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    Should religion be allowed into our school systems?

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    • S
      Sanctum
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      Sanctum
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      There's a group at my highschool, calling themselves "God Squad". They basically just go around the school preaching. Everybody who isn't christian really dislikes them, as they're always trying to convert people. They pick fights with people of the muslim community, and are generally distasteful.
      My friends and I draw pentagrams on our palms and shove our hand close to their faces and growl whenever they start preaching to us.

      This leads me to another question for you guys to debated over. Do you believe that religious practices should be allowed in school?

      I for one, believe that if one wants to go about in the public school system preaching about their beliefs, they should enroll in a private school catering specifically to their religious views, not pressuring people in their peer group to conform to their ideals.

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      • ?
        Daisuke CP9
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        Agreed. This is why there are Filipino Catholic Schools in my community, you're right. Religion is always best in Private Schools than in public where things do get fucked up.

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        • Carly
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          Not religion per se but some sort of mandatory theology class might be good. You know, so that people actually know what the hell their religion is about. đź‘…

          . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Credo quia absurdum non credere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

          Cap'n Carter 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • CosmicDebris
            CosmicDebris
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            @Sanctum:

            There's a group at my highschool, calling themselves "God Squad". They basically just go around the school preaching. Everybody who isn't christian really dislikes them, as they're always trying to convert people. They pick fights with people of the muslim community, and are generally distasteful.
            My friends and I draw pentagrams on our palms and shove our hand close to their faces and growl whenever they start preaching to us.

            This leads me to another question for you guys to debated over. Do you believe that religious practices should be allowed in school?

            I for one, believe that if one wants to go about in the public school system preaching about their beliefs, they should enroll in a private school catering specifically to their religious views, not pressuring people in their peer group to conform to their ideals.

            If they're in a private religious school, wouldn't that be, "preaching to the choir?" đź‘…
            I don't like people who go around picking fights with people and preaching at them. Even though I'm a Christian, I don't like dealing with those kinds of people. They should really read the bible more and look at how Jesus and the early Christians spread the gospel - it certainly wasn't getting in people's faces and picking fights.
            However…outlawing people from expressing their beliefs isn't good either.
            You could say the same of political rallying.

            At my college campus we have an area that we call "the free speech walkway" or something like that...anyone from any political group or religious faith can express whatever they want, hold up signs, have booths, hand out flyers, as long as it's kept peaceful.

            Perhaps your school should step in and give these kids (and anyone else) a space to organize within a certain area, so that they aren't being restricted to express a personal belief, but they aren't treading on other's personal space either.

            Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa

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            • Taleran
              Taleran
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              Taleran
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              Public = Constitution Rules Over everything and it clearly states no

              Private = Who cares its private

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              • P
                Pants-eater
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                I think the current system is good enough, let it be optional for students to have a scripture class depending on what the child thinks and what the parents think. Though it's kinda fuzzy whent the parents are religious nutjobs.

                I also believe people have the right to be free of religious harrassment.

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                • Envy
                  Envy
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                  Schools should not teach religion.

                  However I feel that it is the right of the students to express their religion… as long as they don't try to convert me back. XD

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                  • CosmicDebris
                    CosmicDebris @Envy
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                    You guys aren't reading the original post. Sactum isn't talking about schools teaching religion or supporting any particular religion, he/she is talking about whether kids should be allowed to express their faith during their on time on school campus.

                    Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa

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                    • D
                      Deblas @Envy
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                      @Envy:

                      Schools should not teach religion.

                      Meh, I don't know. Back in 8th grade we studied it in history class. It wasn't an in depth theology class of course, but we did get around to learning the basic beliefs and such.

                      Anyway, I find that its okay as long as it doesn't get out of hand. My college's christian groups for example just hand out flyers for activities they do (usually a dinner) and tell you to go if you're interested in joining. No "eternal damnation if you don't become part of us now".

                      These guys on the other hand reminds me of the hippie dread locked socialists group we have. đź‘…

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                      • KamenRiderNeko
                        KamenRiderNeko
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                        Nothing wrong with expressing your faith in school, but rubbing it in people's faces or picking fights tends to go against what Christianity is all about. I really don't like those type of so-called 'Christians' that think they know everything when in fact they are just hypocritical judgemental douchebags.

                        Someone needs to inform those guys that trying to shove religion down peoples' throats is NOT the way to go. It makes people hate that reiigion moreso.

                        And as for teaching, since it was sorta brought up. I don't see a problem with Christianity being taught in public schools. We learned about Buddhism, and all sorts of other religions… so why not? Learning more about it may help people see that its not just a religion full of narrow-minded biggots.

                        2-BF343-B2-B56-E-4-F67-A5-BE-60-F706-B95-E20

                        *** PlasticStar5 Instagram***

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                        • Local-chan
                          Local-chan @KamenRiderNeko
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                          The best thing to do, instead of making RE a mandatory subject, is to make it a choice, instead of forcing it down people's throats like they do.

