Texas pushes church into state with bills on school chaplains, Ten Commandments
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers are scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to require that the Ten Commandments be posted in every classroom in the state, part of a newly energized national effort to insert religion into public life .
Texas’ biennial legislative session is short, chaotic and packed, and it was not certain Monday whether the Ten Commandments bill would definitely get a vote Tuesday. If it doesn’t by midnight, it’s dead for the session. But groups that watch church-state issues say efforts nationwide to fund and empower religion — and, more specifically, a particular type of Christianity — are more plentiful and aggressive than they have been in years. Americans United for Separation of Church and State says it is watching 1,600 bills around the country in states such as Louisiana and Missouri. Earlier this year, Idaho and Kentucky signed into law measures that could allow teachers and public school employees to pray in front of and with students while on duty.
Many legislators cite the Supreme Court’s June ruling in favor of Coach Joe Kennedy of Bremerton, Wash., who prayed with his players on the 50-yard-line. They see the Supreme Court as righting the American ship after a half-century of wrongly separating church and state.
“There is absolutely no separation of God and government, and that’s what these bills are about. That has been confused; it’s not real,” said Texas state Sen. Mayes Middleton (R), who co-sponsored or authored three of the religion bills. “When prayer was taken out of schools, things went downhill — discipline, mental health. It’s something I heard a lot on porches when I was campaigning. It’s something I’ve thought about for a long time.”
Josh Houston, who has advocated at the Capitol for progressive and minority religious groups since 2005, said the kinds of bills passing chambers this year would have gone nowhere in the past in Texas. Even though religious expressions in public places in Texas are common, he said, there was an understanding that public employees represent the government and that legally the government shouldn’t impose religion. People have forgotten violent episodes in the United States’ past over religion, he said, such as when dozens of people were killed or injured in the mid-1800s when Catholics and Protestants fought about the use of specific Bibles in public schools.
“We’re entering a new space,” Houston said last week. “We got this right for most of the 20th century, but now people are forgetting the past. We’re at the point now where bills preference one faith over others. You point that out, and there is no interest in negotiation.”
Citizens and advocates have signed up to testify by the dozens against the Texas religion bills this session. They have noted that the bills followed a 2021 Texas law that requires school districts to post “In God We Trust” signs in public schools if someone donates them. Thousands of signs have since been donated and hung. The measures have pushed some Texans into activism and others to decide to leave the state.
A sixth-generation Texan, Freeman grew up in a religiously conservative part of the state where prayers were common at public school events. “I don’t have a problem with anyone’s private expression, but Jesus said, ‘Go in a room and pray privately.’ That’s what these bills are, false Christianity, presenting an exterior that doesn’t match the interior. It’s presented as though it’s to include Christians, and what it does is exclude everyone else.”
After 23 years in Texas, Sravan Krishna plans to move his family out of the state before his two young children start school in the fall. A practicing Hindu who attended Christian schools as a boy, Krishna said the departure will bring a “lot of pain” in the short term. But an accumulation of things — from growing opposition to diversity and anti-racism education, as well as book bans and what he calls “Christian nationalism” — forced his hand, he said.
“In the beginning, I thought: ‘How can a place like this, one of the wealthiest Zip codes in the state, be so backward?’” Krishna said. “I thought: ‘Oh, they’re just misinformed,’ but from there it never changed. There isn’t much of an uproar, and it’s even welcomed, this forcing of a particular religious view.”
Andrew Whitehead, an expert on religious nationalism at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, said his research shows that Americans have complex and even contradictory impulses around church-and-state relations.
His research shows that a decreasing percentage of Americans agree with statements such as “being a Christian is very important to being an American” and the government “should declare America a Christian nation.” However, he said, many Americans still identify as Christian, even if nominally.
In the often-cited research Whitehead has done with University of Oklahoma sociologist Sam Perry, they found that when it comes to ranking and measuring Americans’ support for merging Christianity and nationalism, the biggest group is what the men call “accommodators.”
“When they see the Ten Commandments, they think Christianity is a net good in society. They think, ‘Yeah, this country has always been kind of Christian.’ So they mostly stay quiet,” Whitehead said. “They think, ‘These things don’t affect me.’”
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People move to Texas to vote on their knees?
this effort seems a bit redundant. with a lack of gun laws in texas, kids already have a better chance of meeting geezus just by going to school. /s
Seems that the wall wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Let's just build it around the North of Texas rather than on the Southern border.
I'd miss Austin, SXSW and NASA at Huntsville and Houston but it would still be a win/win.
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I'll bet that was a GREAT post.
We are all adults, and I don't think we need someone to decide what should or should not be posted.
You know they won't be pushing for any version of the 10 Commandments but the Evangelical one. It's obvious to anyone with a working brain cell this is all designed for the takeover by the Christian Nationalists. What about those Texans that don't want to pray in school? Will those kids be forced to pray? Don't they have rights?
