Self-righteous hearts
By Jordan Thompson Staff Writer I have a lot to say about the elephants in the room; one of them is Christian, one of them is gay. They are not bullying each other. They do not want to make a scene – they are not even talking. One of them is just trying to be a good Christian while the other is just trying to be himself. The tension between Christianity and homosexuality is powerful in a quiet way; it involves less brutal name-calling than most of the bullying geared towards homosexuals. When it comes to Christianity, homophobia is simply the fear of something “bad” or “wrong,” and the lack of a malicious tongue is…
Keep government, tax away from religion, Hair says
By Thomas Hair Online Copy Editor Whether you are a devout Catholic or an adamant Atheist, it is an undeniable historical fact that the Christian church played a large role in the shaping of the United States and its principles. To this day, centuries later, Christianity’s presence and influence in America remains. The Christian church reaches every corner of America. Every Sunday, millions of Americans funnel into one of over 400,000 Christian churches across the United States. When coupled with institutions of countless other faiths that have flourished here, churches hold great influence on the masses of followers and represent significant monetary value. Imagine the how much the federal government would profit from levying taxes…
Two common cultures hide behind skin tone
By Jordan Thompson Staff Writer Every culture is rich with history and authenticity-they are legacies of humanity, yet are challenging for humanity to understand-especially young adults. It wouldn’t be a surprise for a Hindu student at Coppell High School to walk to her next class while a naïve student considers them Muslim just based off of the color of their skin. “We have all judged and been judged by our skin color,” New Tech High@Coppell junior Jane Gross said. “It is like calling a Korean person Chinese because of their physical similarities.”AP World History educates students about the values, practices and differences between Islam and Hinduism, but it does not change how students look at…
Mormons embrace unique niche at CHS
Thomas Hair Online Copy Editor If one were to walk through the door of any classroom at Coppell High School, they would immediately encounter a combination of various cultures and ethnicities. In this day and age, diversity is prized, and direct interaction with other beliefs is encouraged. One often-overlooked belief in Coppell’s assortment of religions is that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – more commonly known as the Mormon church. Despite being the sixth largest religion in America, with a membership claimed to be over six million, Mormons are still not adequately understood by many Americans. Essentially, Mormonism is another breed of Christianity characterized by the belief in modern-day prophets of…
‘Naughty or nice’ list insulting to other religions, Stewart says
Kelly Stewart Staff Writer A few years ago, stores stopped saying “Merry Christmas” because members of other religions protested since they didn’t celebrate Christmas. Now, those same stores are being penalized by a website called Grinchalert.com for not saying it. First Baptist Church of Dallas has put up a website that allows users to post the names of businesses that do not acknowledge that it is Christmas on storefronts or in advertising, but instead choose to say “Happy Holidays” on a “naughty” list, and stores that do, on a “nice” list. According to The Dallas Morning News, the head pastor of the church, Robert Jeffress will also be announcing the updates on the church’s radio…
Broadening the horizons of religion
Story by Corrina Taylor Video by Katie Kennedy With the Christmas break in sight the focus of students is set on who they are going to hang out with over break, the Christmas meal they will eat, or what gifts they will receive this year. Many students haven’t had the chance to learn about any other religions outside of their own when there are numerous opportunities to talk to one of their peers about their different religion. Coppell High School has 2,695 students with many different ethnicities that make up the student body. The holidays engage thoughts of Christian faith, since Christmas is a Christian holiday, with a common thought that everyone celebrates Christmas and…
Turkey: The Strongman of Europe
By: Chris Cummins Staff Writer While all the uproar about the rise of Asia has focused on the surging dual giants of India and China, Turkey, the onetime “sick man of Europe”, has seen remarkable strides in the economic realm as well, and has emerged as a bright spot in a Middle East sorely needing one. This is due in no small part to its being a democracy, a proponent of free markets, and a secular Islamist society, in stark contrast to a Middle East known for its fervent adherence to autocracy and religious fundamentalism. This has been the case for many years, at least until recent events seem to have unknot, if not undo…
Mosque at Ground Zero: a testament to religious freedom
By Thomas Hair Staff Writer When the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution in 1787, America was envisioned as the pinnacle of freedom, where one could practice their religion without fear. Now, protestors in New York are challenging that philosophy. The reason for the commotion is because a mosque – a Muslim place of worship – is being planned near what was formerly the site of the World Trade Center. The proposed “Ground Zero Mosque” has provoked much controversy around the country – to the point that a large number of protestors have been parading the streets in the area surrounding the site of the proposed mosque. Many of the protestors defend their views by claiming…
Lent begins again
Ellen Cameron Staff Writer After the hoopla of Mardi Gras, which was significantly dampened by the weather, the 40 days of Lent began today, on Ash Wednesday. The effects are obvious in the school, and sometimes tangible. Students with dark (and often smeared) crosses of ash are Catholic and sometimes Baptists, while murmurs of giving things up for Lent permeate the school. I would know; I’ve already owe my cuss jar $.75. But Lent is more than giving up things, which often becomes an excuse to go on a diet for more personal than religious reasons. Many students also add religious devotion to their day by reading the Bible or praying more often in Lent…
Daphne’s Dilemma: Questioning religion turns up few answers
By Daphne Chen I’ve been asking people a lot about their religion lately. I’ve had this hunger, this need to find out who believes what – and why. From my former church-attending middle school days to my current indecision, I have floundered from hesitant Christian to atheist to agnostic to looking up the definitions of deism and theism. And I still don’t know. Ultimately, what strikes me most deeply as I think about this question is the fact that I wish I was Christian myself. Having something to believe in, to hope in, is a precious gift, and I can see its powerful effects especially here in Texas, part of the “Bible Belt”. I would…