Some people just don’t understand what religious freedom is, such is the case with a Sound Off comment in today’s Brandon Sun.
If we are free to believe what we wish, then why is the Bible and the prayer taken out of the schools? When I was raised, the prayer was in the schools and that meant a lot. As Christians we would like to have some of our faith in the schools, too, not just the other. We can’t have Santa Claus, oh no … we can’t have a play because we are not Muslim. This is getting ridiculous. I mean, you say it is supposed to be one state thing … no, no! Our faith is going down and we are driven to believe in other faiths and I will not! I am a Christian and I will stay a Christian.
Anonymous Writer, Brandon Sun, Page 2, May 12/2014
The Brandon Sun runs Sound Off as an anonymous reader forum every day as a way for the people of Brandon and western Manitoba to be able to comment on things that they may not feel comfortable putting their name to. I for one like the space and I hope that the Sun keeps it for a good long time. It is good to have a place where you can see people’s real thoughts without filter. It gives you a good idea where society is.
Apparently when it comes to understanding what religious freedom is, some people are sadly still way out to lunch. The writer of the above Sound Off seems to think that religious freedom is getting to do whatever you want within the constraints of Christianity. It doesn’t work that way. The Muslim comment really just shows the writer’s prejudice.
We are free to believe what we want to believe, or not believe. The bible and prayer have been taken out of public schools because public schools are a government run institution to which children of all faiths are required to attend unless their parents make other private educational arrangements. You cannot make children of Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, or even Atheist parents go somewhere by law every day and then make them listen to Christian prayers and teachings. I remember when there was still prayer and bible reading at school and it really meant very little to me, and that was at a time when I believed in those teachings. Looking back, it was very divisive. I didn’t understand back then why my best friend would leave the room during that exercise; now it makes me angry that we lost valuable learning time to do something that was non-inclusive of all students and completely unrelated to the curriculum.
The writer seems to be under the impression that other religions get special treatment at public schools. I’m not sure where this is coming from. Using their example of Muslims, I would like to know exactly what Muslim teachings are going on in Manitoba schools that they are aware of. As a father of two boys in the public school system in Brandon I have never ever seen the promotion of other religious rhetoric in Brandon schools. I have seen cultural references to Christmas and Easter, maybe a reference to Hanukah, but not much else. Religious teachings? No.
Mr. or Ms. Sound Off writer, your religion is not under attack. You are free to believe whatever you want, not matter how serious or silly it may seem to other people. What it does not mean is that you get to shove your religion down other people’s throats. You are free to practice your religion at home and at your place of worship. Why you find it necessary to indoctrinate other citizen’s children into your religion at there place of daily learning is beyond me. It seems that to you freedom of religion only applies to your religion, no one else’s.
As for the statement “you say it is supposed to be one state thing “, 
I assume the writer is trying to say that the state officially supports atheism. I think that the writer mixes up secularism with atheism. As an atheist, I do not believe that the school should be telling people that there is no gods, the same way that I don’t believe that the schools should be telling children that there are gods. The secular school system should be neutral on the matter. Teach language, math, social studies, and fact based science curriculum. Leave the rest to parents and if the parents want, to the churches. Ironically, though the writer probably doesn’t realize, if Canada was to be seen as having “one state thing” it would be Christianity. Our head of state is Elizabeth II, the head of the Anglican Church, a Christian church. Christianity also gets a special place in our Constitution and national anthem. Christianity is hardly going down in any official sense.
Sound Off writer, nobody is driving you to other faiths. You can and will remain a Christian for as long as you desire. It is your right, no more, no less.
