Some HS students think being Christian is "odd"

Thought you all might like to hear this.

My daughter, who started 9th grade this year at an IB school here in Denver is in a Computer Science class and was on a team project this last week. The subject of religion came up in casual conversation and one of the students said he was a Christian. All the other students in the group looked at him and said something link "Really, that's odd".

She (my daughter) has been trying to convince me for a long time that the attitude about religion is changing. In her mind, HS students are either not religious or just don't care. She said there are always a few odd ones that still believe, but not many.

I think the next 50 years with the cultural changes that appear to be happening will be an interesting and exciting time.

Cherry Creek, CO Schools Illegally Urging Churchgoing

Sara Burnett of the Rocky Mountain News reports on this local Colorado story...

The Freedom from Religion Foundation has filed a federal lawsuit against Cherry Creek Schools, saying a project aimed at helping students reach their full potential illegally encourages going to church.

The complaint, filed on behalf of two parents who have children in Cherry Creek schools, accuses the district of violating laws regarding the separation of church and state.

Tustin Amole, spokeswoman for the district, said today the district is confident the project is not illegal because it does not mandate participation in any religious activity.

Known as the 40 Developmental Assets, the project is promoted to families as a way to help students grow into "responsible, confident and healthy young people," according to a newsletter sent to parents.

The document says research has shown students with 30 or more of the assets are more likely to exhibit positive behavior.

Among the assets is having family support, doing at least one hour of homework each day and telling the truth, "even when it's not easy."

Recommendation number 19 — which prompted the lawsuit — is "religious community." It suggests young people spend one or more hours each week in activities at a religious institution.

The project, which was created by a private research group and is used nationally, has been in the Cherry Creek district for 18 years, Amole said.

The complaint asks the court to order the district to stop endorsing Developmental Asset 19. It does not specifically seek damages, but asks for any other relief the court deems proper.

Sigh of relief re: Left Behind series

Previously I posted an article about the Left Behind book series. The first few books actually frightened me.

Well, I'm now almost done with the sixth book and am much less scared. The series has turned more and more fictional, complete with monsters and magic and so has become much more just fun reading and less serious material with vast conversion potential.

What a sign of relief.

Boulder High School students protesting Pledge-of-Allegiance

Students at Boulder High School in Colorado are protesting the Pledge-of-Allegiance every Thursday.

Read the Daily Camera report.

Their new version goes: "I pledge allegiance to the flag and my constitutional rights with which it comes. And to the diversity, in which our nation stands, one nation, part of one planet, with liberty, freedom, choice and justice for all."

Nice going Boulder and keep it up!

Hitchen's anti-religion statement getting attention

The Washington Post published an article in the On Faith section asking for comments on Hitchen's anti-religion statement:

"Religion is violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism and tribalism and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children." Why is he right or wrong?

Go to On Faith and chime in...