KHS Teacher Controversy

[Guest Guest]

  He is a wonderfull teacher, and no, he does not preach in class!

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That's a stupid lie. He sure does preach in class. Where have you been? That is what this whole discussion is about---a public school teacher preaching in class. Just because most of the kids in the class don't mind his preaching--doesn't make it right or legal. The church and street-corner is for preaching, not the public school class room.

I'm proud of that young man. Good for him!

[Guest Charlie McDOugal]

It strikes me often that the erosion of the separation of church and state can is paramount for war. In essence, perhaps the most important thing keeping the United States from detiorating into a Middle Eastern state of relifious warfare, is that separation.

We keep religion out of public institiutions for many reasons including the preservation of the Constitution. Bringing religion into the public classroom results in conflict - in a weakening of focus on the mission of factually educating our future leaders - that is detrimental to the very core of our society.

In this case, a confused teachers dogma - a dogma which I'm sure he actually believes has been given to him by god as a mission to spread - has violated the standards of equity in our public classrooms. The teacher of course has a right to believe what he will, and certainly, in my opinion, may even have a responsibility to educate students about the historical implications of ALL religions. However, this teacher took it a step beyond what the freedom of speech clause would tolerate: he used his speech to isolate and target all students who did not believe as did he, rendering them unequal in a classroom that is constitutionally and statutorily mandated to remain equal. This type of speech is not protected.

(As to the video taping argument - a public school classroom is a public space, and the same as if you had a cam corder on a public street, you are allowed to tape and possess images of whatever you can see from the public space.)

Check out this link - and spend some time listening to a story on This American Life about how bringing religion into the classroom can go awry. It is an eerily similar case.

This American Life - Shouting Across the Divide

[Guest Guest]

If you are from Kearny then by now you have heard a story that has been blown WAY OUT OF PROPORTION.

A student of KHS, one Matthew LaClair has gone to the newspaper stating that a teacher has been forcing his religious views in is history class.

Now I am all for having freedom of speech, but I also believe every subject has a place and time for discussion; and religion in a history class is not that place.

HOWEVER!!!! This 16 year old CHILD, is nothing more than an attention seeking, immature person, who is also been known to "previously garnered attention for protesting Bush administration activities by refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance" (the lippar blog) I will include this website at the end of my rant!

...

PPS: if this offends anyone then tough, because I AM offended that a wonderful teacher is being persecuted by an unknowledgeable juvenile for merely stating what he believes in. Also that this kid is living in MY COUTNRY where my friends and family have fought to keep our freedom and he turns his back on our president and our flag.

lippard blog: http://lippard.blogspot.com/2006/11/public...-class-you.html

Audio:

http://www.nj.com/cgi-bin/prxy/xmedia/nph-.../classaudio.mp3

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Both the teacher and student in this incident have different beliefs and OPINIONS on matters. Everyone does. This teacher knows he cannot teach his religious views in school, and if he did, he is wrong for that. But you can't defend one guy for stating his beliefs and tear another guy apart for doing the exact same thing.

Last time I checked, people started coming to America to flee from persecution. This is still considered a "free" country, and just because you believe in God doesn't mean you're right. Just because the Bible tells you something happened doesn't mean it's right.

"the public school shouldn't teach a religion but the scriptures aren't religion they are a foundation of the worlds religion, the world main religion any way.

religion is a set way of doing things"

Are you stupid? World main religion? What in the world does that mean? Also religion is a set of BELIEFS, and practicing those beliefs.

I'm sure you'd like to take all the homosexuals and Muslims (and African Americans and Jews and so on, so forth) out back behind your out house and shoot them, but I'm sorry, you can't.

You cannot call Matthew LaClair stupid because he is a "child." He's already smarter than you. He "turned his back on the president and flag" for a GOOD reason. Hello, our president is guilty of committing war crimes! Closed-minded people like you make me sick.

Learn to spell.

[Guest Mark Sheldon]

This is not a question of academic freedom. This is not about a particular view of history that this teacher is putting forth, attempting to provide references that support the view that he is developing. Were he doing this, he could claim that he is teaching history, even if it is a view that is controversial or that some student does not like. This is about proselytizing plain and simple. He is making bald religious claim, and threatening anyone who does not accept his claims as true. This is not teaching history (so it is not an academic freedom issue), and, more important, it is a violation of church and state -- proving that, as a history teacher, he does not even have an understanding of our constitution. This student is one courageous kid to stand up in the midst of what appears to be a really ignorant community. Of course, this ignorance is not suprising if this teacher is representative of the sort of teachers that are serving this community. My appreciation to this student's family, as well, for supporting him.

