Atheist Student Gets Death Threats Over Prayer Banner

Jessica Ahlquist, the atheist student who got a prayer banner removed from her public high school, has received death threats and was called "evil" by one of her state representatives. Ana Kasparian and Cenk Uygur discuss on The Young Turks.

http://www.alternet.org/belief/153803/why_is_an_atheist_high_school_student_g...

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• atheist death threats
• atheist high school
• atheist students
• atheist prayer banner
• religion schools
• god in america
• god public schools
• religion public schools
• jessica ahlquist
• fundamentalist christians
• christianity atheists
• atheist
• atheism
• agnostic
• nontheist
• secular
• young turks
• cenk uygur
• ana kasparian

[tdsrockz]

@JimboVids  Why is it relevant that it's been hanging in the school since '63?

[steveb0503]

@NickzCB Let me see if I can spell it out for you - education is publicly funded (taxes), if a school presents a message promoting a particular religious view (Christian), it implies that that particular ideology is the one to follow (to the exclusion of others). It suggests an endorsement, one prohibited by the 1st amendment: "Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion,or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...", it's freedom FROM AND freedom OF religion.

[wtd15]

@killerdec21 My opinion is justified because there is evidence for it. Read the comments. Christians and Atheists are being dicks to each other. I called both groups out on it. And in less?

[killerdec21]

@wtd15 But you're original opinion which was apparently you being a dick wouldn't be if you were actually right and it was justified? Rather pointless example... In addition, okay, sorry, I wrongly assumed that everyone knows that I don't believe in speaking an opinion in less you can justify it. But now you do know that.

[jsJavaScript]

The prayer in question ~ Our Heavenly Father. Grant us each day the desire to do our best. To grow mentally and morally as well as physically. To be kind and helpful to our classmates and teachers. To be honest with ourselves as well as with others. Help us to be good sports and smile when we lose as well as when we win. Teach us the value of true friendship. Help us always to conduct ourselves so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West. Amen. ~School Prayer, Cranston High School West

[NihilusFakie]

hey christians ever heard of the first amendent yea fuck u

[steveb0503]

@NickzCB This is but one example of how "fucked up" things are in our government, but it's still wrong.

BTW - YouTube isn't publicly funded - so, no conflict of interest.

[NickzCB]

@steveb0503 @steveb0503 Of course anything that suggests 'faith' is unconstitutional... Glad I moved to Canada, canadians doesn't give a damn about such things. Prayer band over a public school? Not many here but nobody gives a damn about them. Americans care about stupid things but not about their fucked up government.

Oh and Youtube is public right? So why not go and complain about other religious americans posting up their videos here. It's against the 1st amendment.

[TheCircle000]

Why should we even be surprised? We are talking about irrational people who worship and praise a character that makes Hitler look like a girl scout.

[steveb0503]

@NickzCB Having read the text of the banner, I agree that it doesn't indicate any particular deity - however, it suggests that the only way one could manage to be moral, kind, helpful, honest, magnanimous, valuing of friendship, and capable of conducting oneself in a way that could bring honor to their school is through faith in some sort of "higher power", precluding the notion that someone lacking such faith might be just as capable of exhibiting such virtues.

Violates 1st amendment.

[SmileyPsycho1]

The fact is that the banner violated the constitution. No one gave a fuck about that because they were predominantly religious. So just because she was 1.) athiest adn 2.) realised that it was in fact unconstitutional... she is evil? Morals and the notion of "good" and "bad" is all purely subjective. opinion. Why does that make her bad.