Fantasy book banned by Catholic school board because the author is an atheist.

[Garabaldi]

Link.

I live in Halton (although I attend a public school) and a big fuss is being made over the Halton Catholic District School Board's decision to ban the childrens fantasy book The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman. They claim that it has a religious agenda, but it's quite simply because Pullman is an atheist.

If a book, any book was banned simply because the author was Christian, or Muslim, of Jewish or Hindu there would be a complete shit-storm.

What makes it even worse is that Catholic school's in Ontario receive public funding. Oh yeah, and only Catholic schools receive public funding. No other faith-based schools are eligible.

Tax-payers pay to have kids indoctrinated.

Sad stuff.

[[R-CON]MrD]

Book burning has spread over the border into canada, eh? Bad stuff.

[[R-MOD]Wasteland]

Yeah, in Calgary we have a publicly funded Catholic School Board too. Messed up stuff, that. But I hear that in Ontario they're widening it to any religion, no?

[[R-MOD]dunehunter]

Sounds pretty stupid. Do they plan to go back to the times when they had a list of forbidden books, which was filled with crappy books which became best-sellers anyway?

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by Garabaldi

Tax-payers pay to have kids indoctrinated.

Sad stuff.

idiot.

[Garabaldi]

Your reply is quite eloquent, good sir!

[[R-DEV]Masaq]

Why they banned the "Golden Compass" when the book's called "Northern Lights", I have no idea. Joke's on them

Having read all three of the books in the series (and went to watch the film this afternoon in my day off uni lol) it's not got a religious theme so much as a spiritual one- the nature of souls, the merits of free will and responsibility weighed against paternalism and authority.

[SiN|ScarFace]

Haha no one will care and the TV won't broadcast mass propaganda because said two religions or lack of are not the right flavor.

[[T]BludShoT]

Originally Posted by Garabaldi

Link.

I live in Halton (although I attend a public school) and a big fuss is being made over the Halton Catholic District School Board's decision to ban the childrens fantasy book The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman. They claim that it has a religious agenda, but it's quite simply because Pullman is an atheist.

Really? And yet right in that Star article is plainly says "The author himself has said he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief," and that his "books are about killing God.""

So the claim is founded, don't you think? LOL... I mean clearly it is! Only a fool would say otherwise after reading that.

Originally Posted by Garabaldi

If a book, any book was banned simply because the author was Christian, or Muslim, of Jewish or Hindu there would be a complete shit-storm.

I agree with you on the Muslim, Jewish and Hindu, but do you honestly think that if a Christian book was banned in the public schools there would be a shit-storm? Get real man. I wouldn't be surprised if dozens of books by Christian authors have been kept out of the public school! They don't need to "ban" it, they just simply choose not to stock the book. Christianity is consistently removed from the public schools. Grade schools aren't allowed to sing Christmas carols unless they are the secular ones like Jingle Bells or something. I would say that it is *completely ridiculous* for someone to say that there would be a shit-storm if a book by a Christian author, where the author said (in the way that the Golden Compass guy has) that the book was meant to "promote the Christian belief".

On the contrary, if a book meant to promote the Christian belief was put into the public schools, if it came up for debate, there would be a shit-storm over that, with people saying that the Christians are trying to get their doctrine into the public schools to infect the children.


Now, if a Muslim, Jewish or Hindu author had a book containing agendas from their religions, if anyone was to try to ban that, there would be a shit-storm. They would be accused of racism, or bigotry. Of not embracing diversity.

Originally Posted by Garabaldi

What makes it even worse is that Catholic school's in Ontario receive public funding. Oh yeah, and only Catholic schools receive public funding. No other faith-based schools are eligible.

Tax-payers pay to have kids indoctrinated.

Sad stuff.

So, what are you even trying to say? Be specific. Do you want kids to be indoctrinated with a variety of religions in ontario with tax payer money? Or do you want no tax funded religious schools. You can't say at the same time that you are against the Catholic schools receiving public funding and indoctrinating kids, and also complain that no other faith-based schools get it.

The reason that the Catholics get it, is because our country has historically been Christian (and well you can blame the frenchies pretty much lol)


I am sick and tired of the growing opinion that Christianity should be removed from our society. Where is your diversity? Where is your embracing of different cultures and religions? That you will despise the Christians and deny them of protecting their own beliefs? You expect me to respect your right to not have a religion crammed down your throat, but you don't respect the Catholic's right to keep an anti-theist book out of their schools? Ridiculous.