Jesus I'm getting sick
Y'know how there are some wild-eyed lefties who have a pet piece of legislation they roll out every term to throw raw meat to the rabid base? Medicare for all, maybe? 90% top tax brackets? Y'know... shit they know is never going to pass and would be disastrous if it did, but it wins them a few thousand votes among the morons in their district?
This is just the right wing version of that.
Do you think it actually possible to force anyone to pray?
This religious, Backwoods, Talking in Tongues, primitive, HATE-filled FAKE CHRISTIANS.
Jesus wasn't punitive, he didn't demand money, HATE those who had an alternative belief, or actively work to force everyone to conform to their twisted views where they are in charge.
They don't read their Bible or the CONSTITUTION.
tell us how you really feel!
Hear that Californians, New Yorkers, and all of the rest of the leftists fleeing to Texas?
Texas is telling you to get the fuck out!
That is if you still believe the same might mental midgets that you are fleeing from. The ones that push it is OK for LGBTQ+ teachers and school administrations to groom students; CRT; believe that they know better than parents when it comes to educating their children; and tried to have concerned parents labeled terrorists by the DOJ/FBI.
I am sure many Texans will be thrilled to see you go. Please take as many illegal immigrants as your vehicles can hold with you. Don't leave them in the clutches of the evil Greg Abbott! The sanctuary states/cities you return to will surely thank you.
I don't agree with forcing religion on anyone; but the left's utter hypocrisy is galling.
... and you could have left it there without the liturgy.
Shouldn't they save that for the money lenders?
If all those tax payers leave TX then TX just might have to implement a state income tax. Their high service fees won't cut it
Texas property taxes are crazy high...
Back in 1991 or so I had to renew the tags for my car...it was $125. I just renewed my tags last week in Arkansas for 30.
TX nickle and dimes people to death for services such as car tags, birth and death certificates, driver's licenses....what happens when all those rich Californians say fuck it and go home? TX will be in a world of hurt unless they can find another revenue stream
Have you checked yours and compared them?
And FYI, Texas has no state income tax and therefore the taxes on other things.
Ours here are dependent upon the year of the vehicle. Eventually it gets down to around the same except we have to pay the property tax on the vehicle with it, pay for an annual inspection, and insurance proof is a must before you get your tag renewed.
We have personal property taxes that we pay on our vehicles and toys (thanks Bill Clinton!), but we don't have an annual inspection
Yes, I know they have no state income taxes which is why all their other shit is so damn high
Our property taxes keep the total for the tag up around the $100 level and the re-registration is only like $35 of that
My car tags run about $75 per year.
State inspection is $12 a year--I think.
My property taxes are rather high (partly because of what town I live in--it has great services) but not unbearable, and that is after having the appraisal go up by over $60,00 in just two years.
State sales tax plus local tax runs usually around 8.5% depending on locality.
No state income tax is something I love.
In this way, many more people who actually use the services are paying for those services.
You all are worse than we are. Ours also goes down depending on the age. Brand new have to remember it will be like five hundred. Then it drops way down.
No inspections needed. Only need to show proof of insurance when you buy one if a loan.
My property taxes aren't too bad then again I moved to an unincorporated area several years ago so I am actually county and no city. We have been tried to be annexed several times. They have failed so far.
I forgot, we only have to have a rear tag on the car.
I like that
Me too. I got pulled over one time in another state because they didn't know we didn't have to do that.
Waste of resources to have double as well.
Same in Arkansas and PA. It is a waste to have have 2 tags
Same here. Then it drops to the mid 200's from there.
FOX hook, line, sinker, reel, and pole...
ssdd - it gives me a headache
Have you ever actually encountered anyone “groomed” in this way? What was the effect? Was a straight kid turned gay? Just want to know what the actual level of concern should be.
On the other hand, I’m pretty sure I could point you to a long list of cases of kids being genuinely groomed and sexually abused in a religious setting. Catholic dioceses have paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to settle such cases. Weirdly, I haven’t seen that nearly as much with public school districts, and I’m not personally aware of it ever being the result of a school being inclusive or supportive of LGBT students and families.
But I have an open mind and await your information.
Why would any leftist except a Mexican or a Guatemalan flee to Texas?
Anthropogenic global warming and the political climate would make that dumb.
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The red states suck on the government tit.
It's actually the blue states that pay their way.
Do the research.
You are mistaking federal dollars with welfare. Not all federal dollars are welfare. California gets 1/3 of the welfare dollars and only has 1/6 the population.
They always do...............it's really quite sad they continue with that misguided narrative...............
Debt is part of an large economy producing a big GDP. Here are the states that have the highest GDP:
The ten states with the highest GDP are California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, New Jersey, and Washington. The state with the highest GDP is California, with a GDP of $ 3.5 trillion.