[Guest Guest]

If you are from Kearny then by now you have heard a story that has been blown WAY OUT OF PROPORTION.

A student of KHS, one Matthew LaClair has gone to the newspaper stating that a teacher has been forcing his religious views in is history class.

Now I am all for having freedom of speech, but I also believe every subject has a place and time for discussion; and religion in a history class is not that place.

HOWEVER!!!! This 16 year old CHILD, is nothing more than an attention seeking, immature person, who is also been known to "previously garnered attention for protesting Bush administration activities by refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance" (the lippar blog) I will include this website at the end of my rant!

This kid thinks he is so self rightcious and claims he “was requesting an apology and correction of false and anti-scientific statements" (the lippard blog).

If you listen to the audio (which I will also supply the site to) you can clearly hear that Laclair PROVOKED the conversation, and you can hear that the teacher had responded QUITE APPROPRIATELY:

One example being:

Matthew: isn't the whole point of public schools is so that you can separate personal beliefs from teachers and administrators from non religious teachings during school, like school prayer and all that.

teacher: the purpose of public school is to provide free education for people that couldn't afford education. That’s the purpose of public school

Matthew: what would decide what religion should be taught in school, what would decide that?

teacher: no it's not about teaching, my point is it's not about teaching religion, these issues all come up in time, ( tape fades out) things get legislated and we talk in class

the public school shouldn't teach a religion but the scriptures aren't religion they are a foundation of the worlds religion, the world main religion any way.

religion is a set way of doing things

In the conversation above, taken my Matthew Laclair himself, i see no wrong doing by this teacher, i do however see constant and what seems to be "rehearsed" provoking of the topic.

I hope he is reading this right now, because I just have one question for him: What on earth was the need to go to the newspaper? Laclair stated that he had a meeting with the principle, teacher, and the head of the social studies department and at first they did not seem to believe him but then he pulled out the cd's.....which in itself violated this teachers right to privacy.

So again, my question, after laclair proved himself with the cd's why did he not wait for administrative action to take place? There was no need to go to the newspaper, and I think in doing so, this Matthew laclair just proves that he is a 16 year old high school student, and therefore has ALOT to learn before he goes off starting religious wars, and pledge of allegiance protest in the United States of America, a country that has always, and especially since 9/11 shown great pride in our ONE NATION UNDER GOD!!!!

ps: a little side note for everyone reading this who disagrees: stating your views on religion and "forcing your beliefs on someone" is two COMPLELTY DIFFERENT THINGS.

so I would like to say to everyone who agrees or disagrees, we are all here in this nation, in this community together, and my religion is Roman Catholic, so when I say GOD BLESS YOU, I’m not forcing my views, I’m using my faith to wish you health and happiness

GOD BLESS you all

PPS: if this offends anyone then tough, because I AM offended that a wonderful teacher is being persecuted by an unknowledgeable juvenile for merely stating what he believes in. Also that this kid is living in MY COUTNRY where my friends and family have fought to keep our freedom and he turns his back on our president and our flag.

lippard blog: http://lippard.blogspot.com/2006/11/public...-class-you.html

Audio:

http://www.nj.com/cgi-bin/prxy/xmedia/nph-.../classaudio.mp3

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, blame the children. Very good of you.

[Guest shallowmar]

Yes it the right, but it's wrong, I stand for evrything this country is about, you must be one of those Canada people, who instead of protecting and serving our country you decided it was "Your Right " not to be an American. The " Pledge "

as you call it, is an oath, and it is every Americans duty to stand when taking an oath of allegiance.       

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Good Christians don't take oaths.

Besides, the pledge was written by a socialist and only adopted nationally in 1945.

