jpo2269: By reading this "story" I guess we are going to have to just believe the "reporter" and the "atheist.." Without examples, I am calling BS.

I thought it sounded fishy too, especially after seeing the original source. But finally I decided that the actual verity of the story was less important than the stereotypical way in which so many Farkers reacted to it. Here's how the Fark Atheist mind appears to work:

1: There is no God, so therefore Christians are magically worse than the rest of us.
2: There IS a God, so therefore Christians are magically held to different standards than everyone else.

Seriously, that's what it all boils down to in these threads. A bunch of whiny, hostile dorkmeisters come in and complain that Christians aren't living up to a standard that Atheists claim is bullshiat anyway. But more than that, the Atheists then claim that some supernatural power makes them better and different from the rest of the species. Let's call it... oh, I don't know. Does "invisible man in the sky" work for everyone?

It's the farking lack of perspective and irony that pisses me off about Fark Atheists. They behave like self-delusional, tribalistic assholes who think they're better than everyone else, then complain about Christians behaving in the same way. Personally, I think we're all human beings, and therefore subject to traits common to our species. In that respect, I see absolutely no difference Theists and Atheists. In both cases, they're just groups of jerks claiming that they're better than each other, based on an arbitrary factor that doesn't matter in the slightest to anyone outside of those two particular tribes. It could be politics. It could be oil. It could be sports teams. In this case, it's a word: "god". Which makes it perhaps the most pointless conflict in the history of tribal warfare. Even the Apple vs PC crowd are fighting over something more tangible and relevant to the rest of us.

The Southern Dandy: Theaetetus: Religious terrorists. Should seize their church's assets as "supporting terrorism" and ship them off to Gitmo.

I heard in Afghanistan that the US pays good money to people who turn in their terroristic neighbors. Not only is your idea a great idea, but maybe there's money to be made too.

Finally, job creation I can believe in.

AmorousRedDragon SmartestFunniest 2012-01-14 09:27:41 PM


jpo2269: 1. A student practicing "religeous intolerance" is now subject to the same intolerance she practices and yet she is the victim in this story?

2. The "reporter" thankfully didn't tip his/her hand in where they stood in this article. Hyperbole much?

Bonus point.... Can Atheist really be subject to "religious intolerance????"

She is intolerant of prayer in school, and that makes her a good citizen. She is being subjected to threats of physical violence, that's not something she is subjecting to others. Your point is pretty awful. If you are an Atheist at a public school, you should not have to be surrounded by religious propaganda. And the fact that it was from the 1960's makes it hardly "historic", I laughed out loud when I heard that.

Based on the article, or if you have personal knowledge, can you cite examples of these threats? Also, what was this "Christian" banner she complained about?

wookiemonster: This is really a first world issue. Most of the world either doesn't have freedom of religion or speech, or separation of church and state.

It would be interesting to see the atheist girl try this in Europe at a Muslim school, or otherwise try this same thing with anything to do with Islam. Well, we know what would happen, as it happens every day to women in Islam.

[www.faithfreedom.org image 335x189]

If the girl felt "excluded" because of a banner (REALLY, a banner?), did she honestly think that she'd get more friends by taking the matter to FEDERAL COURT and putting the school on the five o'clock news?

Yes, the reactions to this were anti-Christian, that's for certain, but can we please stop pretending that Atheists aren't attention whore a-holes who let Atheism become their religion. Shouldn't atheists not give a shiat about such things, thus ensuring their imagined superiority over the rest of the believers?

Yes, because demanding that federal law be upheld for Everyone equally, that's just attention whoring. I imagine that a few other activist types over the years might agree with you, what with those that fought to make sure that we paid attention to that whole "All men are created equal" part of the constitution.. Yep. They'd think that fighting to ensure that federal laws and protections were upheld was attention whoring, sure of it.

You must be American.

wookiemonster: This is really a first world issue. Most of the world either doesn't have freedom of religion or speech, or separation of church and state.

It would be interesting to see the atheist girl try this in Europe at a Muslim school, or otherwise try this same thing with anything to do with Islam. Well, we know what would happen, as it happens every day to women in Islam.

