Lancaster Christian Academy
Wow,
My wife and I decided to hunt for a private School in Smyrna because we really felt that she could receive a better education than she was getting in the public school system. We set up an appointment to visit Lancaster Christian Academy. We met with Mr. Lancaster at 10am. He seemed like a nice enough guy, maybe a bit scatter-brained at first blush. He showed us the various classrooms for the different age groups. This all went fine. Then came the sit-down. He started by letting us know that they promote a Christian doctrine, building Christlike character, which came as no surprise considering the name of the school. Although I don't share a belief in the myth of God, I do believe that a person named Jesus existed who was a great human-rights advocate and an exceptional role model for love and tolerance.
He then stepped up on his pulpit and began to rattle off the various churches that his employees attended accurately naming denominations and informing us of each teachers' religious affiliation and strength of belief. I held a pretty good poker face. After 2-3 minutes of this, he basically said that most of the people here were born-again Christians. I've never felt so out-of-place or alienated in my life. We feigned interest, took a brochure, and as the door shut behind us, we broke out in laughter at what we had just witnessed.
The owner of this educational institution spent more time preaching than he did informing up about the educational value of the school. He made some ridiculous allusions to Christian retentiveness, I suppose the theory that Christians retain knowledge better than non-Christians. When I asked him about their music program, he told me that they had one. I requested details on the instruments they taught and he replied with a very vague comment about students playing rock and roll in a band and that they taught music theory.
I thought about posing some questions regarding their evolution curriculum but decided that he was not worth the time. I have since spoken with a friend of mine who had previously enrolled is children here. He told me that he would not send them back. Apparently, his child was the number one student in the class for several years. When he moved his child to a new public school they struggled to keep up with the class.
Well, at least my daughter will be happy. She didn't want to go to a private school anyway.
posted by Bill Butler @ 11:26 AM
37 comments
37 Comments:
Mr. Butler, I am affiliated with LCA. It's unfortunate that you chose not to enroll your child at this wonderful school. I can attest to the fact that LCA regularly test 2-3 years above the national average. You're comment about God being a myth is what makes me break out in laughter. People like you have so much more faith and imagination than you realize. To believe this all just happened out of a random explosion is pretty amazing. LCA does teach evolution, but it's taught as a theory rather than a principle, because that's simply what it is. I'm going to pray for you Mr. Butler. Good luck with everything.
If you are so confident as to state unsubstantiated facts about LCA, why is it that you post anonymously? You actually think that it more probably that an invisible guy created all this stuff? The creation myth is unbelievably simplistic. Man from dirt.... Woman from a rib to keep her subservient. Please give me a break. Who was Cain's wife? It must have been his sister if Adam and Eve were the first couple. Please just put some thought into your belief system and don't pray for me.
What exactly did you expect when you toured a "Christian" school? This is what I find most odd about your initial post. You expected to visit an evangelical school and have them hold a humanistic worldview that denies the existence of God? If anything is laughable, its your expectations coming into your meeting.
P.S. In regards to your response to the "anonymous" post, which unsubstantiated facts are you referring to? Please call TANAS (Tennessee Association of Non-Public Schools) regarding LCA's test scores and please feel free to contact A Beka Publishers to review any and all science curriculum.
The first thing I will say in my response to your post is that to be a Christian means you must beleive in the supernatural. Mr. Butler, you can't explain everything in scripture with science. You think the "creation myth" is unbelievably simplistic? How about the "Big Bang". All the money, education, and effort put into explaining creation and the best they come up with is a "Big Bang". What caused this "Big Bang". Doesn't science say that life can only come from life? Where is the evidence of evolution? I am not talking about adaptation, but evolution. Have you ever heard of irreducible complexity? It basically means that a species cannot change into another species over time. It must change into the new species all at once. For example, a fish cannot develop lungs in the water because it would die. Therefore it must have hopped out on land, develop lungs, and start breathing all at once. But let's back up a bit, back to the "beginning". You criticize me for beleiving in something so "unbelievable", how about your belief. After the "Big Huge Bang", that must have been loud, a one cell ameoba began twitching and turning in some primordial pond and eventually we have us. You're right, that is so much easier to believe. The bottom line is that I chose to believe that a painting has a painter, a building has a buider, and that a creation has a Creator. The Bible says that Man and Woman were created in the image of God. Therefore they both bear the image of God. As far as Cain's wife goes, where in the Bible does it say that Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel were the only people that God put on the Earth? Again, I believe in the supernatural power of God. Everything cannot be explained with science. As you can see I have put some thought into my belief system. I will be praying for you whether you like it or not.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
I never claimed to believe in the big bang. You came up with that assumption on your own. I believe that theory is also simplistic. I am content with not trying to conjure up an answer for questions I do not have the answer for. The big bang implies that there was a beginning. I do not subscribe to the belief that there ever was a beginnning nor will be an end to the universe.