[Guest Paul]

if this kid indeed set this teacher up and if indeed this was an obvious set up, then the teacher should have immediately recognized his intentions and quickly disciplined him, even dismissed him from the classroom.  he should not have encouraged the line of questioning, regardless if the class was behind it or not.  his job was to teach history not discuss religion, and teachers have a small amount of time during the day to meet their educational objectives (this is their job requirement) so any time wasted should not be allowed.  this would be understood at least by an efficient and competent teacher. this teachers actions reflects poorly upon his ability to control his classroom which is a reflection upon his ability to teach. 

if this teacher felt the need to share personal views and wanted an opportunity to defend his position, he could have requested that this kid meet with him after class (with a principal present) and then discussed the issues at hand.

i know that slimy little baiters like this kid are frustrating but that's life; these type of people are not going away, and I hate to say it, but the kid is in the right; his teacher lost control and gave the power of the class to the kid and his line of questioning.  Teachers are repsonsible for their classrooms (that includes the students, the topics of conversation, the material taught, the discipline administered).  To use religious terminology, they are the shepherds of their class, and they hold the ultimate responsibility.

Thus, this teacher should be punished severely (not fired since consensus is he is a great teahcer but definitely reprimanded).  As for the kid, karma will catch him someday.

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I've heard the recordings many times. Matthew did not bring up any of the topics, not one. The teacher was not baited into anything. He preached his religion because that is what he intended to do.

[Guest Guest]

That kid is just asking for a beating....what a dumba$$.

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Spoken like a true inquisition-yearning christian.

I still haven't seen any of you bible thumpers admit how OUTRAGED you'd be if your kids were being preached to my a MUSLIM....

Then again... I guess burning the witch is easier than "giving unto Ceasar...."

[Guest Don Barry]

[...]and therefore has ALOT to learn before he goes off starting religious wars, and pledge of allegiance protest in the United States of America, a country that has always, and especially since 9/11 shown great pride in our ONE NATION UNDER GOD!!!!

[...]

PPS: if this offends anyone then tough, because I AM offended that a wonderful teacher is being persecuted by an unknowledgeable juvenile for merely stating what he believes in. Also that this kid is living in MY COUTNRY where my friends and family have fought to keep our freedom and he turns his back on our president and our flag.

Unlike many of the others here, I'm quite happy to sign my name -- I'm an astronomer at Cornell University and (in a private capacity) an activist for progressive and democratic political change. Those with a basic knowledge of history (as presumably this teacher has) would know that our founding fathers were by no means united in the nature of their religion -- or even its presence. The "endowed by their creator" clause in the Declaration of Independence wasn't even found in Jefferson's original draft, but was added by committee. Jefferson and Paine were only the most visible of those who rejected Christian dogma in favor of a much more general deism -- one so general that it did not conflict (much) with their own scientific bents.

As for your impugning this young man for exercising his right to refuse to perform saccharine obiesance to the flag, please remember the history behind the pledge -- originally it was a secular, non-nationalist pledge authored by a 19th century socialist utopian (the cousin, in fact, the author of _Looking Backward_, Edward Bellamy). The pledge was implemented, it seems, rather late in our republic's history, and its original version did not state *which* flag, but only *my* flag. The initial change was made in response to pacifistic agitation during and following the first world war. The "under god" was added to bait the "godless anti-communists" in 1954. The granddaughter of the pledge's author stated at that time that her ancestor would have resented the change -- he himself had stopped attending church because of the racial bigotry he found there.

You note the sacrifices of members of your friends and family in fighting. I note your pain. My father and other relatives have also fought in causes ordered by the leadership of this country. Not all of this fights have been for liberty and freedom -- increasingly, few of them seem to be. Right now, our current middle-eastern imbroglio is opposed by the majority of those in this country. Fewer voted, as a percent of the population, for our current leader than for any leader in recent memory. By that standard, the majority of the population have turned their back on our president, and, similarly, some aspects embodied in our flag. I have as well. If you have not, then that too is praiseworthy, as a plurality of opinions is one of the strengths of a democracy, would that we had one. But do not impugn others who have good-faith arguments for having reached contrary conclusions.

You remark that this young man lives in your country. He also lives in mine. In my country, we are a nation of people and a nation of law -- our laws mediate between the tensions sometimes interposed between equality and liberty. One bedrock law is that which keeps religion out of the educational activities of our public schools, except in classes which analyze religion from a sociologic, historical, and scientific perspective. This teacher clearly overstepped that bound, and the student was correct, moral, and praiseworthy for bringing this to a larger audience so that the problem could be solved.

