Religion In Public Schools

Three poems concerned with religious coercion in public schools
By Father John R. Green
(Return To "An Episcopal Poet")

God Is In Our Public Schools

Religious Fools

A Course In Comparative Religion

God Is In Our Public Schools

A poem deploring the concept that God is being kept from public schools
By Father John R. Green

Copyright © by John R. Green
Shown with his blessing

 
I learned from dawning childhood
Of God, the architect of the universe,
Who holds all creation and nature's destiny
In the palm of His loving hand.

Now in agony a cry is heard throughout the land,
Lamenting that a sinister invincible is in command,
With power over God:  limiting the boundaries
Of His habitation and keeping Him from...
     entering public schools.

Remembering my silent prayers in public schools
Answered by God, at times to my glowing joy,
At times to my utter discontent.
And hearing of similar experience from...
     contemporary pupils.

In sorrow and with ridicule I deplore
The bizarre demoting of the supreme divine.

"How long will God be kept from our public schools?"
Bellowed politician Donald Dixon Dare.
All who hail his harrangue are akin to religious fools,
As God is almighty, He is every where!

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Religious Fools

A poem declaring Christians persecuting unbelievers as dismal religious fools
By Father John R. Green

Copyright ©1998 by John R. Green
Shown with his blessing

A Jewish family settling in southern shake,
Expecting some adjustments to make;
But not eager to engage
In confronting a public school outrage.
Eminating from Christian prayers in public school
Which was the daily rule.

When Davy sat erect as prayers were read,
A hostile teacher shoved down his head.
Comining to principal in protesting plea,
Was told to write 125 times "Jesus loves me."

An omen of what family was to suspect
That Jews from townsfolks would receive no respect.
If you Jew will not teach your children what is true,
Our Christian public schools will do it for you.
Keep not yourselves in isolated seclusion,
Covert to Christianity and escape persecution.

Standing alone with supporters few
Eventually comforted by the ACLU.
Persecute Jews until Christ they accept
A dictum of Martin Luther,
  ...to Hitler an auxiliary concept.
Dismal it is in public schools,
When teachers and principals are religious fools.

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A Course In Comparative Religion

A poem declaring what public schools should teach about religion
By Father John R. Green

Shown with his blessing

In our traditional public schools
There is no place for religious fools;
Teach comparative religious courses,
Dispelling bigoted and illiterate forces;
Keep indoctrination and proselytizing at bay;
Simply present what the great religions say.
We shall have Constitutional support,
And hear no objection from the Court.


 

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