The atheist's daughter

I congratulate Dawn and admire her intellect, given her age!

When they conducted the survey on who believed in God, they should have asked "Do you believe in Santa Claus?" The response would have been much the same. I suspect that the number of atheists in much larger than any poll will find because the respondents do not want to say [atheists] or they say it because it is the thing to say [athiests who do not know they are]

"One way they have diverged: Dawn sings religious music in the Grace Episcopal choir. She loves the music, she says, and the words don't bother her because she doesn't attach much meaning to them. Her father says that singing in a church wouldn't be his choice, but he doesn't stand in his daughter's way."

Is this not a total contridiciton? If she is able to participate in a church choir and sing songs that are meant to praise God...why should a moment of silence where she can just keep her mouth closed for a few mintues bother her? The majority should speak up and not let this one little girl who has been raised with her daddy's thoughts stand in the way of others. Hopefully one day she will look around and see through different eyes that this beautiful country and world we live in has to of had a master designer and that is something her "perfect" daddy could not of done.

Too bad she can't focus on more important stuff...

With her drive, she could actually accomplish something worthwhile, not just being a shill for her dad. What will destroying other people's faith actually accomplish?

Excuse me Sherry, but where did you get your belifes? Did they just pop into your head one day or did you learn them from your parents, like this girl did?
And Igor, what could be more inmportant than standing up for what you believe in?

Igor wrote:

Too bad she can't focus on more important stuff...
With her drive, she could actually accomplish something worthwhile, not just being a shill for her dad. What will destroying other people's faith actually accomplish?

If your faith is so shaky that you think a 14 year old girl can destroy it, I truly feel sorry for you.

Rob Sherman needs a hug

Well, this will get her at least 20 minutes of fame. I wonder what it will do to her resume when she applies for a job: Gee, I started a lawsuit that cost LOTS of tax dollars.
I wouldn't hire her.

I feel sorry for Dawn. I feel sorry for her father. He seems angry and the child seems to want her father's acceptance. Maybe if he spent more time and energy on his family, then on lawsuits regarding the existence or nonexistence of "God", his daughter could truly appreciate the love her father has for her. It is unfortunate that she probably never will, because of his anger.
In order to feel better, they must destroy the faith and hope of others. It's sad but true, anger drives humans.

It's a sad day in this country when we still have to argue over separation of church and state. Good for her, and good for her dad. And again, the irony of "christians" egging and defacing their property is just too much.

Sherry,

It's not a contradiction. For her to participate in the choir is a choice, whereas the moment of silence and prayer is a law that compels a certain behavior and goes agaomst separation of church and state.

Also, to Crusty... I think you are wrong about Sagan and Einstein.

Give her time and let her make up her own mind, she is reaching that stage in life where questioning everything will take place.

If your time on the earth is precious, and it is your one time shot deal, why miss out on it by fighting something so trivial as a moment of silence? Mr. Sherman and his family need to go out and see and do everything. Live and let live.

Crusty wrote:

MY, MY - I WOULD LOVE TO MEET MR. SHERMAN AND HIS DAUGHTER - THEY SEEM TO KNOW EVERYTING THAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THE UNIVERSE - THE BOTTOM LINE ABOUT THE UNIVERSE.
MR. EINSTEIN AND MR CARL SAGAN MUST HAVE BEEN WRONG - THEY DID BELIEVE IN A GOD - BUT AFTERALL THEY WERE JUST SCIENTISTS - THE FORMER A PHYSICIST AND THE LATTER AN ASTRONOMER. POOR GUYS - THEY SHOULD HAVE STUDIED AT MR. SHERMAN'S SCHOOL.

Sorry Crusty. Sagan was an agnostic, bordering on atheism. Read his book "The Demon Haunted World", he was very critical of religion.

ChicagoJoe...No I did not learn from my parents, but made up my own mind but let me use my husband as an example, he was raised in an atheist household with a father who would not let the children attend church. By the time he was almost 16 he knew there was a God and lives his life as such. If you are a parent you know how great of an influence you have on your children, but at some point they may or may not continue as you has raised them.

I use to live in Buffalo Grove, and the Sherman's live in a dark, battleship gray and black house. Rather fitting, considering... I feel sorry for Dawn because she will be avoided and ecluded by many people as the result of the negative and argumentative nature of what she does. How sad to have no faith, no belief. And how will abolishing something comforting and hopeful for other people, improve things? And where do we stop with "rights"? Shall we ban meat from all restaurants because I'm a vegetarian?

Three words to Mr Sherman and his daughter. Get a life.
PS= GOD BLESS AMERICA