[www.faithfreedom.org image 335x189]

If the girl felt "excluded" because of a banner (REALLY, a banner?), did she honestly think that she'd get more friends by taking the matter to FEDERAL COURT and putting the school on the five o'clock news?

Yes, the reactions to this were anti-Christian, that's for certain, but can we please stop pretending that Atheists aren't attention whore a-holes who let Atheism become their religion. Shouldn't atheists not give a shiat about such things, thus ensuring their imagined superiority over the rest of the believers?

Holy motherfarking Christ, you are a douche.

The My Little Pony Killer: The Southern Dandy: Theaetetus: Religious terrorists. Should seize their church's assets as "supporting terrorism" and ship them off to Gitmo.

I heard in Afghanistan that the US pays good money to people who turn in their terroristic neighbors. Not only is your idea a great idea, but maybe there's money to be made too.

Finally, job creation I can believe in.

If they have a hot daughter, I wonder if the mere threat of reporting would get me a few dates?

/Logical conclusions?

doglover: AmorousRedDragon: Prayer and religion is taken out of school because the Judicial system decides it so, not popular opinion.

This.

In places where everyone is not Christian, the prayer sheet doesn't go up in the first place.

So what we've got here is one biatch trying to claim he faction is the right one and using the court as the muscle. Her family'd better move out of there or be willing to take a pig headed stance to defend enforced secularism because she's done pissed off the majority in that area.

Personally, I read the 1st amendment and think EVERY religion should be allowed some time in public schools if they want it. If you're not that religion, why not just live and let live as opposed to ruining things for everyone.

This girl might be in the right on paper, but I don't like how America bans EVERYTHING because of one person these days. You don't like smoke? Ban smoking. One kid dies once in the history of forever? Ban swimming at the "Ol' Swimmin' Hole" Someone doesn't want to exercise? Ban trans fats. It's retarding our culture.

This.
She has a legal point, but making a big fuss over a prayer wall?
Maybe thats just my inner commie-pinko-hippie-liberal speaking.

urban.derelict: Mavent: Given your apparent age, I'd say "start with a Christian nursery school." Anyone older than that and you're probably going to get your ass handed to you.
[blog.pennlive.com image 453x362]

Did I mention the part about "no sense of irony"?

doglover: Personally, I read the 1st amendment and think EVERY religion should be allowed some time in public schools if they want it. If you're not that religion, why not just live and let live as opposed to ruining things for everyone.

It belongs in church. Not in school. Why should public students see a banner for Christianity when they might also have to see an Islamic banner or a Hindu banner or a Shinto banner or a Satanic banner? Where do you draw the line? What the majority wants? Why should the minority have to put up with it? Why shouldn't school be totally religious-neutral? Who's hurt by it if it is?

doglover: This girl might be in the right on paper, but I don't like how America bans EVERYTHING because of one person these days. You don't like smoke? Ban smoking. One kid dies once in the history of forever? Ban swimming at the "Ol' Swimmin' Hole" Someone doesn't want to exercise? Ban trans fats. It's retarding our culture.

Smoking bans and safety measures are quite different from this... this is more of a philosophical argument on religion's place in the public sphere. I would also argue that it doesn't necessarily make one stupid to not be surrounded by prayer banners, it doesn't have a whole lot of impact on your intelligence I would think. It might comfort people or motivate them, and for others it might have the opposite effect.

Wow, the way they hate her, you'd think she was Muslim or something.

Once again, the Fundies can't win this one.

Either they acknowledge that their particular Supreme Being created this girl knowing full well she'd do this and outrage his followers on purpose, therefore making her unaccountable for her actions (as she was created to do precisely what spoiled their little banner) or they acknowledge their particular Supreme Being is not omniscient, and therefore, fallible. Which pretty much ends their affectation of a moral high ground.

Check, and mate, Tebowists.

I donated $20 to her scholarship fund. It was passing $15K . I encourage anyone who cares to do the same.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/01/13/a-fundraiser- f or-jessica-ahlquist/

Oh look, another example of Christian bigotry and intolerance. This must be a day ending in y. Fark you Christians; every last one of you. I can't think of any other organization that has brought so much hatred, violence, intolerance, and fear to humanity as Christianity. Fark you all and fark your god.