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                          • M
                            Mister_Anbu
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                            I'd classify myself as an athiest more then anything, considering my parents are Bhuddist, but we haven't visited a temple in more than 10 years. Couple that with the fact that I have very liberal idealogies, the idea of a mandatory religion class in school is a load of shit to me. Just had to get that out the way before I asnwer the topic creator's question. As for that, I don't have anyone in my school that runs around trying to shove their ideals down other people's throats. I'd personally tell them to fuck off.

                            I disagree with allowing people to practice their faith in school, there is a distinct seperation of church and state that should be upheld. Give way to something, and boom, they start asking for more. It's best to stear clear of it, seeing as religion often causes problems and would thus create more unecessary cliques in schools. Stealing student's rights? Screw you, go to a private school. Harsh!

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                            • Roronoa Zolo
                              Roronoa Zolo
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                              I think that it is wrong that they are preaching to people in the middle of school but I do not believe that it is wrong to have religion in our school system.

                              I think that if you want to go and discuss your religion with fellow students, start a club or something of that nature where you can do it without trying to shove your religion down somebody else's throat.

                              (Thanks Jeece)

                              Everyone loves Magical Trevor

                              http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/37/

                              The long awaited sequel

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                              • CosmicDebris
                                CosmicDebris @Mister_Anbu
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                                @Mister_Anbu:

                                I disagree with allowing people to practice their faith in school, there is a distinct seperation of church and state that should be upheld.

                                Except, the idea of "seperation of church and state" doesn't mean "you can't practice your faith in public property". I recall that the first amendment says congress shall make no law establishing or prohibiting the free excercise thereof. If you make it a law that people can't practice their religion, that's going against the first amendment. People forget that the idea of seperation of church and state is to prevent the state from creating a state-wide religion at the exclusion of others, not "freedom from having to deal with people's religion".

                                Give way to something, and boom, they start asking for more.

                                And it's the same for taking away religious freedom. Let a little be taken away a little here, a little more gets taken away.

                                It's best to stear clear of it, seeing as religion often causes problems and would thus create more unecessary cliques in schools. Stealing student's rights? Screw you, go to a private school. Harsh!

                                Both highschools that I went to had various different kind of faith groups that met on campus, they never caused any problems. Don't let a couple of jerks in some schools ruin it for everyone.

                                Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa

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                                • K
                                  Kazu-kun
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                                  My veiw point in this issue is the exact same as my old Social Studies teacher, which is that relgion should be taught, but only in reference to that period in history. Stuff like christianity should be taught in the context of the Middle Ages and such.

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                                  • P
                                    Pants-eater
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                                    I actually feel kind of offended that the school Christian group gets to go to beaches and all sorts of cool places and gets fish and chips and all sorts of goodies for simply being Christian.

                                    And that is a crock of shit.

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                                    • I
                                      Invader Pichu
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                                      People should be allowed to express their religious beliefs anywhere in this country. And I mean ANY religious beliefs. I remember when I went to high school, some kids would be sent to the office for having pentagram necklaces or writing a pentagram on their hand. :\

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                                      • mr_bushido
                                        mr_bushido @Invader Pichu
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                                        @Invader:

                                        I remember when I went to high school, some kids would be sent to the office for having pentagram necklaces or writing a pentagram on their hand. :\

                                        Those bastards made me turn my Slayer t-shirt inside out… THAT'S UNAMERICAN!!!

                                        =P

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                                        • ?
                                          Uni
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                                          Well i have nothing against religion in school/college as i find it quite intereting~ but when different religions try the 'converting-you-to-them' i think is quite wrong u should chose wether you want to join not be pressured into it -_-'

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                                          • COWMAKAZE
                                            COWMAKAZE
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                                            My history teacher once told our class that, in Massachusetts at least, you can do pretty much anything as a student so long as it does not distract/harm other students or retract from their learning experience. He told us as an example that one time a kid came in wearing a T-shirt with a picture of a nun masturbating on it, and, although the school tried to punish him, they legally couldn't do anything because it was entirely within his rights to wear whatever shirt he wished, so long as it was not a major distraction or detracted from other students learning.

                                            This is my basic opinion on people practicing religion in schools. If you want to do it, that's fine, I don't really care. But if you are going to do it, it had better be in a not-so-overt way as to distract other people, like doing what Sanctum said in the first post. Practice it to yourself, don't try to convert those around you; the very fact that it is a public school means that they have the right to their religion and can not be persecuted as a result of it within a public place. Just because you have the right to practice religion in school does not mean you can encroach on other people's rights.