And these are the states with the lowest GDP:
The ten states with the lowest GDP are:
1. Vermont – $37 billion
2. Wyoming – $44 billion
3. Alaska – $57 billion
4. Montana – $61 billion
5. South Dakota – $62 billion
6. North Dakota – $66 billion
7. Rhode Island – $68 billion
8. Maine – $79 billion
9. Delaware – $84 billion
10. West Virginia – $91 billion
.
CA falls to 5th when adjusted to GDP per capita and Wash DC climbs to 1st.
Is your argument that the higher our debt state/federal the higher our GDP?
Here is a link to what he posted:
Debt by State 2023 (worldpopulationreview.com)
Texas's debt ratio is 62.5%
New York's debt ratio of 273.8%.
New Jersey's debt ratio is 441.7%.
Illinois has a debt ratio of 468.7%.
California has a debt ratio of 120.5%.
Florida has a debt ratio of 40.9%.
The four high debt states also are widely recognized to be higher taxing states than Texas or Florida, so it isn't a question of collecting enough, it is a question of spending.
Thanks. I didn't realize I needed to repost the link from the previous comment.
Yes, no doubt states with higher population produce higher GDP. That's why eight of the ten best in your link rank where they do and the ten lowest. I think it's notable that in the list of the top ten GDP states all of the red states have a lower debt per capita ratio than the blue ones.
PS for the link in 3.5.4 see immediately previous post..
And yet a few years ago, some were gloating that Texas was gaining Electoral College seats. They only want more people if they're willing to wipe their asses with the Constitution, eh?
It did indeed gain seats.
That's ridiculous.
Tell Ronin it's ridiculous. It's the message he claims y'all are sending.
I see he said nothing of the sort, but I do seem some wild projections!
Whereas I see the logical conclusion of his claim.
Some people had a hard time with playing connect the dots when they were kids, Sandy
especially when those dots are so close together...
Then you should be able to quote him saying something near "They only want more people if they're willing to wipe their asses with the Constitution, eh?"
I'll wait.
Connect the dots, Texan.
Sure.
Statement made.
Response claiming the poster said something he didn't was made.
Post asking for quote for said claim was made.
No quote forthcoming, thus far at least.
I'll keep waiting.
How's that for connecting the dots?
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I am positive you can see whatever it is you have imagined him claiming.
A damn shame you couldn't finish it!
Drawing conclusions requires more than regurgitation, Tex.
I will look forward to that from you.
You requested regurgitation, Texan.
wrong.
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Everybody but you seems to understand.
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oops...
That is a CRUEL, inhumane, self-righteous point of view filled with effusive, hate-spewed BULL CHIPS.
Texas is a STATE, not its own RACIST country still bitter about losing the Civil War.
Exactly!!!
It all pretty much this:
And also to make them feel superior to everyone else.
I hate the smugness of these people
Me too. If it's not that they think they know better than everyone else it's they are poor victims and everyone's out to get them.
I just found a cool meme
Good One...
Yep, nearly every religion, worldwide, does the same.
Gandhi said it best, "I like your JESUS, but not much your Christians!"
Is that the same Gandhi that said, In 1903, that white people in South Africa should be "the predominating race" and that Black people there "are troublesome, very dirty and live like animals"? Didn't he also in his late 70s, sleep naked with his grand niece when she was in her late teens?
Not that I am aware of. That sounds more like RIGHT WING HATE SPEAK!
Where do singers go to have their head
CIRCIMZIDED!
Yeah, unfortunately, Gandhi was a racist in his younger days. I don't know if when he found enlightenment he changed his views or not
In addition to his racist views, Gandhi liked to sleep naked with his naked grandniece when she was in her late teens. Talk about your naked ambition.
As a religious person, I don’t even want the public school trying to religiously indoctrinate my kids. We have a church. I don’t want another one.
I'd say that's probably a pretty big red flag for their particular version of religion in public schools. but hey, at least your kids won't be groomed for any gender deviation or indoctrinated by actual american history that will make them hate our country. do you think they'll be reciting a psalm or a prayer, and before or after the pledge of allegiance? /s
Just wait until the Satanic Temple lobbies to have their tenets posted next to the Commandments in state areas. The state won't have constitutional authority to refuse. Not to say TX wouldn't try.
Yeah, that's where my mind went too. It wasn't all that long ago that there were law suits to remove religious Christmas displays from city and state owned land. Then there were law suits to allow any and all faiths to put up their displays.
But this seems to be more an issue for the First Amendment where the State is attempting to set up a religion as the only acceptable religion. I'm not a constitutional scholar but it seems to me that any lawsuit against this would win based on the First Amendment.
Brilliant, uncertified chaplains replacing professional counselors. The next school shooting they can offer thoughts and prayers right on the spot.
Seems that the wall wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Let's just build it around the North of Texas rather than on the Southern border.
I'd miss Austin, SXSW and NASA at Huntsville but it would still be a win/win.
There it is... Killed not because it was dumb in the first place, but because they missed a deadline. Well, maybe next time...
awww...what a shame
They did push through a property tax cut so all's well.
Thanks for your post.