I'm frankly shocked that Christians are being douches about this. SHOCKED.

jpo2269: Based on the article, or if you have personal knowledge, can you cite examples of these threats? Also, what was this "Christian" banner she complained about?

Read my post on top of page 4. I meant the school prayer, I just call it the banner. I was on a 4chan thread that was tracking this stuff too, she was being legitimately harassed.

Sabyen91: Holy motherfarking Christ, you are a douche.

See, I tend to think the "douche" in this argument is you, because you jumped in, didn't bother to express a single viewpoint, didn't counter a single thing he said, and went right for the insult.

It's not the insult I mind. I like to throw in an insult to cap off my replies, too. The difference is that I attempt to show why I think the person is wrong first.

AmorousRedDragon: I was on a 4chan thread that was tracking this stuff too, she was being legitimately harassed.

Oh, fark. 4chan. Why didn't you say so? You could have cleared up all the doubts about the authenticity of the article so much earlier!

Mavent SmartestFunniest 2012-01-14 09:33:45 PM


jpo2269: By reading this "story" I guess we are going to have to just believe the "reporter" and the "atheist.." Without examples, I am calling BS.

I thought it sounded fishy too, especially after seeing the original source. But finally I decided that the actual verity of the story was less important than the stereotypical way in which so many Farkers reacted to it. Here's how the Fark Atheist mind appears to work:

1: There is no God, so therefore Christians are magically worse than the rest of us.
2: There IS a God, so therefore Christians are magically held to different standards than everyone else.

Seriously, that's what it all boils down to in these threads. A bunch of whiny, hostile dorkmeisters come in and complain that Christians aren't living up to a standard that Atheists claim is bullshiat anyway. But more than that, the Atheists then claim that some supernatural power makes them better and different from the rest of the species. Let's call it... oh, I don't know. Does "invisible man in the sky" work for everyone?

It's the farking lack of perspective and irony that pisses me off about Fark Atheists. They behave like self-delusional, tribalistic assholes who think they're better than everyone else, then complain about Christians behaving in the same way. Personally, I think we're all human beings, and therefore subject to traits common to our species. In that respect, I see absolutely no difference Theists and Atheists. In both cases, they're just groups of jerks claiming that they're better than each other, based on an arbitrary factor that doesn't matter in the slightest to anyone outside of those two particular tribes. It could be politics. It could be oil. It could be sports teams. In this case, it's a word: "god". Which makes it perhaps the most pointless conflict in the history of tribal warfare. Even the Apple vs PC crowd are fighting over something more tangible and relevant to the rest of us.

It is not that I disagree with you, I do not. What I do object to is the absolute opposition to anything that might be religious that I have a problem with. If the banner in this story said something along the lines of "Embrace God or go to Hell" I would certainly see how that would be wrong, but if the banner was along the lines of the 10 Commandments, I would argue that these are good principles for all of us to try and live by... If it is somewhere in between, then we have room to discuss.

Princess Celestia: This.
She has a legal point, but making a big fuss over a prayer wall?
Maybe thats just my inner commie-pinko-hippie-liberal speaking.

If it wasn't such a big deal, then why didn't the school just take it down? They knew they wouldn't win, yet they chose to fight it in federal court anyway.

I'll bet that nobody would have ever noticed if it had been taken down quietly.

The girl was absolutely right and I think she should be applauded for her actions.

Just a question:
If they took out the "Our Heavenly Father" part and the "Amen" part and renamed it the school "Motto" does anyone feel it would be acceptable to leave it up?
"Grant us each day the desire to do our best,
To grow mentally and morally as well as physically,
To be kind and helpful to our classmates and teachers,
To be honest with ourselves as well as with others,
Help us to be good sports and smile when we lose as well as when we win,
Teach us the value of true friendship,
Help us always to conduct ourselves so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West."

I wouldn't have a problem with it as a school motto.

dahmers love zombie: If your God requires you to viciously attack and abuse those who don't believe in him, then your God has some seriously weak sauce.

