Someone wants to kill jesus... it isn't me.

If you feel that religion should not be taught in public schools because it might alienate children that do not share similar practices and beliefs then you might be on to something. Religion of any kind should not be taught in public schools, nor should school prayer be endorsed by the public educational system. Mandatory teachings of religion as well as mandatory prayer can alienate children and teenagers with a different set of believes and principles. Children and teens already feel the pressures of youth, coming of age, sexuality, growth and development among other things, so why should schools or the government create a law that forces young people to display their differences front and center. Not everyone in this country believes in a Christian faith and by demanding a public display by those that believe or do not believe is simply wrong and oppressive. For some faith is personal and for others faith is very public but by no means should anyone decide for someone else how one should practice their faith or lack of faith.

But… I may have an argument for teaching religion in schools. Teach religion as a voluntary course, for the purpose of teaching tolerance and the understanding of different ideas and beliefs practiced by people across the globe. Or teach religion so a young teenager does not plot to blow up his high school in an attempt to enter heaven and kill Jesus. Oh yes, this is true.

In a story revealed to me by USA Today and CBS News, a young teenager in South Carolina is being brought up on charges for attempting to blow up his high school by using a weapon of mass destruction. The straight A student somehow ordered 20 pounds of ammonium nitrate for the purpose of building a bomb. His journal notes contain blueprints a bomb and have been seized by authorities. Scary? I think so. How does a young man order 20 pounds of ammonium nitrate in a day and age of tightened alerts and security? Another revelation that does not make me feel secure at all about terrorism from without or from within the borders of the consistently orange alert terrorism watch.

To return to my point, religion should be taught (as an elective) in schools. Religion should be taught just so certain young teens that want to blow up their high school and commit suicide to enter heaven to kill Jesus might have a better understanding of how faith/religion/heaven works. I am not a theologian or even someone that practices any type of religion or faith but I do have some common knowledge about Christianity that might damper the young man’s plan. First, I believe that murder is a sin and thus committing one runs the risk of damnation. Second, I believe suicide is a sin as well and according to most Christian beliefs it is a sin that sends you straight to hell. I might be wrong about this but Jesus is in heaven not in hell so meeting up with him and killing him seems a bit difficult. This brings to my next problem, how do you kill Jesus in heaven? The son of God on his own turf somehow murdered. I don’t think you have to be brilliant or even a straight A student to recognize some flaw in your plan. He is undead. If you killed him, if it were at all possible wouldn’t you fear his resurrection three days later? If killing Jesus was at all possible then would you not feel the wrath of god afterward?

I don’t have to believe in Jesus to think that this might be the dumbest thing that I have heard. It is not the idea alone that is stupid but the purpose is pretty pathetic as well. Why kill Jesus? What would anyone gain? If it happened, how would anyone know? Would he suddenly stop hearing our prayers? Would the world be filled with hate, murder, disaster, disease and heartache? Hmm… I don’t know.

I am sure this is the act of a kid that has problems beyond my understanding and sometimes there is a time for jokes and time for medical attention. I can only do jokes.