Fundamentalists (of all stripes) at it again (Re: Textbook Wars: Religion in History)

It's encouraged by the multi-cultural and anti-Christian agenda. One of the first areas history was rewritten in our times was to exclude religious history. For example, as a student I learned of the explorer Livingston, but not of his motivation which was missionary zeal. The religious aspect of history was downplayed out of fear and separation of Church and State, and so as secularists demanded and got the history books rewritten for education, it is not surprising to see other groups follow suit.

While i do agree that the groups that wanted to ammend the history books, were doing so out of their own self-serving agenda, i do feel that most of what is taught as history around the world is done so through the filters of those doing the teaching.South African history is a prime example. The history we were taught often villified the African peoples and made heroes of the white colonialists. In fact, most of the history taught, in an African country, was "white". Only in the past few years are things being rectified.With regards to the article, the history of South Asia is by no means, fully and accurately documented. A lot of what is accepted as fact, was interpreted by colonialists of the 19th century. Nowadays, these views have increasingly come under fire by archaeologists, anthropologists, and even genetiscists. Yet, still, the same old version of history seems to be perpetuated, moreso protected, even in India itself.I believe debate and discussion does help to facilitate the process of change, and sometimes change is needed.The fact is, almost every culture and society has a checkered past. It is only right for people to accept the good with the bad, and learn from past mistakes.
Alas, this is often not the case.

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So intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,
so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.
- Pablo Neruda

Something I completely ignore? Are you sure randman? How would you know this? Wait, I get it...this is your typical response...ignore the question and attack the questioner. Nice job there randman. You're just incredible. Where do you get this garbage? Why do you feel the necessity to link multi-culturalism with some sort of anti-Christian crusade? Did you read the article supplied by Percy? Certain individuals within various groups representing assorted religions want to "change history" so that their given religion looks better on paper. How is that an attack on Christianity? How do you not call them “fundalmentalists”?Could you try...for once...to stay on topic? The OT discussed how various religious fundamentalists want to rewrite history books to show their religion in a more favorable light. Only you seem to look at this as some sort of half-assed attack on Christianity. You say this like you think that "missionary zeal" was/is a good thing. Maybe it was downplayed because of pressure form Christian fundamentalists not want something so negative mentioned in history books. Personally, this sounds like a much better explanation than your "fear of church/state separation" paranoia.As a secularist, I would strongly encourage the inclusion of the work of missionaries in any history book. Let's inform people how indigenous cultures were/are destroyed in the name of Christianity.

I read the article. You are just ignoring reality. The educational system in that state is controlled by multi-culturalists. I laid out my case already. Read my points. They are not refuted.The example of deemphasizing Livingston's missionary motive (he was a missionary), and not teaching the Bible as a subject, nor theology, is all due to liberals wanting to discredit Christianity, perhaps out of fear of separation issues. Multi-culturalism has been used a s veiled attack against Christianity, which is why schools for years could teach the Koran, Hinduism or just about anything, except Christian theology.This message has been edited by randman, 01-27-2006 12:01 PM

Bwahahahahaha! Good one! Damn those liberals! How dare they attempt to keep Christianity out of the classroom. God knows it's the one true religion and the only one that should be taught here in the good ole U.S.of A.! Who is it that seems to ignore reality? Where do you come up with this stuff...PIDOOMA?

Well, I don't want to seem like I support the white-washing of abuses and atrocities committed by the various religions or societies in human history, but I think this quote says quite a bit: Others faiths do tend to be unjustly maligned, especially when compared to a "normal" faith like Christianity. So when While I would not want to eliminate references that traditionally Hinduism has supported very illiberal system in India, I have to ask whether these same text books explain how traditional Christianity supported aristocracy, a feudal class system, the killing of heretics, and an equally inferior status of women in Medieval Europe?The complaints may have justification, even if I disagree with the requested remedies.

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"Intellectually, scientifically, even artistically, fundamentalism -- biblical literalism -- is a road to nowhere, because it insists on fidelity to revealed truths that are not true." -- Katha Pollitt

quote:

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I truly hope we teach our kids the horrors done that you have listed, although maybe the rail and trolley thing is not a horror per se,

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...a direct consequence of which is our dependence upon foreign oil which has influenced many administrations to make alliances with unsavory and dictatorial regimes such as those of the Taliban, the House of Saud, and Saddam Hussein.

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and at the same time, I hope we equally teach them of the increble butchery we have encouraged and allowed of our own children resting and growing in the womb.

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...and of the barbaric time in our history where women's bodies were considered not to be owned by themselves, but by the state.

randman, I thought Livingston's missionary zeal was common knowledge? ie. He converted no-one, he placed personal emphasis on exploration. He left the missionary work to others. Hardly "missionary zeal".If I knew that without looking it up, how can you possibly claim conspiracy?You see what you want to see.MarkThis message has been edited by mark24, 01-27-2006 06:04 PM

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There are 10 kinds of people in this world; those that understand binary, & those that don't

can you back this up even?, the only places that they might teach these religions is maybe in a comparitive religions class - or a school setup to teach them.And as we all know any religion that isn't christianity taught to our kids is an attack on christianity..

I agree. Livingston's primary motivation for going into Africa was to do the work of a Christian missionary. He had a burden for the people there who had never heard of Jesus, the saviour. Exploration was secondary.

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Gravity is God's glue that holds his universe together.

Your post is evidence of the slant in education away from the truth if it conveys Christianity as times, not saying ignore entirely, but notice how you claim all Livingston was concerned with was exploration and not converting souls. You claimed: Who taught you such nonsense. Note the following: David Livingstone Scottish missionary Africa - Giants of the Missionary Trail by Eugene M. Harrison http://pages.zdnet.com/...s/18-12-02drlivingstonipresume.htmThe man laid his life on the line to convert African tribes to the Saviour, and also to try to end slavery, but all it seems someone like you remembers is what? a lust for exploration?Wonder why that is?

Thanks buzzsaw. It's a small but good example of where secularists attempted and succeeded in rewriting history to diminish Christianity in an effort to establish secularism as the de facto national and polical ideology of the nation. Now we see some here complaining that Hindus and Jewish groups want to rewrite history and have the gall to blame fundamentalism for it.That's harshly worded but true.This message has been edited by randman, 01-28-2006 02:15 AM

so you never give up on this paranoid theory that people are out to just destroy christianity?
I'm sorry but do we have to go through the whole seperation of church and state every topic? you know its getting really repetitivei view the rewriting of history to make people look better to be wrong when they arn't it would be like people rewriting history to make the people who were burned at the stake really witchs when they wern't, or any number of things people want whitewashed
i'm not blameing fundamentalism for it, i would say its extreemism and trying to gloss over the bad things people did

Rev, respond to the facts presented or shut the heck up.

Do it again and you take a break.