Woo vs. Woo

carnyfolk5 · 20th June 2007, 01:27 PM

Okay, I saw this story in the paper and I just needed to share it (I've tried searching the for this story through the forums. I didn't find anything, but just in case, if I'm repeating anything...my apologies).

What follows is a story out of my home state, South Carolina. It's about a children's summer reading program that was cancelled after a group objected to its featuring books and/or programs on such things as palm reading and tarot cards and such. The interesting thing? Skeptics aren't to be blamed for this one, local chuches are. You'll just have to read it to find out. It's kinda like Mad Magazine's Spy vs. Spy...let's call this Woo vs. Woo.

Here's the article:

Concerns about occult stop Pickens reading program

Greenville News, The (SC)
June 7, 2007
Author: Ginny Johnson
Estimated printed pages: 2

By Ginny Johnson

STAFF WRITER

The threat of protesters marching in front of Pickens County library branches influenced officials' decision to cancel a youth summer reading program.

"They were talking about picketing the library," said Marguerite Keenan, library system director. "I have little children coming in here and to have to walk through a gauntlet like that just sounded horrible."

The library canceled its "You Never Know at Your Library" summer mystery and suspense series for students in grades 5 and up.

The Rev. David Gallamore of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley said he didn't object to the summer series, only the segment that focused on the occult.

Parents objected to some of the seven-week program's content, which included palmistry and tarot card reading. The program also included sessions on urban legends, T-shirt tie-dying, scrapbooking and similar activities.

"We weren't against the reading program itself at all," Gallamore said. "We just take the stand that we don't live life by chance or by looking at the signs, but that our life is in God's hands and he is in charge of what takes place."

He said he was concerned about the session planned for June 14 that included astrology, palmistry, numerology and tarot card reading.

"I was under the understanding that that session was the only one that had been canceled," he said.

Numerous phone calls and e-mails criticized the program, saying it was "promoting witchcraft and teaching other religions," Keenan said.

"We're not teaching any religions," she said. "We have information about religion in the library. But that is not part of the program. The programs were about tie-dying shirts, urban legends, ghost stories, and they were about Zen gardens and balance with yoga."

Library staff chose the elements of the summer series based on similar programs at other libraries nationwide and by popular demand, said Ann Szypulski, library system public services manager.

"The people who come have expressed an interest in it, people who have attended our young adult programs in the past," Szypulski said.

Keenan also said many topics came about because of "children requesting programs like these."

The library will host the final event scheduled for the program, the Pizza Taste-Off slated for July 26.

"We tried to salvage the one thing that had nothing to do with specific programs, the pizza party," Keenan said. "We're going to have a pizza taste-off and vote on their best pizza."

Crowbot · 20th June 2007, 01:45 PM

I love the line: "promoting witchcraft and teaching other religions".

Christians enjoy the protection of the freedom of religion, unless of course that religion is not Christianity...

petra10 · 20th June 2007, 02:04 PM

unbelievable,what right do these narrow minded people have to dictate about what other peoples children read.I assume they preach the "evils" of harry potter and casper the ghost ect..

slyjoe · 20th June 2007, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by petra10

unbelievable,what right do these narrow minded people have to dictate about what other peoples children read.I assume they preach the "evils" of harry potter and casper the ghost ect..

Oh have they. Just regarding Harry:

http://atheism.about.com/od/harrypot...tter_Books.htm

Slimething · 20th June 2007, 02:58 PM

In the newspaper article, the librarian said

Quote:

The programs were about tie-dying shirts, urban legends, ghost stories, and they were about Zen gardens and balance with yoga.

I don't see anything occult in that list although some border on woo-ish. I am wondering whether or not the protest was orchestrated by pastors who needed to heat up their flocks for fun and profit.

Are there easier targets for churches than the local school system or libraries? Face it, most congregations are full of people who are suspicious of anything they don't know or understand. Schools are teaching all kinds of things to the young 'uns and lie-berries are full of books about witchcraft and by that Twain fella.

Easy Pickens! (pun intended)

petra10 · 20th June 2007, 03:41 PM

whats their take on fairy stories like snow white,sleeping beauty,cinderella,all of these contain magic,witches,spells.surely not.and would they go as far as picketing the library

Fnord · 20th June 2007, 03:42 PM

I'm sorry to admit that even in my church, there are a LOT of extreme fundamentalists who believe that it is literally their God-given right to impose their beliefs on others.