If you feel you have to viciously attack and abuse nonbelievers, you really have very little faith in the omnipotence of your God.

If the lack of a prayer banner in your public school weakens your belief in your God, maybe you need to shop around a bit for a better model.

And if God will zap your heretic ass just because you asked him why He needed a starship.............

doglover: This girl might be in the right on paper,

She's right on velum.
The velum on which the Bill of Rights was written on.

Mavent: Oh, fark. 4chan. Why didn't you say so? You could have cleared up all the doubts about the authenticity of the article so much earlier!

Obviously I can't link to it, it was like 2 days ago. Suffice to say there were lots of screencaps and info being moved around, it's probably where much of the word of this got out.

jpo2269: room to discuss.

Do you believe America should be completely free of religious intolerance?

tbriggs: I donated $20 to her scholarship fund. It was passing $15K . I encourage anyone who cares to do the same.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/01/13/a-fundraiser- f or-jessica-ahlquist/

...after seeing three or four of these, I'm beginning to understand what her motivation might have been. Great. You've all been suckered by a teenaged con artist. Apparently, there IS a God, and he has quite the sense of humor. I'm done here. You guys got played like a cheap violin.

Fundamentalist insistence on Constitutional adherence is a religion the same as Christianity or any other.

/RON PAUL

FirstNationalBastard: The frightening thing is that without the invisible man in the sky watching over them and the threat of the guy with a red pointy tail, what kind of evil, sadistic farks would these good Christian soldiers be?

Once in high school, out of the blue and utterly unsolicited, a kid I barely knew and didn't like turned to me at lunch and said "You know, if I didn't believe in God, I would have killed a lot of people by now."

I Google him once in a while to see if he's done it yet.

Spartan_Manhandler: Princess Celestia: This.
She has a legal point, but making a big fuss over a prayer wall?
Maybe thats just my inner commie-pinko-hippie-liberal speaking.

If it wasn't such a big deal, then why didn't the school just take it down? They knew they wouldn't win, yet they chose to fight it in federal court anyway.

I'll bet that nobody would have ever noticed if it had been taken down quietly.

True. However SOMEONE would have noticed, then you have the parents and majority students screaming about it.

AmorousRedDragon SmartestFunniest 2012-01-14 09:41:29 PM


jpo2269: Based on the article, or if you have personal knowledge, can you cite examples of these threats? Also, what was this "Christian" banner she complained about?

Read my post on top of page 4. I meant the school prayer, I just call it the banner. I was on a 4chan thread that was tracking this stuff too, she was being legitimately harassed.

Honestly brother, I am not trying to be difficult, but I do not know what you mean by "your post on top of page 4" can you post a link or something?

I am not predisposed to believe one way, or another, but base on TFA, I find it impossible to form a solid opinion on this issue.

Mavent: ...after seeing three or four of these, I'm beginning to understand what her motivation might have been. Great. You've all been suckered by a teenaged con artist. Apparently, there IS a God, and he has quite the sense of humor. I'm done here. You guys got played like a cheap violin.

For someone who complains about people not adding to the conversation or responding reasonably, you are a piece of work.

I'd smite her, I'd smite her all night long.

Mavent: jpo2269: By reading this "story" I guess we are going to have to just believe the "reporter" and the "atheist.." Without examples, I am calling BS.

I thought it sounded fishy too, especially after seeing the original source. But finally I decided that the actual verity of the story was less important than the stereotypical way in which so many Farkers reacted to it. Here's how the Fark Atheist mind appears to work:

1: There is no God, so therefore Christians are magically worse than the rest of us.
2: There IS a God, so therefore Christians are magically held to different standards than everyone else.

Seriously, that's what it all boils down to in these threads. A bunch of whiny, hostile dorkmeisters come in and complain that Christians aren't living up to a standard that Atheists claim is bullshiat anyway. But more than that, the Atheists then claim that some supernatural power makes them better and different from the rest of the species. Let's call it... oh, I don't know. Does "invisible man in the sky" work for everyone?

