Isn't the bible full of mass genocide, racial/ethnic prejudice, institutionalized incest, stoning, maiming, etc.? How do these things (which in the bible were ordered by god) help us to respect each other? If anything, this religious text is mostly a manual of what *not* to do.

Did you not just mention god in public? Even in a public paper.

You are right, there are many "what not to do" lessons in the Bible, but underlying it all is the love of a God for a people who consistently misbehaved and often rejected Him. It is a story of a God who sent His son into the world to redeem it from itself. I invite you to read this wonderful book with the idea that nothing in the OT does not point to the coming of the Saviour and Redeemer of the world in the NT. I am grateful you wrote, but you have some definite misconceptions and misunderstandings of this wonderful book... God bless you in your sincere search Mr./Mrs Anonymous...

I have to say the increase in disrespect stems from a lack of discipline and good parenting in the home, not necessarily a lack of religious education.

The problem isn't what goes on at school. The problem is what goes on at home.

I'll defer to Anonymous 1:52 AM. Religion is fluff. Fluff doesn't build respect.

How about the fact that parents are no longer teaching respect and it has nothing to do with religion but lazy parenting. How about many church functions also lack respect ie. church basketball, toilet papering other peoples property in the name of fun all actions are steps of disrepect. Parents that don't allow their children to fun up and down ward isles during meetings is the beginning of lack of respect. Religion is only one aspect of teaching children, my parents weren't religious but we were taught respect of our elders etc

The letter writer says, "the root cause of increased disrespect for one another is society's decreased recognition of God as the source of all that is good in our lives." What a joke! I read the postings from both Catholics and LDS members when the Deseret News reported that the Pope decided to keep Catholic baptism records away from the LDS Church, and the disrespect displayed to one another, most of whom are religious, was over the top.

I find disrespect whenever religious controversy raises its ugly head.

Good thing too. The U.S. Constitution makes no mention of God, which was radical when it was written. Good thing.

Carol,

Isn't it interesting to note that the United States Constitution forbids the federal government from making ANY law concerning religion, and yet prayer in school, is against the law.

Kind of makes you wonder how it is that the government can be claiming to be based on the Constitution, when it is painfully obvious that it is NOT following the words of the ultimate law of the land.

Too bad we are no longer a Constitutional Republic, but have returned to that which we unceremoniously threw out of this country several hundred years ago, and are now once again, a monarchy.

The writer is wrong. Prayer is allowed at public schools. Students are allowed to pray all they want. Teachers can also pray. What isnt allowed is the school forcing the students (or teachers) to pray.
The disrespect that is rampant in our schools is a direct result of parents not disciplining their children, it has nothing to do with the bible.

I must have missed the part where schools are supposed to teach children on how to behave.

Since you mentioned the Constitution, the document in which I respect more than any other, maybe you should read it again. It never mentions once about States providing school services.

Perhaps if you want your school to educate your children on behavior you should use the fruits from your labors and enroll them in a private christian academy? Something which the founding fathers meant for parents to provide, not the state. But you enjoy your pseudo socialism and continue to pretend our society actually follows the document in which it was founded upon.

fr1nk?
Why do you refer only to the Bible when challenging the non role of religion in the decreased learning of basic respect? Is it your presumption that only Judeo Christian based religion has no effect in enhancing self and public respect,or is it a contention that all religion is detremental to sefl respect?
I believe the growing notion that we are answerable to no one but ourselves fosters the increasing selfishness and disrespect which continues to grow unchecked in our society, and religion is a powerful force in challenging that notion. I will grant that religion taught and lived in the home is the best solution, but to throw out religion as a powerful source of respect is short sighted.

When I was in high school, the most unruly, uncivil, downright mean-spirited kids in the school were the Mormons. The afore-mentioned toilet papering, egging, stealing, general vandalism, not to mention what went on at Tracy Wigwam Boy Scout Camp are all examples. These kids were just plain obnoxious and rude. I don't think religion has anything to do with it. I blame their parents.

IF schools were allowed to have prayer in schools, WHICH way would be taught? The Jewish way, the Muslim way, the Catholic way? And WHICH bible or text would they teach from? Wouldn't allowing spirituality to be taught in schools actually cause more dissent and distract MORE from the three "R"s?

Wasn't the bible written by people who thought the world was flat?