Don Barry

Ithaca, New York

[Guest TR]

I agree, the student should be suspended. People should also email Superintendent Mooney & Pricipal Somma, and board members to show support. I also would like to know how the parents of the other kids in the classroom feel about their kids voices and comments being on the internet!

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And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.

[Guest Guest]

That kid is just asking for a beating....what a dumba$$.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Spoken like a true inquisition-yearning christian.

I still haven't seen any of you bible thumpers admit how OUTRAGED you'd be if your kids were being preached to my a MUSLIM....

Then again... I guess burning the witch is easier than "giving unto Ceasar...."

[Guest Scott Keiner]

Matthew is a hero and should be commended for his bravery in the face of ignorance. It is shocking that a 16 year-old child has to explain a fundamental tenet of the constitution (the separation of church and state) to educators and his community. His teachers words are illegal, ingorant, despicable and fundamentally un-American. Paszkiewicz should be fired immediately and banned from teaching in public schools. God may forgive him for his ignorance, but the educational system should not. The separation of church and state is a profoundly important constitutional ideal and should be protected passionately by anyone who takes pride in America. Since the inception of our country, religious fundamentalists have been trying to distort and corrupt the constitution as Paszkiewicz does, but they have always failed. They have failed because we live in a country governed by a constitution that overrides any religious authority and creates a clear line of separation between church and state. The bible is not law and does not govern this country, the constitution does. Any attempt to place the bible before the constituion is illegal and un-American. The constitution was created to govern every American, regardless of their religion. The constitution does not descriminate and tell people they are going to hell. It tells us that we are all equal and that no one can force their ideals on us, not even an ignorant teacher. I believe that hell is ignorance, and Mr. Paszkiewicz is already living there.

[Guest Guest]

What is being done with this "student" for embarrassing his teacher, his school and his town?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm willing to kick in some money towards a medal.

You wouldn't be embarrassed unless that teacher had done something wrong. If he had been recorded just teaching history like it's his job to do, then there would be nothing to be embarrassed about.

[Guest Alex from Plainsboro, NJ]

Just chiming in to show my support to Mr. LaClair and also to express a surprise at how some of Mr. Paszkiewicz's defenders make it a point that they do not care about the opinions of those outside their community. It's as if Kearny suddenly has no connection to the rest of the country, never mind the whole world. It's indeed up to the local community, the voting residents within the school district, to tackle and resolve this issue. But trying to ignore what other fellow Americans have to say will not help you get there any faster.

[Guest Alex]

Matthew LaClair did the right thing. As someone who went to a very conservative public high school, I had my fair share of experiences where dicussions on the topic of God seemed out of place and inappropriate. My histroy teacher tried to indoctrinate me into his beliefs. I wish I had audiotaped his proselytizing speeches.

Good job, Matthew.

And, for Christ's sake, fire the teacher.

[Guest concerned parent]

anyone who will accept as fact something which cannot be proven or even challenged is mentally deficient. Think about it.

It strikes me often that the erosion of the separation of church and state can is paramount for war.  In essence, perhaps the most important thing keeping the United States from detiorating into a Middle Eastern state of relifious warfare, is that separation. 

We keep religion out of public institiutions for many reasons including the preservation of the Constitution.  Bringing religion into the public classroom results in conflict - in a weakening of focus on the mission of factually educating our future leaders - that is detrimental to the very core of our society. 

In this case, a confused teachers dogma - a dogma which I'm sure he actually believes has been given to him by god as a mission to spread - has violated the standards of equity in our public classrooms.  The teacher of course has a right to believe what he will, and certainly, in my opinion, may even have a responsibility to educate students about the historical implications of ALL religions.  However, this teacher took it a step beyond what the freedom of speech clause would tolerate: he used his speech to isolate and target all students who did not believe as did he, rendering them unequal in a classroom that is constitutionally and statutorily mandated to remain equal.  This type of speech is not protected.

(As to the video taping argument - a public school classroom is a public space, and the same as if you had a cam corder on a public street, you are allowed to tape and possess images of whatever you can see from the public space.)

Check out this link - and spend some time listening to a story on This American Life about how bringing religion into the classroom can go awry.  It is an eerily similar case.

This American Life - Shouting Across the Divide

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest Glen Tarr]

If you are from Kearny then by now you have heard a story that has been blown WAY OUT OF PROPORTION.