It's the farking lack of perspective and irony that pisses me off about Fark Atheists. They behave like self-delusional, tribalistic assholes who think they're better than everyone else, then complain about Christians behaving in the same way. Personally, I think we're all human beings, and therefore subject to traits common to our species. In that respect, I see absolutely no difference Theists and Atheists. In both cases, they're just groups of jerks claiming that they're better than each other, based on an arbitrary factor that doesn't matter in the slightest to anyone outside of those two particular tribes. It could be politics. It could be oil. It could be sports teams. In this case, it's a word: "god". Which makes it perhaps the most pointless conflict in the history of tribal warfare. Even the Apple vs PC crowd are fighting over something more tangible and relevant to the rest of us.

Do you realize you're sitting there telling a group of people how bad they are for talking about how bad a different group of people are, while complaining in a thread about how this kind of thread pisses you off? Is it some kind of masochist thing?

She was and is right.

If you take public money then you have to be held to the rules that come with it.
This isn't a religion issue more than it's a contractual obligation that you take on when you take the funds.
We have a Separation of Church and State rule. It's that simple.

If you chose to not accept public money, then you have the choice to hang up your prayers.

Would this have been such a big issue to make it a nonreligious motto with a few edits?

Has it been pointed out that these alleged Christians are about as much Christians as atheists that devoutly believe in god are atheists?

jpo2269: but if the banner was along the lines of the 10 Commandments, I would argue that these are good principles for all of us to try and live by...

Really? It doesn't bother you that the First Commandment is in direct conflict with the First Amendment?

Hey, that's fine for hanging in church or at home. But not in a state-funded building with a captive audience.

: Sabyen91: Holy motherfarking Christ, you are a douche.

See, I tend to think the "douche" in this argument is you, because you jumped in, didn't bother to express a single viewpoint, didn't counter a single thing he said, and went right for the insult.

It's not the insult I mind. I like to throw in an insult to cap off my replies, too. The difference is that I attempt to show why I think the person is wrong first.

NO U! Actually I DO think you are a douche for this:

"I'm saying that if your personal beliefs revolve around constantly pissing other people off, then don't whine when they act according to THEIR beliefs, which for teenagers, revolves around attacking each other. Teenagers virtually live to ostracize, belittle, and backstab other teenagers. It's how (most of us) grow into adults. And aside from Fark Atheists, who are, by and large, hypocritical douchebags, nobody believes that calling yourself a Christian (which we have no proof any of these other teenagers did) magically makes you immune to Human Nature. I doubt "religion" even entered the minds of the kids that were insulting her. That's not how the teenage mind works. Look around you for proof. The people in this very thread who are being the biggest assholes are the ones who care the least about religion- they just saw an easy excuse to act like jackasses, and jumped at it. Much like the kids attacking this girl.

No, instead, reason and experience tell me that this girl purposely made herself a target, and the herd instinct kicked in, and the rest of her tribe tried to kick her to death."

Lots of words when you could just have said "I don't like atheists and real Christians wouldn't do this but if they did they would just say she is an attention whore who deserves death threats like I do"

jpo2269: Honestly brother, I am not trying to be difficult, but I do not know what you mean by "your post on top of page 4" can you post a link or something?

I am not predisposed to believe one way, or another, but base on TFA, I find it impossible to form a solid opinion on this issue.



Here are her ex-schoolmates (though she wants to go back if she feels its safe). I can't link to the thread where I heard they have her home address but i DID see a facebook post by her that basically said "You all gave out my address and now I'm getting death threats?!" with a post "hahahaha" right below it by some douchebag. I feel sorry for the poor girl, exercising her constitutional rights and she get's crucified over it. We shouldn't allow this to happen in America.

Hoban Washburne: Uh, yeah, that banner was well over the line. Those threatening this poor girl are some lovely Christians, I tell ya.

I'm a Christian and I disagree the banner was well over the line. I'm pretty sure you can't even see the line from way over there. How did this even get to Federal Court? Shouldn't the first local Court she walked to have taken care of it?

Princess Celestia: True. However SOMEONE would have noticed, then you have the parents and majority students screaming about it.

At that point, they could have pointed out why it was being removed... WITHOUT NAMING NAMES, and accepted whatever wrath was coming. But that would have required them to grow a pair.