boremetotears.com said...
With all due respect, "you keep using that word (secular). I do not think it means what you think it means." ;)
As CW said, using secular curriculum doesn't make a Christian homeschooler "secular" because, as "anonymous" added, "faith is implictly and explicitly taught." Just because you're using a non-religious curriculum doesn't mean you're not imparting a religious education.
(Aren't there a lot of people like "anon" who fall between the two categories? I've always had that impression.)
Btw, I would guess that to the extent that some secular homeschoolers are "anti-Christian," most don't start out that way. For many of us, the Christian homeschooling movement is our first introduction to the Religious Right's FIERCELY anti-secular, social/political agenda (it's Reason #1 why many homeschool, after all). And, could they be any more candid in championing homeschools as a training grounds for future Joshuas who will "Take Back the Land" --- from the "godless," also known as our children? Of course, it makes secular parents defensive and even combative.
As CW said, using secular curriculum doesn't make a Christian homeschooler "secular" because, as "anonymous" added, "faith is implictly and explicitly taught." Just because you're using a non-religious curriculum doesn't mean you're not imparting a religious education.
(Aren't there a lot of people like "anon" who fall between the two categories? I've always had that impression.)
Btw, I would guess that to the extent that some secular homeschoolers are "anti-Christian," most don't start out that way. For many of us, the Christian homeschooling movement is our first introduction to the Religious Right's FIERCELY anti-secular, social/political agenda (it's Reason #1 why many homeschool, after all). And, could they be any more candid in championing homeschools as a training grounds for future Joshuas who will "Take Back the Land" --- from the "godless," also known as our children? Of course, it makes secular parents defensive and even combative.
Since my response is going to be rather long I thought I would answer in a post rather then a comment. I am well aware what secular means. I was a SECULAR HOMESHOOLER, and would still be a secular homeschooler but my children are in college now.
From the Meirriam-Webster Online Dictionary SECULAR
a : of or relating to the worldly or temporal <secular concerns> b : not overtly or specifically religious <secular music> c : not ecclesiastical or clerical <secular courts> <secular landowners>
Christians can choose to listen to secular music, watch secular television shows, read secular books and they can choose to provide their children with a secular education instead of an education based on their religious beliefs. Just like many Christians send their children to secular public schools. It doesn't make those Christian families less Christian just because they choose to provide their children with a secular public school education. Christians who wish to put the emphasis on education rather then religion can choose to be SECULAR HOMESCHOOLERS.
As Secular Homeschooling Magazine puts it
Secular Homeschooling is a non-religious bimonthly magazine that reflects the diversity of the homeschooling community. Its readers and writers are committed to the idea that religious belief is a personal matter rather than a prerequisite of homeschooling.
This magazine is for any homeschooler, religious or not, who is interested in good solid writing about homeschooling and homeschoolers.
Secular homeschoolers are not against religion they merely do not make everything about religion. This allows them to interact and discuss homeschooling matters with other homeschoolers of differing beliefs. Their focus is on EDUCATION not religion.
I have to admit that I am confused by the last bit of Boremetotears comment. Not all Christians are members of the Religious Right. Many Christians find the Religious Right's intolerant beliefs and social/political agenda abhorrent. The Religious Right does not speak for all Christians.
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ReplyDeleteWhose Truth???? It is easy to see from your sanctimonious comment that you are a proud card carrying member of the Religious Right.
ReplyDeleteChristians have the right to worship how they see fit, not how you and your ilk deem proper. Everyone has the right to their own religious beliefs and the Religious Right does not have the right to cram their beliefs down others throats. Remember those pesky little verses in the Bible
Matthew 7 (King James)
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
The Religious Right seems hellbent on ignoring these verses and judging others. Their hypocrisy and narrow mindedness drive people away from God and I am sure that he will JUDGE THEM FOR THAT. As for rewriting history and ignoring scientific advances the RELIGIOUS RIGHT has a monopoly on that. And they are all too eager to label anyone who disagrees with THEIR LIES as liberal, communist, socialist or whatever the current "code word" is for those who value the truth over the contrived nonsense they want to ram down everyone's throats.