                                            And, although this isn't really what the topic is about, I am all for religion being taught in schools in class form. Not a Christianity class or a Judaism class, mind you, but a Theology class in general would be very useful - provided it was treated in the same way that a Mythology class is. Please, please, please, please do not interpret that statement as meaning that I think all religion is a myth. I just mean that teaching it in such a manner would allow for an impartial teaching of each religion that is within the curriculum, with no one getting special treatment by the teacher and the point of the class being to understand religion, not neessarily to convert anyone to it.

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                                            • D
                                              Den Den @COWMAKAZE
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                                              hey hey, does that mean in america you don't have religion classes in school?
                                              we have them in germany! you can choose between catholic christianity class, evangelic christianity class(hell, i don't know how you name those religions properly), ethnics(for those who aren't christians) and in some schools you have turkish class.
                                              it's a good thing, that never made problems or something. we have those classes from first grade till graduation. it's only annoying that it is at times such a waste of time because some topics are repeated and stuff. but very interesting nevertheless. I've tried ethnics and catholic classes and you practically learn about all the religions existing. so i've learned about the bible, about ethnical differences and even about sects (and drugs)and we talked about life and universe and death and everything that has to do with society, mentality and so forth. it's a good preparation for your life and it opens your mind. there's no propaganda or something, no one forces beliefs on you.

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                                              • S
                                                sugarlevi
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                                                Yeah it kinda surprises me as well.
                                                In the Netherlands even religious schools are funded by the government. So there are a lot of christian schools. I went to a very christian primary school, being from a village in the middle of the bible belt, I even went through this whole crap of sunday school, bible club, catechisation etc. just because all my friends did. ;)
                                                And I'm really glad I did, if I hadn't I would be clueless about a whole lot of common knowledge. Like where Sodom and Gomorra comes from, who Judas is, what believing in a god means etc.. And I also got told a lot about jews and muslims as, all should know, they are very much related to each other.

                                                At the non religious schools, there are religion classes sometimes. But mostly they aren't. I've never had any at high school or up. Only a project about the Islam, but that was all long before this world conflict came into existence as big as it is now. And when it did, I was flabbergasted about the knowledge of most people about the Islam, because is sucked!

                                                But learning about religion is really important to understanding why some things are as they are. And being able to understand the people from different religions. I can't emphasize that too much.

                                                But nobody ever forced their believes on me, I just listened to their stories nodded and kept quiet after expressing my doubts about it all.
                                                Never came across weird highschoolgangs that wanted to make me believe in their god. If they would have, I'd turn my back at them and ignore them. And would be happy when someone would make them stop. They'd better leave other people alone. Wouldn't that be harassment?

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                                                • P
                                                  Pants-eater
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                                                  I believe schools should stay the fuck away from Narconon.

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                                                  • Zephos
                                                    Zephos @Den Den
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                                                    @Den:

                                                    hey hey, does that mean in america you don't have religion classes in school?
                                                    we have them in germany! you can choose between catholic christianity class, evangelic christianity class(hell, i don't know how you name those religions properly), ethnics(for those who aren't christians) and in some schools you have turkish class.
                                                    it's a good thing, that never made problems or something. we have those classes from first grade till graduation. it's only annoying that it is at times such a waste of time because some topics are repeated and stuff. but very interesting nevertheless. I've tried ethnics and catholic classes and you practically learn about all the religions existing. so i've learned about the bible, about ethnical differences and even about sects (and drugs)and we talked about life and universe and death and everything that has to do with society, mentality and so forth. it's a good preparation for your life and it opens your mind. there's no propaganda or something, no one forces beliefs on you.

                                                    Don't you mean Ethics?

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                                                    • J
                                                      jinjue @Zephos
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                                                      Should religion be allowed into our school systems?

                                                      Short answer: hell no. Schools are a secular institution, and they should remain as such.

                                                      But it isn't that simple.

                                                      I for one abhor anything that might infringe upon the rights of the individual, as long as the practice and/or belief of those rights are of no harm to anyone else. Ergo, I have no problem whatsoever with students being allowed to practice their beliefs proudly and freely wherever they go, within reason. We aren't fascists, and despite the secularity of public school as an institution singling out and banning religion would make secularists no better than non-secularists who insist that prayer in school should be mandatory. Christian students should have every right to wear a crucifix and carry a bible if they want to, just as Muslim students have every right to wear a Hijab and carry a Qu'ran and Jewish students to wear a Star of David or a Chai, etc. etc. etc. Also, not only is banning the expression of personal belief total bullshit as it goes against a fundamental aspect of the First Amendment, it's impossible and is really more trouble than it's worth in the end.

