Your comment on this issue...

ElRazur · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:00

.A 16-year-old girl is due in the High Court to accuse her school of discriminating against Christians by banning the wearing of "purity rings"...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6229098.stm

I belive laws of the school are somehow biased towards christains.

J1234 · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:02

Ha, she lives round the corner to me. Odd family.

Nix · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:04

She says Sikh and Muslim pupils can wear bangles and headscarves in class.

The school denies breaching her human rights, insisting the ring is not an essential part of the Christian faith.

Strictly speaking, neither are bangles or headscarves. Faith is not material.

They're right to stop her wearing it in school in my opinion. Now they just need to work on the others.

SoSolid · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:05

ElRazur said:
Are you saying she is stupid for fighting for something she belives in? I would think she wants to go to school but school wont allow her...?

I would think she is 16 and thus has finished her GCSE's.

Raikiri · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:05

If there is a no jewellery rule it should apply to everything, regardless of peoples beliefs towards it.

She has been discriminated against to some extent, but then the purity rings aren't actually part of her religion and are just something that has been added to it quite recently. I think they were right to stop her wearing it and should also do the same to everyone else.

ElRazur said:
I would think she wants to go to school but school wont allow her...?

She would have finished School a couple of months ago if she is 16.

ElRazur · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:06

SoSolid said:
I would think she is 16 and thus has finished her GCSE's.

Oh i see.

ElRazur · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:11

cleanbluesky said:
Depends on what she is believes. Sounds as if she doesn't like even the slightest idea that she might be required to change a 'christian' aspect of her behaviour.

If Muslims are expected to bend to fit in, then Christians should too

Technically, it would appear that religion stays the same regardless of how the society changes. Im reffering to the basic and core of a religion mind you. If what she belives in is part of what makes her as a person (christain girl) why should she change it? Besides there is freedom to practise one's belief without fear or retribution - Wearing a chasity ring dont hurt no one.

Muslims/Islam is a bad example to use in this case am afraid.

Bar · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:12

To me it should not even be an issue.

This is primarily a Christian country. Regardless of the different religions within this country they are in the minority.

On the point of common sense anything which is encouraging young girls to not have underage sex can only be a good thing.

Markatomic · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:12

Im in agreement, she shouldnt be allowed to wear it, and to be honest I hope it gets thrown out of the court. As said above these material possesions should not be important, at the end of they day no on is telling her not to be a christian etc etc.
Maybe I believe that Gene Simmons is God, I wouldn't expect to be able to come into work with face paint and leather spiked clothing.
Mark

cleanbluesky · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:14

ElRazur said:
If what she belives in is part of what makes her as a person (christain girl) why should she change it?

She didn't invent Christianity, so she's just adopted one set of social values from others. Why should she obey the social values of one smallish group yet not also seek compromise with the larger social group

neil3k · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:15

BBCNews said:
But her father Phil, who is an evangelical minister, said she still wanted to take the case because of its wider significance for all Christians.

There we have it. It seems her father is pushing her on this. I agree with the school it's a piece of jewellery so it should be removed.

Raikiri · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:15

Bar said:
To me it should not even be an issue.

You're right it shouldn't be an issue, their personal beliefs should not be taken into account if they break the rules. That goes for everybody...

Markatomic · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:16

ElRazur said:
Technically, it would appear that religion stays the same regardless of how the society. Im reffering to the basic and core of a religion mind you. If what she belives in is part of what makes her as a person (christain girl) why should she change it? Besides their is freedom to practise one's belief without fear or retribution - Wearing a chasity ring dont hurt no one.

Muslims/Islam is a bad example to use in this case am afraid.

Thats nonsense... religion and beliefs are whatever a person believes them to be. As I have said above If I choose to beleive that a yellow monkey is my God. No one can say otherwise as this is my belief.
Following on from what your saying I should then be able to practice this religion as I see fit.
Religion can not be defined by the several religions that we all know so well and are taught about. Religion is defined by a each person singularly and what they choose to see as real.
mark

Bar · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:16

What happens when the rules are subjective.

ElRazur · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:16

cleanbluesky said:
She didn't invent Christianity, so she's just adopted one set of social values from others. Why should she obey the social values of one smallish group yet not also seek compromise with the larger social group

Since the dawn of men, preference has been given to religion over a social group imo. Are you suggesting she changes her belief so as to suit the need of a social group?

ElRazur · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:18

Raikiri said:
You're right it shouldn't be an issue, their personal beliefs should not be taken into account if they break the rules. That goes for everybody...

Could we say the same to our Sikh brother who are exempt from wearing safety helmets or police hats?

dirtydog · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:20

ElRazur said:
Your comment on this issue...

Let's have equality. Either allow all religious symbols or ban them all. But don't give preferential treatment to aliens over natives - as has clearly happened on this occasion.

Markatomic · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:20

No one expects people to change their religion but for things to work you have to fit in with the rules of the world. Otherwise the earth would be in chaos.
Asking someone to remove a piece of jewellery is not asking them to change their religion.
And imo their faith should and would be no different whether they were wearing every piece of their religions accesories or none at all.
Mark

edit I agree with dirtydog, there needs to be one rule for all.

Raikiri · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:21

ElRazur said:
Could we say the same to our Sikh brother who are exempt from wearing safety helmets or police hats?

Yes. Everybody is pretty inclusive don't you think?

They should have to wear a helmet like everybody else, it's the law. Not to mention it is for their own safety.

ElRazur · 22 Jun 2007 at 11:22

Markatomic said:
Thats nonsense... religion and beliefs are whatever a person believes them to be. As I have said above If I choose to beleive that a yellow monkey is my God. No one can say otherwise as this is my belief.
Following on from what your saying I should then be able to practice this religion as I see fit.
Religion can not be defined by the several religions that we all know so well and are taught about. Religion is defined by a each person singularly and what they choose to see as real.
mark

It aint nosense, perhaps you mean you refuse to see what i pointed out. Yes you can belive what you want and practise as you see fit BUT lets not forget that others (religion) in this case is reported to be allowed to wear similar items. Again some would argue that this is a christain country and such thing shouldnt be banned anyway....

As for definition of religion by one person....Im guessing over 1 billion christain worldwide dont count in your books?