Out of proportion? According to the Times article, Paszkiewicz used his position of authority as a teacher in a government-funded public classroom to proselytize for a particular religion. From the article: “the teacher told his sixth-period students at Kearny High School that evolution and the Big Bang were not scientific, that dinosaurs were aboard Noah’s ark, and that only Christians had a place in heaven …. ‘If you reject his gift of salvation, then you know where you belong,’ Mr. Paszkiewicz was recorded saying of Jesus.” That’s beyond proselytizing – it’s downright threatening. No government worker, especially a teacher, has any right to do that. If Paszkiewicz wants to prosyletize and threaten on his own time, as a private individual, then he has a First Amendment right to do so. But he does not get to do it in front of a captive audience of impressionable high-school students who are required by law to be there, and he does not get to do it in a manner that implies the government shares his views. How would you like it if your children’s teacher spent class time trying to convert them to Islam? And how long had Paszkiewicz been doing this sort of thing before someone finally taped him and demonstrated what was going on? Matthew LaClair deserves the heartfelt thanks of every parent in the school system, and of supporters of the Constitution everywhere. And Paszkiewicz should be summarily fired for abusing his authority and position so flagrantly.

[Guest Rory Flynn]

While I don't begrudge anyone their religious beliefs there is a place for testifying those beliefs and that is in a church, synagogue or mosque.

I am proud that this young man had the courage to stand up and say this teacher is wrong, not in believing what he believes but in teaching his faith as fact.

We're behind you Matthew.

Both the teacher and student in this incident have different beliefs and OPINIONS on matters. Everyone does. This teacher knows he cannot teach his religious views in school, and if he did, he is wrong for that. But you can't defend one guy for stating his beliefs and tear another guy apart for doing the exact same thing.

Last time I checked, people started coming to America to flee from persecution. This is still considered a "free" country, and just because you believe in God doesn't mean you're right. Just because the Bible tells you something happened doesn't mean it's right.

"the public school shouldn't teach a religion but the scriptures aren't religion they are a foundation of the worlds religion, the world main religion any way.

religion is a set way of doing things"

Are you stupid? World main religion? What in the world does that mean? Also religion is a set of BELIEFS, and practicing those beliefs.

I'm sure you'd like to take all the homosexuals and Muslims (and African Americans and Jews and so on, so forth) out back behind your out house and shoot them, but I'm sorry, you can't.

You cannot call Matthew LaClair stupid because he is a "child." He's already smarter than you. He "turned his back on the president and flag" for a GOOD reason. Hello, our president is guilty of committing war crimes! Closed-minded people like you make me sick.

Learn to spell.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest Guest]

If there is hell, you ignorant religious zealots will go there in the first place.

[Guest Guest]

Religion at no time belongs in a public school, and neither do tape recorders.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

spoken by a true we-todd... tape recorders shouldn't be allowed in school? Sounds like you've never been to school before, where people often tape their lectures to help them study.

This kid has received death threats because of this?

Now that's messed up...

This teacher should get canned and this kid should sue the pants out of the school for their irresponsibility for letting a teacher/pastor teach at their schools. Sounds like in the end it was the school's fault for hiring this dude... Go teach at a private school if you want to preach.

[Guest Guest]

If you are from Kearny then by now you have heard a story that has been blown WAY OUT OF PROPORTION.

A student of KHS, one Matthew LaClair has gone to the newspaper stating that a teacher has been forcing his religious views in is history class.

Now I am all for having freedom of speech, but I also believe every subject has a place and time for discussion; and religion in a history class is not that place.

HOWEVER!!!! This 16 year old CHILD, is nothing more than an attention seeking, immature person, who is also been known to "previously garnered attention for protesting Bush administration activities by refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance" (the lippar blog) I will include this website at the end of my rant!

This kid thinks he is so self rightcious and claims he “was requesting an apology and correction of false and anti-scientific statements" (the lippard blog).

