Quebec Bans Prayer

[basketcase]

Do they still sing O' Canada in public schools? The song that tells our
kids God keep our land glorious and free has no place in public schools
and public areas where there is no God. If kids are still singing the anthem
it is time to revise the lyrics to teach them our land is not god-given but
seized from the natives.

I believe that they start with an indigenous land acknowledgement now (in addition to the anthem?).

 

[basketcase]

I bet a lot of those schools have lawns also.

Your Lawn is Racist?

In September of 2020 professor John Douglas Belshaw of Thompson River University in Kamloops B.C. stated that if you own a lawn you need to “de-colonize” it. No, we are not ki…

freedomdefence.ca

Love that you guys occasionally listen to academics but other than that guy trying to get attention for his work, do you think many people actually believe that or is this just another attempt to generate anger?

 

[poker]

It’s a blatant attack on the Muslim religion where they required to pray at certain times of the day.

I am an atheist. Wasn’t always, but I saw the light. Don’t give a rats ass about anybody praying to the invisible man…. But let’s call it what it is.

Now, as much as I now laugh at adults who still support religions, because, you know… history…. I do support anyone’s right to take part. Freedom of religion is something I do respect. It’s a shame the government of Quebec cannot adhere to that basic principle, and allow people to practice their religion peacefully. Especially if all someone needs is a private quiet place…

 

[basketcase]

It’s a blatant attack on the Muslim religion where they required to pray at certain times of the day.

I am an atheist. Wasn’t always, but I saw the light. Don’t give a rats ass about anybody praying to the invisible man…. But let’s call it what it is.

Now, as much as I now laugh at adults who still support religions, because, you know… history…. I do support anyone’s right to take part. Freedom of religion is something I do respect. It’s a shame the government of Quebec cannot adhere to that basic principle, and allow people to practice their religion peacefully. Especially if all someone needs is a private quiet place…

Of course that's the intent of the law. I do understand accommodating people's religious needs but wonder how allocating space and time for religious prayers fits within the public intent of our non-denominational education system.

Where I have the greatest concern is that in numerous schools, Imam's come in and lead prayers. My concern is in a small part about a non-board employee running religious instruction during the school day but more so the pressure Muslim students feel to participate takes away some of the freedoms our system is supposed to support. Not only does it put semi-official pressure on students to be devout, Islam doesn't have a centralized authority so the teachings of that particular leader may conflict with those of the families (or the different sects). There have also been stories in Toronto about the separation of men and women as well as segregation of menstruating women/girls which runs at odds with Charter protections.

So a student finding a quiet corner to pray isn't an infringement on a secular system but as I say above, a school sanctioned religious service crosses the line for me.