Irish atheist student says school forced him to attend prayer meeting

Well Misneac, isn't it just as well that you are neither the principal or a fellow student? Intolerance that leads to isolation and bullying is particularly unpleasant.

I do not intend to comment further on this issue after the folowing . Seanomelb ,what do you mean by "rights " ? If I am in Customs at Kennedy Airport and an official asks me to open my bag .I refuse on the basis that it infringes my "rights " . (Have a nice day ! ) As for Sionnachfionn I appreciate that as an atheiest he wouldnt understand ! To finally terminate this boring interchange of comments ,could I say that as Principal of a School I should be expected to submit to the predjudices of the parent of a juvenile and change the official programme . What arrogance ! As a fellow student I would sort out this little pompous troublemaker !!!

since when were individual rights a requirement to "discipline"???

Misneac, what is your point? I'd like to understand.

I can assure the recent contributors that I have not run out of steam ,nor have you run out of hot air ! Again I repeat ,the central point of my arguement is related to discipline ( ref: Army ). A final thought for the insecure and uncomfortable atheist , " God " implies an essential reference to Someone or something else which man can not control . Have a nice day and night !

Misneac... "This little opinionated prat states that he has no religion ,please explain to me then how his religious rights are infringed?" Perhaps you should try reading the piece again? It stated, several times, that he thought his 'human rights' were infringed. By all means, you're free to believe what you want, but you also have to respect those who don't feel like you do. How would you feel about having to take part in Salah? (That's the Muslim prayer ritual), or any other prayer ritual for that matter? And before you start going on about 'but he lives in Ireland'. Yes, I'm aware religions are rather geographical. Have you ever thought about what that actually implies about the reality of their beliefs, and yours? Come on. Think for a bit about it. You believe in a supernatural, all-powerful deity, but he mostly cares about people in Ireland and couldn't care less about people in the Middle East and India? Think. Please. It doesn't hurt. Promise.

Sionnachfionn! he hasn't got his listening ears on. The army would not force him to pray in any church!! Misneac your running out of steam.

Misneac, did you actually read the article above? Or any of the Articles of the Constitution I pointed in your direction? Just so you know, the world around you is changing so when a school/army/company breaches someone’s human rights, it is not the individual who should change, it’s the institution. In the past, it has been shown, that sometimes, the majority gets it wrong. If this ideal offends you, then perhaps you should spend some time in Saudi or Pakistan where, in accordance with your beliefs, none of this dissent would be tolerated. Maybe you’d be happier there. If this idea appalls you, then I suggest you question yourself a little more intensively than normal and ask yourself ‘why?’. Kudos to you if the answer you get is ‘well, they’re intolerant of my beliefs’ and wake the hell up if you think ‘well, they’re wrong….well…because I know they’re wrong’. In response to your previous question, ‘how did this 16 year old decide that there was no God’… thank you JonPierson for explaining the fundamentals of atheism. I would just like to add to that Misneac, you and Nathan are very similar in terms of your belief in gods. To quote Stephen F Roberts; ‘I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one less god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.'

The recent contributors completely miss the point ,which is that you obey the rules of the school .I hope this guy joins the Army where they will ensure that he has respect and obedience !

Misneac your logic is flawed he did not wish to pray therefore why force him to do so. As an atheist myself I applaud him for making a stand. Your problem Misneac is you gave him no rights except your rights (which are irrelevant) your human right was not impinged upon. You should respect his point of view.

misneac said: "Sionnachfionn ,how did this 16 year old decide that there was no God?" Unfortunately, having been indoctrinated since the age of four that there IS a God, you have succeeded in completely missing the reality. When you were born, you did not believe there was a God. Due to your having been indoctrinated into believing that there is a God, you have no adopted the utterly illogical position of suggesting that someone who has not been indoctrinated to believe there is a God must have decided that there is no God. No decision is required for this belief, it is simply the avoidance of having been indoctrinated to believe that there IS a God. The real question, then, is how did you decide that there IS a God? (Hint: The answer is detailed above.)

Sionnachfionn ,how did this 16 year old decide that there was no God ? Obviously influenced by his father !Next week he will have problems attending Geography classes (no transport supplied ,affecting his human rights ). Imagine trying to integrate this guy in to a company !

life is hard...

Misneac, thank you for your insight into my psyche. I will not return the favour, tempted though I am, but I will respond to your comments. Firstly, he is an atheist and asked politely to be excused from a prayer service because he does not believe in any gods. He is not claiming his religious rights were infringed. He is claiming his human rights were infringed. You asked what gave him the right to claim this...and I gave you the evidence (the Articles in the Irish Constitution which guarantee the rights of the parents in regards to his religious and moral upbringing). Your second point about a similar protest in Clonskeagh (!!!) is a non-sequitur. If Nathan Young grew up in a village in Ireland and the only school local to him was a state funded 'Muslim' school then, under the Irish Constitution and guidelines laid down by the European Convention of Human Rights, I would object equally if he was forced to attend an Islamic prayer service against his will. And I'm pretty sure you'd be on the bandwagon on this one! Lastly, I would like to understand what sort of bigotry I'm being accused of imposing on my children. Anti-Catholic? Anti-Protestant? Anti-Islamic? Anti-Semitic? Anti-Scientologist? Anti-Rastafarian? Anti-Hindu? Anti-Gay? Anti-Women? Anti-Men? I fail to see how wanting a secular state with an education system that respects the human rights of everyone is bigoted.

Sionnacfionn ,you sure are a well adjusted individual - a chip on both shoulders ! This little opinionated prat states that he has no religion ,please explain to me then how his religious rights are infringed ? Can you imagine the reaction he would get to his protest in the Muslim school in Clonskeagh !!! You state that you are glad that Nathan Young is setting an example for your children .Perhaps you should have more consideration , and not impose your bigotry on them when they are still vulnerable and impressionable !