I have tried to explain to them that Jesus never imposed his religion -- the "Clearing the Temple" scene was against the usurous money-changers committing theft in the name of God and against an ignorant clientele.

These fundies see themselves in the role of Jesus, instead of in their true role as faithless Pharisees condemning others for their lack of religion.

Personally, I object more to the protesters' attitude and actions than I do to the tarot cards and other wooish artifacts (although I have some objection to those, as woo).

I wonder how many of those parents actually had any kids enrolled in the "'You Never Know at Your Library' summer mystery and suspense series for students in grades 5 and up." Any data on that?

I'm willing to bet that it was a very small fraction of those protesting a little summer fun.

EeneyMinnieMoe · 20th June 2007, 06:56 PM

Sounds like a really fun thing to do over the summer. Good going, spoiling the fun for those kids

.

Bull13 · 20th June 2007, 07:11 PM

Again religious BS gets in the way of learning. When will these idiots grow up or at least keep their superstious crap to themselves. Have to agree with the tie-died t-shirt thing-Damn Hippies

Fnord · 20th June 2007, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by EeneyMinnieMoe

Sounds like a really fun thing to do over the summer. Good going, spoiling the fun for those kids

.

Didn't you know, Ms. Moe? The First Commandment of the Church of Religionism is:

"Thou Shalt Not Have Fun."

fuelair · 20th June 2007, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by petra10

unbelievable,what right do these narrow minded people have to dictate about what other peoples children read.I assume they preach the "evils" of harry potter and casper the ghost ect..

Actually, Casper taught kids it was ok to cheat if you were smaller or otherwise less able than other kids - just about every week!

20th June 2007, 01:27 PM	#1
carnyfolk5 New Blood Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2	Woo vs. Woo Okay, I saw this story in the paper and I just needed to share it (I've tried searching the for this story through the forums. I didn't find anything, but just in case, if I'm repeating anything...my apologies). What follows is a story out of my home state, South Carolina. It's about a children's summer reading program that was cancelled after a group objected to its featuring books and/or programs on such things as palm reading and tarot cards and such. The interesting thing? Skeptics aren't to be blamed for this one, local chuches are. You'll just have to read it to find out. It's kinda like Mad Magazine's Spy vs. Spy...let's call this Woo vs. Woo. Here's the article: Concerns about occult stop Pickens reading program Greenville News, The (SC) June 7, 2007 Author: Ginny Johnson Estimated printed pages: 2 By Ginny Johnson STAFF WRITER The threat of protesters marching in front of Pickens County library branches influenced officials' decision to cancel a youth summer reading program. "They were talking about picketing the library," said Marguerite Keenan, library system director. "I have little children coming in here and to have to walk through a gauntlet like that just sounded horrible." The library canceled its "You Never Know at Your Library" summer mystery and suspense series for students in grades 5 and up. The Rev. David Gallamore of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley said he didn't object to the summer series, only the segment that focused on the occult. Parents objected to some of the seven-week program's content, which included palmistry and tarot card reading. The program also included sessions on urban legends, T-shirt tie-dying, scrapbooking and similar activities. "We weren't against the reading program itself at all," Gallamore said. "We just take the stand that we don't live life by chance or by looking at the signs, but that our life is in God's hands and he is in charge of what takes place." He said he was concerned about the session planned for June 14 that included astrology, palmistry, numerology and tarot card reading. "I was under the understanding that that session was the only one that had been canceled," he said. Numerous phone calls and e-mails criticized the program, saying it was "promoting witchcraft and teaching other religions," Keenan said. "We're not teaching any religions," she said. "We have information about religion in the library. But that is not part of the program. The programs were about tie-dying shirts, urban legends, ghost stories, and they were about Zen gardens and balance with yoga." Library staff chose the elements of the summer series based on similar programs at other libraries nationwide and by popular demand, said Ann Szypulski, library system public services manager. "The people who come have expressed an interest in it, people who have attended our young adult programs in the past," Szypulski said. Keenan also said many topics came about because of "children requesting programs like these." The library will host the final event scheduled for the program, the Pizza Taste-Off slated for July 26. "We tried to salvage the one thing that had nothing to do with specific programs, the pizza party," Keenan said. "We're going to have a pizza taste-off and vote on their best pizza."
carnyfolk5 New Blood Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2

20th June 2007, 01:45 PM	#2
Crowbot Thinker Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Orlando, FL, USA Posts: 146	I love the line: "promoting witchcraft and teaching other religions". Christians enjoy the protection of the freedom of religion, unless of course that religion is not Christianity...
	__________________ I've noticed that there are two types of applicants; those who cannot do what they claim and those who cannot claim what they do.

