Atheist Group Backs Parents Upset School Wants Kids To See ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ At Church

[rug]

November 20, 2012 11:09 AM

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (CBS Atlanta) — Charlie Brown has been caught in the crossfire of the “war on Christmas” mantra.

KARK-TV reports that some parents were upset that Terry Elementary School in Little Rock wanted to take children to go see a play of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at a local church.

“The parents that we know in this situation are reluctant to speak up because they are concerned about their kids being singled out and bullied,” Anne Orsi, a lawyer and member of the Arkansas Society of Free Thinkers, told KARK.

The group is a volunteer organization of secular individuals whose goals are to “promote public acceptance of nonbelievers” and “defend science education and the separation of church and state.”

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2012/11/20/atheist-group-backs-parents-who-are-upset-school-wants-to-take-kids-to-see-charlie-brown-christmas-at-church/

[JI7]

1. why do they need to go to a church to watch it ?

[rug]

2. It was being put on at a local church.

Apparently the school figured it was a good thing for elementary school students to see a children's play.

[niyad]

3. because it is being put on as a play, apparently.

[niyad]

4. it appears there is just a bit more to this story.

Orsi said on the group’s Facebook page that the school is “sponsoring field trips to evangelical churches.”

“While everyone loves Charlie Brown, the religious content of the program is a problem, as is the trip to a church to see it,” she said.

[rug]

5. What is the religious content of Peanuts?

[eShirl]

7. in the TV Special version, Linus does a soliloquy quoting the New Testament

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas

Second guessing himself, Charlie Brown begins to wonder if he really knows what Christmas is all about, loudly asking the question in despair. Linus quietly says he can tell him, and walks to center stage to make his point. Under a spotlight, Linus quotes the second chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, verses 8 through 14 from the King James Version.

"'8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.'"

"...And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

[skepticscott]

8. You've never read Peanuts

or you wouldn't ask such an idiotic question. Well, ok...maybe you would anyway.

[rug]

9. If I indeed had an idiotic question you are the first person I would ask.

I can see why you have such a peculiar view of religion.

[skepticscott]

10. You can count on me

to give your idiotic questions all of the respect they deserve. Including the current one. So keep bringing it.

[rug]

11. You misunderstand the use of the adjective.

[xfundy]

6. Parents have the right

to prevent their kids from being taken to a church.

The play (if anything like the tv special) contains bible verses, the story of the birth, etc., who's to say the verses or the speech regarding the "origins of xmas" haven't been elaborated upon? And, in my experiences at events like this, there's always a push to indocrinate the kids into the views of the church, with "counselors" ready to scare them into it.

[edhopper]

12. This is clearly

a violation of church and state. For a public school to take children to a church for a religious
play is just wrong.

That they are producing it as a play is even more disturbing. The moral of the TV show (which I have seen many times since it first aired) is that the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Christ. I am pretty sure the Church will emphasize that aspect even more than the cartoon did. Making this a more religious event.

[cleanhippie]

13. Problem Solved: Perform the play at the school.

And if it has religion-specific references, quotes, and messaging, then the school should be prepared for a lawsuit.

Maybe pre-screening the play by the PTA/School District before?

But a church group, performing a play for children that has religion-specific messaging, in a church, on school time? Really? Come on, man, where is the common sense here?

[rug]

14. Actually that won't meet these objections. See post #7.