Extreme pockets of discrimination -- still shocking

The "Friendly Atheist" newsletter, under the byline of "patheos," posted this story along with a copy of the document on the school's letterhead.   Here's what patheos wrote:

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"Someone with a connection to Trinity Academy -- a private Christian high school in Wichita, Kansas — sent me a document yesterday with the school’s Statement of Understanding.  It’s the form students and their parents have to sign before they can be admitted.

"Most of it’s standard stuff. You have to believe the Bible is inerrant, that belief in the divinity of Jesus is the only path to salvation, that pre-marital sex is a no-no. . . .  But the very last bulletpoint is one I’ve never seen before, even at fundamentalist Christian schools."

Here is that paragraph on the form parents and students must sign:

Given the debate and confusion in our society about marriage and human sexuality it is vital that Trinity families agree with and support the school’s traditional, Christian understanding of those issues. Therefore, when the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home is counter to the school’s understanding of a biblical lifestyle, including the practice or promotion of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) lifestyle or alternative gender identity, the school should have the right, in its sole discretion, to deny the admission of an applicant or discontinue enrollment of a current student.

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In other words, if you have a sibling or anyone else living in the home who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender -- you may not be allowed to attend school at Trinity Academy.

We've always had groups who chose to live apart from the larger society -- to maintain a way of life, or a belief system, or to protect their children from what they deem corrupting influences.   The Amish come to mind.   Usually though they are content to live their lives, willing to share but not seeking to impose.

What we're seeing in the political activism of some of the biblical literalists is different.   They live in the larger world and have set out to force everyone else to be governed by their beliefs.   While railing against "Sharia law being imposed on us," they are hard at work trying to impose their own particular view, i.e. literalist Biblical law.   In my view, they have abandoned much of the humane, moral teachings of Jesus.  While claiming that he is the son of the God they worship, they behave in a way that is often antithetical to what he taught.

Having grown up in the gentle arms of Jesus-centered Methodism, with several preachers in my extended family -- and even though we have parted ways on theology -- I find the humanistic teachings of this "Good Shepherd" to be far more moral than those who would exclude, judge, impose, and condemn.    Like Pope Francis, but without his theological baggage. 

Ralph