God save us from the Religious Right Pharisees.
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ReplyDeleteREALLY "I'm thinking it's compared to those "Christians" who are just luke warm; who claim to have a walk with God, but don't really have the fruit to show for it. They live with one foot on this side and one foot on that side; that way they can do what they please, with no accountability.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who throws around the term "Religious Right" is 100% liberal." This sounds pretty judgmental to me.
But then this is what the Religious Right is known for. Judging others, saying vile things about them and then saying they weren't really judging anyone. And claiming that anyone that doesn't buy into their Fundamentalist beliefs isn't really a Christian.
Many Christians accept that the Bible is not 100% accurate and that over time the original manuscripts have been changed.
Lost Christianities
http://alasandras.blogspot.com/2006/03/book-review.html
Jesus Interrupted
http://alasandras.blogspot.com/2010/11/book-review-jesus-interrupted-by-bart-d.html
Alasandra, I was just making a semantical argument - and a reference to the concept of worldview. If you want to identify yourself as a "secular homeschooler" - whether in lower case or all caps :) - great. Nobody's trying to take the word "secular" away from you. Or call you lukewarm. Or accuse you of having one foot on one side and the second on the other.
ReplyDeleteAs for your original post and my second point (which wasn't clear to you), I was trying to explain why some secular homeschoolers seem "anti-Christian" -- or, rather, anti-whatever the heck this is (from Michael Farris, HSLDA, Generation Joshua, Patrick Henry College):
“Our children are the Joshua Generation. They have much to do. Enemies to conquer. Lands to subdue. Wrongs to be righted. Justice and freedom and morality to be established and enforced.”
So, can you find the label that Mr. Farris uses to identify my daughter? (Clue: It starts with a capital E).
So, in the eye of Farris (and any keynote speaker at any Christian homeschooling convention, frankly), my child is an "Enemy" from whom justice, freedom and morality must be wrestled by force. And, how many more homeschooling parents of the Religious Right (for lack of a better "idiotic label") are training up their children to see mine as an adversary to conquer. A spreader of "communistic lies." The absurd notion that this country is the preordained "inheritance" of their children and not ours is supported - tacitly, if not enthusiastically - by what seems to be a growing number of parents.
Since Religious Right homeschoolers have been at the vanguard of this movement, secular homeschoolers have had a birds-eye view of it all. Of course we react. We know the agenda - the memes - and the players. Heck, I knew who David Barton was when he was but a twinkle in Glenn Beck's eye.
According to Debbie S. Christians who choose to homeschool and provide their children with a secular education are luke warm Christians.
ReplyDeleteFundamentalist Christians often think that any Christian who doesn't agree with their intolerant beliefs aren't "real Christians". I assure you we would be labeled ENEMIES too.
Michael Farris and his followers scare me to death too. They would insist that EVERYONE had to follow their beliefs and label those who didn't ENEMIES of GOD. I understand your point. I am anti that too. I don't consider being against intolerance and stupidity anti-Christian although you are correct the Fundies do.
Alasandra: "Fundamentalist Christians often think that any Christian who doesn't agree with their intolerant beliefs aren't "real Christians". I assure you we would be labeled ENEMIES too."
ReplyDeleteYes, but on the bright side, they count you as a "Christian" when staking claim to the public sphere. That's because, according to the Take Back the Land playbook, the Founding Fathers said that government-sponsored establishment of religion is okay if the religion is practiced by the community's "majority" (as reflected in polling data).*
* Exceptions include but are not limited to (Muslim) Dearborn, MI - and liberal hotbeds such as LA and NYC.
Okay, I'll leave now. I feel snarkiness sneaking up on me. Nice to talk with you, Alasandra.
:)
That is one of the things that irritates me when they count Christian Homeschoolers. There is no break down between the Religious Right Fundies and those Christians who believe different then the Fundies so it inflates THEIR #'s.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons I insist on being called a secular homeschooler. I don't want to be counted with the Fundies.