Scopes Trial

In 1925, a biology teacher in Tennessee, John Scopes, was arrested for teaching evolution at schools. There was a state law that forbade the teaching of evolution, which is why the teacher was arrested. The American Civil Liberties Union took the case and Clarence Darrow, a lawyer even defended Scopes without charging him anything. This court case was known as the Scopes Trial, also known as the Monkey Trial. After three students testified that Scopes did in fact teach evolution as school and after the judge refused to let scientists come to the stand, John Scopes was found guilty and he was charged with the sum of a hundred dollars.I think it should not matter whether a teacher teachers the cycle of evolution in schools. If a child was really religious they would just listen to the teachers opinion, but still believe in their own ideas. This is how many of my religious friends view the cycle of evolution, they still believe what their religion has taught them- although they still keep in mind what their teachers have taught them. I personally like to mesh my religious ideas and the scientific cycle of evolution. I believe that life started with the Big Bang and evolution did in fact happen, but I think that God started the Big Bang.

Back to the Scopes Trial, I think that it was unfair for Mr. Scopes to be found guilty. Although it is more ridiculous that a law that forbade the teaching of evolution was put in place. I am happy that this has changed.

Fort Hood Massacre

At the beginning of the month on November 5th there was a massive amount of shootings at Fort Hood in Texas. Thirteen people were killed and thirty people were wounded, the suspected shooter is Nidal Hasan who is still alive (but apparently he did not want to survive the shootings). The shooter was a U.S. Army psychiatrist and he is of Palestinian descent, he is also a Muslim. Apparently before the shootings, Hasan gave a lecture and he stated that those who were non-believers of the Islam faith would go to hell and he even justified the suicide bombings. Army officials were already worried about his behavior and were investigating some of the connections that he had with fellow Islamic believers.

I have read numerous articles about the Fort Hood shootings and every time I read them I feel very frightened. It makes me sad that something like this happened and I feel like it could have been prevented. If the Army officials were already suspicious of Hasan's behavior they should have just taken him out of the military. This shooting also makes me sad because people may not trust people of the Islamic faith even more now. I feel like people in America were already acting somewhat racist towards the Muslims in America and this could possibly make it worse. I am hoping that this does not happen and it is horrible that something like this happened.

Who is a Jew?

There was a conflict within a Jewish school named Jews' Free School in London. Apparently a boy applied to the school and was reject because the school claimed that he was not actually Jewish- when in actuality he is, his father is Jewish and his mother is a Jewish convert. The boy's family sued the school, claiming they were discriminating and the family lost the case. Although it was overturned later and the court now claims that the school was in fact being discriminatory. The court said that the admission should depend not on ethnicity, but on faith. The school has appealed this case to the Supreme Court, where they will make a decision on the case.

I think that the school not admitting the boy just because his mother is not Jewish is completely discriminatory. I went to a Catholic school and they would not look at the religion, but more at the academic achievement of a student. I think this is how all religious based schools should be. Further more I cannot believe that even though the mother has converted to Judaism, they will still not accept the boy as a student. They only claimed that they put those who are of full Jewish decent above all others. Hopefully in the Supreme Court case, the court will side with the boy.

Catholics in the Abortion Issue

Democrats are having problems with their Catholic members over the abortion issue- as most people know the Catholic faith teaches pro-life. A health care bill is being reviewed and the Democrats are worried that if they lean towards pro-life, they may lose thousands of Catholic votes (apparently Catholics are usually swing voters) and the Democratic Party does not know how the Catholics will react.

I am actually a Catholic and I am proud to say I am pro- choice. I think that a female should be allowed to have the choice of whether to get an abortion or not. She should have control over her own body.

I also think that the Democrats have nothing to worry about because traditionally the Democratic party has also been pro-choice and I am sure that Catholics know this. I think that Catholics may base their votes on things other than the abortion debate. It may depend on the overall opinions of the Democratic party that may make the Catholic swing voters vote a certain way.

Christian Scientists' prayers for the sick

The leaders of the Church of Christ Scientist are trying to get a proposal passed stating that patients can get reimbursed for having a Christian Scientist pray for them. The House of Representatives did not pass the proposal, but the Christian Scientists are still trying to push for it. Those who are against the proposal state that it would just be a waste of money and I think that it would be a violation of the separation of church and state.

One Christian Scientist states that she listens to a patients symptoms and then begins treating the patients by praying. She states that it is during times of sickness that most people turn to God for wellness. She even states that she cured herself from breast cancer by simply praying. I do not know if I believe this theology or not, but putting that aside I still do not think that they should get funding for health care. A patients decision to do this seems to be a religious choice and it should not have anything to do with the government. I respect this theology and its beliefs, but it does not seem far to me that should get funding for prayers and like the opponents I think that this would be a waste of money. Also if a patient is only relying on the prayer to be healed, it seems dangerous. Maybe I will change my mind in the future because I personally do believe in the power of prayer, but for right now this is how I feel.

Scientology in Australia

Apparently a group in Australia has been distributing propaganda to students, trying to interest then in the Church of Scientology. In New South Wales an education minister told primary schools not to distribute the propaganda, but apparently the propaganda has spread to a lot more than just the primary schools in New South Wales. Apparently one of the people that were interviewed about the DVDs and papers that were given out has said that she has seen mostly positive responses from the propaganda. Apparently the propaganda was for a human rights group, but it clearly states that the Church of Scientology funded the DVD and papers. Currently a senator, Nick Xenophon, is fighting for a federal investigation of the Church of Scientology to investigate their tax-free status and other allegations made against the church (abuse and forced abortions).

I honestly have been one of those people that made fun of Scientology. I have heard numerous stories about the religion that made me question why people follow this theology- for example stories saying that the religion was actually created by a bet and a man just made the religion up on the back of a napkin to see if people would follow it. It is due to stories like this that I find this religion interesting. As far as the propaganda that the religion is spreading is horrible. Recruiting children in their school is not at all the right way to get new members for the church. I feel like children would be more susceptible towards the propaganda- meaning the would be more inclined to join the Church of Scientology. I also feel like this is a violation of the students rights and I am glad that an investigation is being done.

Sarah Palin and Religion

Former Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, is well known as a Pentecostalist. She has previously talked about her faith and has even said the war in Iraq is a task that is given to the United States by God. In her speeches, Sarah Palin continues to mention God. I remember when she was running with former Republican Presidential candidate John McCain, my first thoughts of her was okay this seems like a smart strategy for McCain, bring in a woman to be his running mate. It was when I actually heard her speak that I changed my mind. This woman talked a lot about her faith and on top of that she made some pretty interesting remarks that made her seem idiotic. An article reported in the Chicago Tribune states that "the churches she has attended also embrace dispensation, a theological system that emphasizes man's dominion over the earth and the end times- theology that could potentially shape a believer's environmental and foreign policies". I have previously stated that it should not matter what religion a leader is, but when a leader uses his or her religion in their policies that does not seem right. In Sarah Palin's case this seems to be exactly what she is doing. I have previously watched some of her interviews and her responses honestly frightened me at times- she talk about how God would not approve of certain issues, such as abortion. All I can say is thank God that Sarah Palin did not become the Vice President of the United States.