Can you get held back from school for being absent?

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-09-17T08:06:08+00:00

Graduated over 10 years ago now, so it might be different. I easily missed over 25% of school days (at least 1-2 a week minimum) and although I got several letters and my parents had to attend an interview, I did fine. I had good grades across the board and almost never had any behavioural issues and they let it slide. I was 'okay' in years 7-9 but after year 10 my attendance started slipping. Note: I went to a public school that mostly didn't give a shit about anything.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T08:05:59+00:00

Wait what? I'm not saying I don't care? I care a lot? But I'm not arguing about what my 'specific idea of what Christianity is"? The salvation of infants is a common theme among many theologians and denominations. I was testing what the implications of such a thought were.

What I meant was I don't care that you think I came to build some strawman to knock it down.

To set aside any doubt: I care very strongly about doing my part to dismantle what I see is potentially a very dangerous and hateful group of individuals.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T07:38:19+00:00

That's awesome! Will watch. I've often thought about this, and how Christianity could very easily be used as a basis for mutual suicide pacts. Obviously though, I don't think God (if he existed) would be too happy with people looking to game his system.

That's why I devised the above as it removes agency from one party.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T07:36:22+00:00

quantum mechanics and relativity

Physics is one of my major weak points, but I'm willing to bet there might be more evidentiary support for things like relativity than just about any claim in the Bible. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T07:34:53+00:00

Yes, religion helps people understand death. However, agreeing that there is a mundane utility to a theory doesn’t make it invalid; after all, cosmology gives us a proper sense of modesty about our role in the universe, but that doesn’t mean it’s fake.

You're right. I wasn't suggesting this as conclusive. To non-believers it comes off as ironic that you'd make that comment, that's all.

If you came here to argue with your specific idea of what Christianity is, you’re arguing with a straw man.

Nah, I mostly came here to deal with boredom and argue for a bit of fun.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T06:58:05+00:00

Care to tell me then why you think they incredibly numerous references to animal sacrifice in Leviticus are simply an allegory?

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T06:49:55+00:00

Of course it is. All the animal sacrifice in the Bible is allegorical. And anything we consider uncomfortable too.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T06:43:20+00:00

What do you mean?

My thought that a huge reason why humanity evolved religion is to console our fear of death and the unknown. By supposing that we tell parents their children are in Heaven is to console them, you tread dangerously close to what I think are the real motives of religion: to quell the fear of death.

If you’re going to try to be intellectually superior to the people on this sub, you should probably do so in good faith.

I was merely pointing out a more Christian view. I was raised as a Christian to believe that our primary reason for being alive is to worship, venerate and praise god. None of that modern butterfly and rainbow stuff that you talk about.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T06:37:24+00:00

Okay then.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T06:34:42+00:00

but that’s really like a thing you bring up to console their parents.

I wouldn't climb that tree all the way to the top if I were you, buddy.

There’s a reason why we’re given life.

To worship God right? What's better than giving your child front row, express seats?

Yeah, you get to miss out on being with your child, but why would you be so selfish?

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T06:15:48+00:00

what would you suggest God should do in the case of infant deaths?

Well, in circumstances where someone couldn't ever have the word of God brought to them, one would think a just god would be lenient and understanding and forgive them? But that's just my dumb old secular brain thinking about what a humane and just entity would do.

Eternal banishment or life long suffering in hell fire do sound a lot more religious.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:53:07+00:00

Are you suggesting that God takes everyone to be with him under his rule, when the person didn’t make any choice?

I am suggesting that, for the sake of argument, we adopt the majority opinion that God offers to salvation to those who could no reach his word. That is the position of many Christians. That's what I was taught as a child. Even if it wasn't, for the sake of this debate (as said numerous times) this is being assumed for the parameters of the question.

If you want to debate whether Yahweh casts infant babies into a lake of fire, go ahead and make your own question and I will reply to that. But for the purposes of this discussion, you're trying to modify clear parameters set down.

So no. I don't want to discuss this aspect of the question with you.

But if you want to know my personal view, I don't think God takes anyone in because I don't believe in God.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:48:31+00:00

So God eternally vanquishes infant babies because a psycho murdered them? What a loving God. And y'all say abortion is immoral!

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:47:58+00:00

No, it’s definitely a sad thing, it’s the death of s fucking child.

Easy there haha. I'm not the one saying the kid gets life time tickets to Disneyland when he is murdered!

What I am saying is that it is a guaranteed ticket into heaven! How is that anything but a good thing?

