgeI will pray for you.
- Back @ JasonIt is unfortunate that you worship a God that is so petty and narrow that the only way to please him is to follow to the letter an anthology of ancient books that contradict each other at numerous times. Keep in mind that the Bible, which holds the key to eternal salvation and ultimate wisdom was written by men who thought that the world was flat. I think I'll take my chances.
- If you Christians really knew your own religion then you wouldn't be so hasty to judge Islam as violent. Open up your dusty Bibles and read Psalm 137:9. Of course you will probably read that and then start talking about historical context when you have to defend your violent passages. Narrow minded Christians and their nitwit theology is largely the reason for the backlash against Christianity.
- Hey GeorgeNo matter what your belief is all of us will stand before God at judgement and there are words I would never want anyone to hear. "Depart from me for I never knew you." Jesus doesn't want religion to cloud our mind, he wants a relationship with you and if you believe in him he will give you everlasting life! What a great gift!
- Islam ControversyI pray that parents will keep their children from participating in this presentation. It is part of a long term plot of the Islamic terrorists to divide and destroy America.
- IslamI am sure the speaker will tell what a beautiful religion is. Not what a violent religion it is, and how Infidels
(non muslims) are to be killed or converted. Another item that will be left out is the treatment of women and how they are held down.
Fred - Christianity and IslamThe problem with Christianity is that Christians do not typically present their views objectively. I have listened to several Christian speakers and they have used their time to proselytize. Most adherents to other faiths only speak as to what they believe. Maybe this is just because of the evangelical nature of Christianity.
- IslamAs usual, there is always an uneven playing field when it comes to Islam compared to Christianity. It seems to always be okay for someone to speak out against Christianity but don't dare speak out against Islam. I think Christians and Jews should have an equal opportunity to speak or no one speaks.
- Peaceful Religion of IslamA-men Jason!
I hope Trickum Middle School teaches the kids that honor killings in the peachful religion of Islam is perfectly fine. see Islamic law below.
In other words, someone who kills his child incurs no legal penalty under Islamic law. In accord with this, in 2003 the Jordanian Parliament voted down on Islamic grounds a provision designed to stiffen penalties for honor killings. Al-Jazeera reported that "Islamists and conservatives said the laws violated religious traditions and would destroy families and values." - Islam speakerThe school needs to explain why they bring in a speaker for islam and none for the other religions. This seems to be a serious conflict of interest. Gwinnett County needs to answer this. The snake handlers need their shot too. Why is the school discriminating? And they obviously are!
- Jason's ludicrous commentThe Qu'ran explicitly states that there is to be no compulsion in religion. Try reading the Qu'ran in its historical context and maybe you'll come away with a different point of view. Of course, I doubt you will since you seem to have a strong belief in the Christian fairy tales.
- Questions...Students should be encouraged to ask questions of the Muslim speakers. For example, why do so many muslim fathers murder their children for becoming "too westernized". Or, Do you support the part of the Quran that states that anyone who does not believe in Islam should be converted to Islam or murdered?? Simple questions that we all deserve some answers to...
- Islamic SpeakerI wrote a formal complaint letter to Mrs Sands(principle)and Mrs Lorene Radloff who is over(District 4 Board of Eduction)on October 8, 2008 regarding the Islamic speaker. I asked for them to please respond in writing. Neither one would commit in writing on a resolution. Mrs. Sands would only schedule a verbal conference on the matter. Can we get something in writing now Mrs. Sands? Prayer has been answered on my end. Thank you Jesus for Mr. King
- Tell the kids the truth!I wonder if they will educate the class on why they(Muslims) kill or tax non-believers of Islam. Oh the peacefull religion of Islam. Jesus is the answer folks!
- Government Schools!The government is determined to stop the worship of God in this country. But they are yearning to promote other religions outside of what this great country was founded on. They (government) know exactly what they are doing by trying to convert a young mind into there believe. Our country and government has became a enemy to our founders of this country and are doing anything they can to stop Christianity.
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