High School Student Receives Death Threats for Opposing School Prayer

[Greenday]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43273932...ews/?gt1=43001

School in Texas got a federal appeals judge to force prayer on the non-religious at their graduation. The non-Christians don't give a crap if people pray. They'd just like it if it wasn't shoved down their throats. Can't even graduate without them forcing a prayer on you.

One of my local high schools also got in trouble for having a prayer last year at their graduation. People are all up in arms about it. What is it that makes these nuts go crazy? Last I checked, state is supposed to be free of religion.

[Kaylyn]

Ha. Yeah. My neck of the woods.

No, not surprised at this at all. I wish I was the same person I am now, back in high school. I'd be protesting right alongside him. But, back then, I was a good little Christian, and though I wouldn't have treated him the way the "Christians" are treating him now, I doubt I would have stood up for him, either. I've grown up a lot since then.

[Eisa]

I'm surprised that didn't happen in Idaho. That's just fucking pathetic.

Way to practice what you preach there, guys. He's RIGHT. A prayer like that has no business being in the school.

[smileyeagle1021]

His parents disowned him? holy shit. can some people please start practicing what christianity claims to preach (forgiveness and honoring thy neighbour and treating others how you wish to be treated.)

sadly a lot of Christians no longer ever pretend to preach that

As far as the original story, absolutely nothing surprises me about that, I see the exact same thing in Utah except with Mormons rather than (I'm assuming Evangelical) Christians. Obviously they are the ones who are right, so anyone who doesn't believe as they do are being done a favor by being forced to participate.

[gremcint]

His parents disowned him? holy shit. can some people please start practicing what christianity claims to preach (forgiveness and honoring thy neighbour and treating others how you wish to be treated.)

[Sarah Valentine]

As soon as I saw what type of area he was living in it didn't surprise me that they all reacted that way toward him, I think that they should've just dropped the stupid prayer since religion has no place in school.

[ExRetailDrone]

Story here.

In summary, Damon Fowler, a Louisiana senior who happens to be an atheist, opposed the fact that at his public school, they conduct a led prayer during the graduation ceremony. He brought up his objections to his school superintendent and said that he would contact the ACLU if the prayer was not removed since it violated the Constitution. After it got leaked that it was this particular student who began this, he threatened and demeaned by both fellow students and teachers, his parents threw him out of the house and disowned him, and he has been ostracized by his community.

Hmm, sounds like these people are acting like perfect, little Christians

It disgusts (albeit doesn't surprise) me that all this has come about because a student stood up for his rights. In an interview (found here), Damon stated:

A prayer at graduation to one specific god does nothing but separate the class into religious groups, anyway. The class of 2011 can’t unite under one specific view if they don’t all carry that view.

This should not be a point of contention, but sadly it still is.