If you listen to the audio (which I will also supply the site to) you can clearly hear that Laclair PROVOKED the conversation, and you can hear that the teacher had responded QUITE APPROPRIATELY:

One example being:

Matthew: isn't the whole point of public schools is so that you can separate personal beliefs from teachers and administrators from non religious teachings during school, like school prayer and all that.

teacher: the purpose of public school is to provide free education for people that couldn't afford education. That’s the purpose of public school

Matthew: what would decide what religion should be taught in school, what would decide that?

teacher: no it's not about teaching, my point is it's not about teaching religion, these issues all come up in time, ( tape fades out) things get legislated and we talk in class

the public school shouldn't teach a religion but the scriptures aren't religion they are a foundation of the worlds religion, the world main religion any way.

religion is a set way of doing things

In the conversation above, taken my Matthew Laclair himself, i see no wrong doing by this teacher, i do however see constant and what seems to be "rehearsed" provoking of the topic.

I hope he is reading this right now, because I just have one question for him: What on earth was the need to go to the newspaper? Laclair stated that he had a meeting with the principle, teacher, and the head of the social studies department and at first they did not seem to believe him but then he pulled out the cd's.....which in itself violated this teachers right to privacy.

So again, my question, after laclair proved himself with the cd's why did he not wait for administrative action to take place? There was no need to go to the newspaper, and I think in doing so, this Matthew laclair just proves that he is a 16 year old high school student, and therefore has ALOT to learn before he goes off starting religious wars, and pledge of allegiance protest in the United States of America, a country that has always, and especially since 9/11 shown great pride in our ONE NATION UNDER GOD!!!!

ps: a little side note for everyone reading this who disagrees: stating your views on religion and "forcing your beliefs on someone" is two COMPLELTY DIFFERENT THINGS.

so I would like to say to everyone who agrees or disagrees, we are all here in this nation, in this community together, and my religion is Roman Catholic, so when I say GOD BLESS YOU, I’m not forcing my views, I’m using my faith to wish you health and happiness

GOD BLESS you all

PPS: if this offends anyone then tough, because I AM offended that a wonderful teacher is being persecuted by an unknowledgeable juvenile for merely stating what he believes in. Also that this kid is living in MY COUTNRY where my friends and family have fought to keep our freedom and he turns his back on our president and our flag.

lippard blog: http://lippard.blogspot.com/2006/11/public...-class-you.html

Audio:

http://www.nj.com/cgi-bin/prxy/xmedia/nph-.../classaudio.mp3

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest Cooper]

The Constitution of The United States strictly enforces a separation of Church and State. A public school is considered part of The State. Decades of upheld judicial opinions have clearly noted that religious views from a teacher in a public school are inappropriate and illegal. Proselytizing in a public school is NOT covered under the 1st Amendment. If this teacher is so determined to spout his religious views, he should teach in a religious school. What this student did is courageous and justified. You so called "adults" wrapping yourself in your beliefs in "your God" break your own teachings by condemning this boy. The God in MY Bible does not condone your behavior or your self-righteous attitudes. Since we are all sinners, why don't you put your stones down and go find something REALLY important to complain about? Or are the 3,000 dead brothers and sisters in Iraq or the 25 Million starving and homeless here in the good old USofA just not as important as being right?

[Guest Guest]

I dont care if the kid baited the teacher, he is a hero for weeding out a weak minded fundie idiot. This kid has my support because he is making our education system stronger by taking out those who fight a strong secular American education.

[Guest tony the rocket scientist]

OK< I am in Boulder CO, and you guys in Kearney should really know that the world is laughing at you, are on the kids side, and think you all a bunch of backward hicks.

First off, many of us DO find the "current' Pledge of Allegiance offensive... Ok, they added God in the 50s to set up apart from the Soviets.. was NOT in it originally! Whose god? Judeo Christian? Hindu? jeez, there are so many. And what if you don't believe in God? Then the pledge is down right silly.

Second off, the teacher had no place to be speaking like that, the kid did exactly the right thing, again and again.. and you foolish ninnies live in some dream world where most of the world doesn't rank your interpretation of Jesus right up there with Santa in terms of "magical figures that really don't exist". Current expressions of Christianity will, in the future, be looked back on as some massive mental abberance by a group of uneducated, philosophically parochial people. Yes, the world is scarier when you don't have someone telling you every step.

However, the Bible does have many good lessons, along with the Koran, and other sacred texts. All are equally useful and worthwhile. Assuming Christianity is both correct, and the correct religion to gain access to heaven is quite idiotic.

Good luck!

[Guest JSchwab]

If there is a hell, then I will most likely see Mr. Paszkiewicz there with me.