By the way, I don't care for the Catholics either, but they have the right to be Catholic and keep a book like that out of their schools. I actually find your outrage that a Catholic school would want to keep a book whose author has said is "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief," and is "about killing God" to be completely retarded. Why shouldn't they want to ban a book like that?


But don't worry! I've got good news for you. The RC schools in Ontario are a joke. They are barely *any different at all* from the public schools. They pay lip service to God, but are largely just another secular organization. The other day in the local paper the front page story was the Dawali celebration at the local RC high school here - put on by the "Diversity club" at Christ the King high school. That's pluralism, and the RC schools are a poor excuse for a Christian school. So don't worry Garabaldi, Christianity is being more and more marginalized. It's been pushed to the side, shrunken down, and made into a dirty word.

Soon enough they will be persecuted out-right here as they are in other parts of the world. The only "Christians" that will be unaffected by persecution are the fake ones, the ones who "embrace diversity" (this is a code word for "sell out their faith") like the ones you see at "multi-faith" gatherings.

Your hatred for us is obvious. Where is your sensitivity and tolerance and acceptance of others? lol...

[Garabaldi]

Oh my, have I struck a neve? That's sure is a whole lot of writing.

I'm sure you know the whole ass/u/me thing, so I'll get right to addressing your points.

Really? And yet right in that Star article is plainly says "The author himself has said he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief," and that his "books are about killing God.""

That's not specifically why the book was banned, though. You live in the same town as me (or did at least), so I'm sure you're quite aware of this entire debacle. A parent complained and the book was banned solely because the author was an atheist. I haven't read the book, so I can't comment on its content, but the Archbishop of Canterbury has even praised the series and said that they should be used in religious education.

I agree with you on the Muslim, Jewish and Hindu, but do you honestly think that if a Christian book was banned in the public schools there would be a shit-storm? Get real man. I wouldn't be surprised if dozens of books by Christian authors have been kept out of the public school! They don't need to "ban" it, they just simply choose not to stock the book. Christianity is consistently removed from the public schools. Grade schools aren't allowed to sing Christmas carols unless they are the secular ones like Jingle Bells or something. I would say that it is *completely ridiculous* for someone to say that there would be a shit-storm if a book by a Christian author, where the author said (in the way that the Golden Compass guy has) that the book was meant to "promote the Christian belief".

You actually beleive Christians face sweeping discrimination in Canada! How cute!

That's a whole lot of conjecture in a single paragraph. Feel free to do some research and give me one title which has been banned or simply not stocked because the author was Christian and then we'll address that.

On the contrary, if a book meant to promote the Christian belief was put into the public schools, if it came up for debate, there would be a shit-storm over that, with people saying that the Christians are trying to get their doctrine into the public schools to infect the children.

If it was required reading, probably. If it was simply availble in the library, I'm quite sure a peep would not be heard from all but the most radical atheists. Education should be completely secular.

So, what are you even trying to say? Be specific. Do you want kids to be indoctrinated with a variety of religions in ontario with tax payer money? Or do you want no tax funded religious schools. You can't say at the same time that you are against the Catholic schools receiving public funding and indoctrinating kids, and also complain that no other faith-based schools get it.

No public funding to faith-based schools at all. Teach your children whatever nonsense you see fit, but don't expect the public to fund it - especially only a single religion. I find it amusing that you go on to talk about celebrating culture and religion. If we absolutely must throw money towards faith-based schools, give it to all of them, Pastafarians included.

I am sick and tired of the growing opinion that Christianity should be removed from our society. Where is your diversity? Where is your embracing of different cultures and religions? That you will despise the Christians and deny them of protecting their own beliefs? You expect me to respect your right to not have a religion crammed down your throat, but you don't respect the Catholic's right to keep an anti-theist book out of their schools? Ridiculous.

What?

I have Christian friends. I have Muslim friends. I have Hindu friends. I think they're all wonderful people. I simply think their beliefs are a little silly.

To reiterate - it wasn't banned because it was anti-theistic. It was banned because the author was an atheist.

Why shouldn't they want to ban a book like that?

Well that certainly says something about their faith, doesn't it! To be so insecure that you believe even the expression of contrary ideas should be foribdden certainly says something about you and your faith, wouldn't you say?

Your hatred for us is obvious. Where is your sensitivity and tolerance and acceptance of others? lol...

That's quite the inference. I have no hatred towards Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Scientologists, Pastafarians, Jews, gays.. whatever. I just think theists beliefs are laughable.