As people are becoming more and more aware of what the Bible actually teaches, it seems less and less credible as the standard for how we should actually live our lives.

I do believe that teaching children manners--not necessarily which fork to use--but saying "Please" and "Thank You" is something parents, and society, should always do.

Teaching kindness, gratitude, and helping others is also important, but it doesn't require a Bible to do that.

Why must religion be force upon everyone? Personal belief is just that, personal.
There are even different levels of belief within the same religion so while one person may be comfortable praying in public (which the scriptures tell us not to do), others of the same religion may not be.
Keep religion in the home and heart and stop expecting everyone else to believe and act just like you do.
Freedom FROM religion is just as important as freedom OF religion.

If you are looking to the Bible for your mral guidence, stay away from me. I don't think children should be stoned for not obeying their parents. There are better ways to teach them. God wasn't very nice in the Bible. It seems to me you don't know your own Bible very well.
If you believe in your Bible, fine. But you can't pick and choose. It's either true, or it's BS. I believe it to be BS.

This newspaper should not print letters that contain patently false statements, such as the assertion that prayer in school is "against the law". Students, teachers, administrators, coaches, janitors, and anyone else are free to pray privately or in a group with like-minded individuals. What they are NOT allowed to do is mandate that anyone else pray in the same fashion. The principal cannot come over the loud speaker and tell the children to cross their arms and bow their heads, and pray to Jesus Christ. But what in the world does this letter's author think "release time" is for?

I don't have a great deal of intellectual respect for any one who suspends reason to embrace a religious creed. Religious belief interferes with one's capacity to think rationally. I respect the natural rights of all human beings, however.

Formal religion is for sinners.
It's for those attached to the "Fall of Man" BS.
It's for those that feel they must be redeemed.
And, of course, those in power will tell them EXACTLY what they must do to be redeemed.

Bottom line:
Give us your dough.($$$)

All the Indians sure did learn to respect the Catholic religion, didn't they?

I'm still trying to process through "The Talking Snake."

Religion is a fear-inducer. People obey, or God will punish them. How is this a good thing? The great Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (a true agnostic) said that he served the largest abstraction of which he was familiar: his community. He did not do it out of fear of punishment. He did it because it was the right thing to do.

And people are going to disagree and say, "I don't obey so I won't get punished. I obey out of love." But it's not true. In the Bible, God presents an either/or consequence. Nothing is done for the sake of goodness. Either you do it to avoid punishment, or you do it for a reward. It is all ulterior motive.

This letter writer is so wrong, it is difficult to condense a response that deserves several pages of scorn. Obviously the writer wants everyone to be a Christian. Problem. And this on top of the fact that religion has been as big a cause of contention as any other cause in the history of the world. The letter is backwards thinking.

ediddy: I feel you are putting words in my mouth.
You said, "Why do you refer only to the Bible when challenging the non role of religion in the decreased learning of basic respect? Is it your presumption that only Judeo Christian based religion has no effect in enhancing self and public respect,or is it a contention that all religion is detremental to sefl respect?"
I am not saying that religion cannot take a role in teaching respect. I will say that respect can be taught with or without the bible. But when you blame the teachers for the failure of your student (happens all the time), you teach your child to disrespect not only the teacher, and the police, and your religious leaders, but you as a parent as well.

All of the different religious faiths, despite their philosophical differences, have a similar objective. Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love, respect for others, sharing other people's suffering. On these lines every religion has more or less the same viewpoint and the same goal

- His Holiness The Dalai Lama

There are really only two ways to control people:
Guilt and Fear.

Formal religion uses these methods to absolute perfection.

I agree with the people that say it is lazy parenting. I have worked with teenagers in scouting, and the parents that are involved have well behaved kids that actually do what they are asked. The kids with lazy parents were usually aweful to deal with, and wouln't do what is asked.

Many of the kids have rarely heard the word "NO" spoken from parents. Many parents believe that their kids could never do anything wrong. If you don't believe me, look up parents who sue schools because their kids are failing and will not graduate. Who's fault is it that the kids don't do their homework and show up to class?

Who is anybody trying to kid?

Your "god" is your Mom.

Religion should build respect, but around these parts (the DN commenting boards) the religious majority have a whole lot of disrespect for anyone who doesn't think the same as they do. This is coming from a member of that religion who happens to have differing political views.

.