20th June 2007, 02:07 PM	#4
slyjoe Muse Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Near Harmonica Virgins Posts: 837	Originally Posted by petra10 unbelievable,what right do these narrow minded people have to dictate about what other peoples children read.I assume they preach the "evils" of harry potter and casper the ghost ect.. Oh have they. Just regarding Harry: http://atheism.about.com/od/harrypot...tter_Books.htm
	__________________ "You have done nothing to demonstrate an understanding of scientific methodology or modern skepticism, both of which are, by necessity, driven by the facts and evidence, not by preconceptions, and both of which are strengthened by, and rely upon, change." - Arkan Wolfshade

20th June 2007, 03:42 PM	#7
Fnord Metasyntactic Variable Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5,105	I'm sorry to admit that even in my church, there are a LOT of extreme fundamentalists who believe that it is literally their God-given right to impose their beliefs on others. I have tried to explain to them that Jesus never imposed his religion -- the "Clearing the Temple" scene was against the usurous money-changers committing theft in the name of God and against an ignorant clientele. These fundies see themselves in the role of Jesus, instead of in their true role as faithless Pharisees condemning others for their lack of religion. Personally, I object more to the protesters' attitude and actions than I do to the tarot cards and other wooish artifacts (although I have some objection to those, as woo). I wonder how many of those parents actually had any kids enrolled in the "'You Never Know at Your Library' summer mystery and suspense series for students in grades 5 and up." Any data on that? I'm willing to bet that it was a very small fraction of those protesting a little summer fun.
	__________________ I am being scorned as a fool by people who claim that I am oppressing them merely because they can not force me to believe as they do. Last edited by Fnord; 20th June 2007 at 03:58 PM.

20th June 2007, 07:14 PM	#10
Fnord Metasyntactic Variable Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5,105	Originally Posted by EeneyMinnieMoe Sounds like a really fun thing to do over the summer. Good going, spoiling the fun for those kids . Didn't you know, Ms. Moe? The First Commandment of the Church of Religionism is: "Thou Shalt Not Have Fun."
	__________________ I am being scorned as a fool by people who claim that I am oppressing them merely because they can not force me to believe as they do.

20th June 2007, 02:04 PM	#3
petra10 Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2007 Location: scotland uk Posts: 1,745	unbelievable,what right do these narrow minded people have to dictate about what other peoples children read.I assume they preach the "evils" of harry potter and casper the ghost ect..

20th June 2007, 02:58 PM	#5
Slimething Illuminator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arizona USA Posts: 3,369	In the newspaper article, the librarian said Quote: The programs were about tie-dying shirts, urban legends, ghost stories, and they were about Zen gardens and balance with yoga. I don't see anything occult in that list although some border on woo-ish. I am wondering whether or not the protest was orchestrated by pastors who needed to heat up their flocks for fun and profit. Are there easier targets for churches than the local school system or libraries? Face it, most congregations are full of people who are suspicious of anything they don't know or understand. Schools are teaching all kinds of things to the young 'uns and lie-berries are full of books about witchcraft and by that Twain fella. Easy Pickens! (pun intended)

20th June 2007, 03:41 PM	#6
petra10 Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2007 Location: scotland uk Posts: 1,745	whats their take on fairy stories like snow white,sleeping beauty,cinderella,all of these contain magic,witches,spells.surely not.and would they go as far as picketing the library

20th June 2007, 06:56 PM	#8
EeneyMinnieMoe Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 5,813	Sounds like a really fun thing to do over the summer. Good going, spoiling the fun for those kids .

20th June 2007, 07:11 PM	#9
Bull13 Scholar Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Salinas Cali Posts: 67	Again religious BS gets in the way of learning. When will these idiots grow up or at least keep their superstious crap to themselves. Have to agree with the tie-died t-shirt thing-Damn Hippies

20th June 2007, 07:47 PM	#11
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 18,501	Originally Posted by petra10 unbelievable,what right do these narrow minded people have to dictate about what other peoples children read.I assume they preach the "evils" of harry potter and casper the ghost ect.. Actually, Casper taught kids it was ok to cheat if you were smaller or otherwise less able than other kids - just about every week!
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 18,501