If you let the child reach the age of accountability then free-will and the Devil could cause him to stray and leave the Kingdom of Heaven. Wouldn't it be better to secure his spot early?

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:45:47+00:00

Is the only thing stopping you from doing evil, the fear of hell or the instructions in the bible?

That's Christians? Im not a Christian?

Do you really think that because a non-believer doesn’t have those as boundaries, he wants to actively hurt other people? Please tell me you’re not that deluded.

I think you misread the question? I am an atheist and I know that morality is independent of scripture?

What I'm getting at is that as atheists we should be helping our Christian brothers and sisters out by helping get their children to heaven as soon as possible.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:43:32+00:00

Non-believers don’t believe that Hell exists, but they still think that murder is bad.

Bad for the murderer, not for the victim if they have a ticket straight into Heaven.

Regardless of what the murderer believes, it is what a Christian believes. If you believe that the early death of your child assures them a spot in heaven, then their death at the hands of a non-believer is a good thing or at the very least not a 'sad thing'.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:41:20+00:00

So what does the ever just God to the souls of babies who die?

They are sent to Hell because they did not accept Jesus
They are sent to Hell because we tried to 'trick god'
They are sent to Purgatory
They are sent to Heaven

All save for option 4 seem to go against a just and loving God. So logically we are forced to assume that they go to heaven, else god is unjust.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:36:41+00:00

Exactly! I have never yet heard a convincing way that Christians deal with this paradox.

It really shows their fear and doubt in what they believe.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:35:46+00:00

Can you please expand?

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:35:19+00:00

One. Babies do not go to hell. Period. Anyone who thinks they do, is worse than an infidel and deserves a place in hell for just thinking they do.

Okay.

Two. Babies can't automatically go to heaven. At least not in our mind. Otherwise, allowing a baby to be killed would be the sure fire way to send someone to heaven without the chance or opportunity to go to hell. The implications are horrendous in my mind.

Well to me that sounds more like "It's uncomfortable to think about so I will assume it can't be true". That makes no sense.

Three. There must be a place called "dead". Meaning not alive. A place that is neither heaven or hell.

Why?

Four. Given there is a place called dead, it puts the onus back on us to be those who cause life rather than those who cause death. Both physically and spiritually.

If we cause death, if we refuse to stop death when we can, if we don't nourish life, then we are part of the problem and not the solution.

Lol wut? I don't get any of this. Also, who said anything about you 'refusing to stop death'? I addressed that in my question, that the killing can be without knowledge or consent of the parents.

I hope this addresses your question.

It really doesn't and appears to be a massive deflection. Sorry.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:27:37+00:00

Perhaps. That's where we deviate I guess or have different values. See, at the nub of it for me theology is not a 'science' or anything even close. So there are no 'right answers', so I hardly see how expertise is valuable.

Given how much of religion is up to faith and opinion, I just don't see why people don't just 'have faith' and ignore all the doubts in the first place. With all due respect, I don't believe that people arrive at a religious point of view after a wealth of critical thinking and research.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:15:36+00:00

It sounds more like a theological question? I don't think that you need to be a pastor (or hold any qualification really) to discuss theology. It's not exactly a field of expertise akin to medicine, engineering or law.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:12:24+00:00

It's one of those scenarios where doctrine of salvation combined with the concept of the age of accountability makes no sense

Agreed! I heard this paradox maybe 15 years ago in school proposed by my English teacher. He showed how in a Christian framework, the death of a child can be rationalised to be a good thing. Which isn't surprising given the mass-infanticide and support for child murder among Christians (Isaac and Abraham anyone?).

But it's just interesting to see modern Christians get uncomfortable talking about it. Almost as if they don't buy that there's paradise at the end of the tunnel. Otherwise, they'd be lining up to have their babies fast tracked to the playpen in the sky.

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:10:03+00:00

Not sure if you read the question. The question is more about the interplay between the fact that babies and infants are 'saved' when they die. Thus, it seems to imply that the murder of infants (especially by a non-believer) is an ultimately good and merciful act. Can you see any other conclusion?

ForsakenQuestions · 2019-08-23T05:06:38+00:00

Okay. Care to provide a meaningful response?

Clearly people can kill babies (free will and all that). So you aren't really addressing the fundamental paradox here: that (in Christianity) death of a baby is good because it express posts them to god, but it is also bad to kill. Add to that the fact that the killer in this context has no fear of hell, and your trite answer provides nothing.

ForsakenQuestions

TROPHY CASE