                                                      But I'm with CosmicDebris here. Personal expression of personal belief? Awesome, go for it, no skin off my back. Extra-personal expression of personal belief? Sod off, seriously. The minute personal belief turns you into a proselytizing douchebag, you need to take a step back and realise that not everyone has the same beliefs as you. Getting into people's faces and forcibly preaching at people only makes you a Grade A, bigoted, mouth-breathing turd of the executive level in the end; no excuses. I've been on the receiving end of that, and trust me…no matter how 'good' your intentions may be, you still come off looking like a zealous asshole douche, and no one likes a zealous asshole douche.

                                                      I'm also strongly against the idea of mandatory teaching of religion in school. Theology classes exist for people who want to take them, but to force everyone into taking a theology class would again detract from the secular nature of public school as an institution. Also, I've yet to take a theology class that wasn't taught by a non-biased, purely objective teacher, and I've taken more than a few theology classes in my day. It should also be of no surprise that I'm strongly opposed to religious ideology and dogmatism affecting secular courses, such as history and the sciences. If you or your family has an issue with secular studies, then don't enroll in a secular school, DUH. This point is particularly sore for me right now, given the recent nonsense going on in one of my local school districts.

                                                      But to go back to the original point of the thread, I don't see any reason to outright ban religion in school. Again like CosmicDebris, the last high school I attended had several religious and faith student groups and organizations that met on campus with no problems at all. There was a daily morning Christian prayer group that met around the flagpole, a Muslim prayer group that gathered together in the commons for Salaat, and at least one coven that I knew of that hung around behind the school, and none of them had any problems as far as I know. The groups as a whole kept to themselves and welcomed anyone who wanted to attend, and that was it. Good on them, I say, because I didn't have to deal with it. As long as it stays within the group and doesn't get into my personal business, it's fine with me.

                                                      The exact second it does leave the group and gets in my face, however…it's on.

                                                      ~ jj ~

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                                                      • Cap'n Carter
                                                        Cap'n Carter @Carly
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                                                        @Carly:

                                                        Not religion per se but some sort of mandatory theology class might be good. You know, so that people actually know what the hell their religion is about. đź‘…

                                                        …or, so that people are more informed about other peoples' religions. I personally think it's a pretty decent idea.

                                                        I went to Catholic school for high school, and there was a mandatory religion class each year. Until the senior year it was mostly "hey Catholicism and the Bible are super special cool," then we took a class about several different religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and even tribal religions. It was a very fun and informative class; a lot of the kids complained about "stupid religions that made no sense" and the "big words" in Hinduism and islam and such, but I had a good time.

                                                        I think with the kind of climate the world's had lately, a class like that would do a lot of good.

                                                        the bigot who thinks being an asshole is actually worth shit

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                                                          Den Den @Cap'n Carter
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                                                          Don't you mean Ethics?

                                                          oh yeah, i meant that,not ethnics.oops:ninja:

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                                                          • Ramza
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                                                            if they start teaching me about the religion (i dont believe in a certain religion)
                                                            then i dont care….

                                                            but if they start trying to convert me…then thats a different story...

                                                            Brawl Name: Ramza

                                                            Brawl Code: 1805-1932-2783

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                                                            • M
                                                              Mr. All Sunday
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                                                              I see no reason why classes studying religion shouldn't be allowed in public school, people are ridiculously ignorant about other religions other than their own (and a lot of times, they are ignorant about their own). what we need to do is teach religion, and not preach it.

                                                              Also, I'd like at least one other person in my high school to know what a Pagan is.

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                                                              • Local-chan
                                                                Local-chan @Mr. All Sunday
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                                                                @Mr.:

                                                                Also, I'd like at least one other person in my high school to know what a Pagan is.

                                                                It's a Festival isn't it? Or was it a sheep? I usually get those two mixed up….;)

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                                                                • Daz
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                                                                  Practicing and preaching religion in school, that I am against, for no other reason than it disturbs the educational process for the individual and class alike. This can be intentional and unintentional, and I've seen both.

                                                                  The unintential insists on performing traditions and rules which makes them unable to take part in all of the activities and discussions, because it's not allowed for them, are against it etc. Now, I'm not saying theres anything wrong with following your beliefs and own moral code, but for your own sake and others, you shouldn't do it in school.
                                                                  And then theres' the intentional, who aren't religious, but use their religion in the same way as above, as legal means of skipping school.

                                                                  On top of that, I've seen extern organisations come to schools and preach their religion - and not even officially.

                                                                  But I'm all for having religion as a subject and debate topic in school. In the danish schools we have religion (formerly Christianity) from we're 7 to 15, and then again when wer'e 18. The first 7 years it's a waste of time (stories from the bible while the kids doodle, not even listening), but in the last year we debate and discern the similarities and conflicts between the major religions. It's great, because it allows you to understand foreign cultures a lot better, and students can often give an inside view on their religions.

                                                                  So: The subject of religion is way cool, broadens your horizons and fills you with wisdom, but the practice of religion mostly brings trouble.

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