To atheist Rob Sherman, its not enough to strike the word “God” from the public school system, books, pledges and architecture. Sherman has a bigger goal — the removal of all potential for “thoughts” about God.
At issue is the Illinois “Moment of Silence” law, or the (105 ILCS 20/) Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act. as it is formally known. The law allows for an observance of a brief period of silence by all pupils in the classroom at the beginning of the school day.
The law specifically states that it is not to be conducted as a religious exercise, but rather an opportunity for silent prayer or reflection on the anticipated activities of the day.
And there is the rub, one word… prayer. Sherman seems fixated on the religious meaning of the word while overlooking the fact that it also has a secular meaning. A prayer can be defined as an earnest or urgent request or as an appeal for help.
Thankfully we don’t live in the Orwellian society of Sherman’s dreams where thoughts can be controlled and suppressed. Students are free to think about God, on the taxpayer’s dime no less, and this possibility for religious thought is enough to push atheists like Sherman into a state of secular zealotry.
Sherman himself describes the Act as using “legal trickery” to deny the obvious. Despite the fact that the Act clearly states that the period is not to be conducted as a religious exercise. Sherman insists that it is in fact a religious exercise.
I personally find it amusing that a man who has used legal loopholes and trickery in the past to force his beliefs on the public (Note to Sherman: before you say that you haven’t used legal loopholes, I just want to let you know that I am “insisting” that you did, so it must be the case despite what you say) is now cry foul when the same tactics are used to defuse his arguments.
Whats good for the goose is apparently not good for the gander. I would suggest that Sherman pray for a miracle. At this point this is really the only hope I can see him having of succeeding in his quest. Sadly, as an atheist Sherman, like his lawsuit doesn’t have a prayer.
Tags: Atheist, Atheists, god, Good For The Gander, Legal Loopholes, Meaning Of The Word, Moment Of Silence, Observance, orwell, Orwellian Society, prayer, Public School System, Religious Exercise, Rob Sherman, Silence Law, Silent Prayer, Silent Reflection, Student Prayer Act, System Books, thought crime, Trickery, Urgent Request, Word God, ZealotryYou must be logged in to post a comment.
