No - no place for a bible

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to go to someone who has something against you and make it right? It doesn't just say that if YOU did something wrong, make it right but that if there is something you can do, you should do it. I bring this up because you thank the Lord for your many blessings, and he is the one who wrote that book called the Bible, so that is His opinion on your situation, in case you are wondering.

I am shocked that, concerning your son dying, you turned the statement around and said what if something happened to you? You are missing every point anyone tries to make. That must because you know you are right. Well, people who are convinced they are right, sometimes find out later that they were not. But then it is often too late. It will be interesting to see your response. I'm sure it will again state how wonderful your life is and how you have done nothing wrong.

Apparently, it's just sitting there. He's not teaching from it.

A Mount Vernon science teacher said yesterday that he will refuse to remove a Bible from his classroom desk, despite his school district's order.

"Thousands of citizens in this community have built their lives on deeply held religious convictions, and it is for them that I stand today," John Freshwater, 51, who teaches at Mount Vernon Middle School, said in a news release.

The religious activist Dave Daubenmire, Freshwater's friend, acted as his spokesman yesterday. "This is not a religion issue; this is a free-speech issue," Daubenmire said. "He didn't take the Bible to read to anybody."

Mount Vernon Superintendent Steve Short said Freshwater's characterization of the events leading to the district order that he remove religious items from his classroom was "not entirely accurate," but Short wouldn't elaborate.

The district later released a one-paragraph statement saying that district officials don't oppose religion but are required "under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to protect against the establishment of religion in the schools. As a public school system the district cannot teach, promote or favor any religion or religious beliefs."

Freshwater and Daubenmire believe that separation of church and state "is a fraud" and that the framers of the Constitution never intended it to be practiced the way it is today, Daubenmire said.

The district asked Freshwater last week to remove the Ten Commandments from the door to his classroom and remove the Bible from the view of students. About 3,900 students attend Mount Vernon schools. Mount Vernon is about 52 miles northeast of Columbus.

Freshwater took down the Ten Commandments but decided that being prevented from taking a Bible into the classroom was going too far.

In the past, Freshwater has taught his students about the "holes in evolution" and intelligent design, the theory that a supernatural power created complex forms of life, Daubenmire said.

"Would our government ask a follower of Islam to remove her burqa in order to teach school?" Freshwater said in his written statement. "Would we ask a science teacher to remove The Origin of Species from his desk merely because the origin of man has never been proven?

"I cannot with a clear conscience follow a directive that makes religion and the religious viewpoint any less credible by those who deem themselves more enlightened."

Freshwater wouldn't answer questions directly because of the likelihood he will file a lawsuit charging "viewpoint discrimination," Daubenmire said.

Daubenmire is the former London High School football coach whose district was sued in 1999 by the American Civil Liberties Union because he led his players in prayer at games, practices and meetings. The district settled out of court, and its insurance company paid the ACLU $18,000 for court costs.

I had a baptist pastor tell me that I should not marry out of my race and that it's in the Bible... So what do you say to that?

Believe what you want and interpret it how you want, but then don't say that others are sinners when you are not GOD!

I have problems myself with organized religion; however, I have personal proof of life after death, which leads me to believe in a Creator. Just curious about where you're coming from.

My opinion is that men interpreted the bible(s) of the world....women had little say, and GOD HAD NO stuff to write with.......men certainly did succeed and put their *slant* on things to control.....yeah, to control........is my belief and my opinion and I'm sure at least dozens others here too...and even more in the grander scale of things, not just those on online bulletin/message boards.

I like where I live...but after a week from H E double toothpicks last week, I really feel that a bit of distance between myself and any family members would be better. Long story short, you think your family will be there to help when you need it, but instead all you get is beaten down and end up feeling bad and having to deal with your crises by yourself anyway (it's the ONLY reason I moved back to this area a couple of years ago).

Currently, I live in the deep south and my city has an excellent !!! school system, but I know there are other good school systems out there. So, here are some of what I would like in addition to a good school system.

Near water and mountains (could be lake or ocean, or state park), easy access to public transportation (in case my car breaks down), a good YMCA or city recreation center.

I've been looking at a borough just north of Philly, a couple of small cities in Virginia, a city north of Denver, some areas in North Carolina. I would like to avoid the west coast unless it's somewhere in Washington State or Oregon. I've considered the Reno area, but I've never been there and I don't know what the schools are like.