Religion has continually attempted to over-simplify topics while science, bit by bit, objectively disproves those assumptions. Sure, science is having a damn hard time disproving the creation theory...but it's only a matter of time. Some other myths that were only disproved in the last 600 or so years:
The earth is flat
The earth is the center of the solar system/universe
Accept your lot in life
Eating certain foods is sinful
There is so much bullshit it's just absurd. People who didn't know any better just decided to make the rules. If Jesus was anything, he was a human rights activist on par with the likes of Martin Luther King and those who respect the dignity of the individual.
And now Christians thoughout the US support Bush, a vindictive man professing to be Christian but trying to solve a problem in the LEAST CHRISTIAN WAY. Hypocrisy. In effect, a religious crusade.
The most violent areas in the world are that way because of religious zealots fighting over their precious religious artifacts and belief systems. I will live my life by being good to others but have no interest in being part of such a hypocritical institution.
By most Christian beliefs, my failure to comply lands me in hell if such a place exists. Even if I live an exemplary life my soul is damned. That is just silly. Actions speak louder than words.
Jenny,
Thanks for your thoughts. Please know that I do not condemn your belief system. I only condemn those who impose their beliefs on others.
Bill,
I completely agree with you. Thanks!
Last post.
You probably don't suscribe to any kind of belief. That makes life easy. You really didn't answer any of my questions, but rather went off on a tirade about Bush and politics. Which in my opinion is what this is all about. I think you are narrow minded and misinformed. I can't apologize for what I believe to be the truth.
Jenny, you sound like a nice person. However you are also misinformed. The Bible says that being gay is a sin. God loves you and wants to change your life. By the way, this is America. Thank God we can have Christian schools that teach Christian doctrine. If you don't like it then go to a public school. People that chose Christian schools are generally Christians.
You sealed the deal with your last comment. Jesus was nothing but tolerant in his teachings. Even one of the 10 commandments explicity says 'Thou shalt not judge." By condemning Jenny for her lifestyle, you are committing a sin according to your own doctrine. Sinner!
Oh, and...hypocrite!
Lack of educational emphasis??? That must explain their degrees, hours of preparation for class work, hours of after school work... including grading papers, confernces, tutoring, etc. Lack of educational emphasis must explain why the teachers volunteer their time in the summer helping kids who need extra work. It would certainly explain why so many of the teachers sacrafice their breaks to help kids with math. It must be the reason so many LCA teachers attend conferences on their own time to better themselves as educators. I bet lack of educational emphasis is the reason some have a Master's Degree...and others are currently working on a Master's degree. Lack of educational emphasis? Can a school not have strong Christian Biblical values combined with high educational standards? LCA has always shown both. In all the years I have been affiliated with LCA I have only observed dedicated and loving teachers who teach Christ like character. Why the angry attacks against this school?
Jenny, I am so sad to see your letter. We loved having your son at our school, and would always treat him with love and kindness as we did before. I personally want to apologize for not responding to your letter. I did not see it, but I am disorganized to be sure. Lord Bless, Sherry Lancaster
Brandon has pled not guilty to the charges brought against him. Channel 4 has requested his side of the story to be aired in the near future.
One last thing Mr. Butler. You are wrong about the 10 commandments. Also, Jesus wasn't as tolerant as you might think. He pretty much said people who reject Him as the Son of God will end up in Hell where there will be weaping and nashing of teeth.
weeping, excuse me.
Sherry,
I'd like to apologize for mentioning that article about your son. I, of all people, would never want to assume something about someone because of what I read or heard. I feel bad that I did that. I sincerely apologize. As a mother who loves her son, I felt what you might be feeling after reading that. Also, I will not make the assumption that you share the same hatred as others commenting on this site. I wish you well.
Bill, thank you for posting your comments so that I could come to your site and find out what I already knew about sending my child to a religious school.I have never posted anything on the internet before. I felt compelled and now I know why.
As far as negative comments made toward me, they don't matter. No one can tell me what I do or don't have in my heart.I know that God is love and anything that doesn't resemble love and kindness is not true christianity. So, I'd like for my original posting to be removed...partly because of the comment that I made about the article on the Lancaster's son and because I'm past allowing people to debate who I am. I know who I am. I am a child of God.
Jenny,
I removed your original post at your request.
Bill, I am so sorry for your lost soul. As a follower of Jesus, I feel compelled after reading this to tell you that Jesus died on the cross to save you & me. Our commission, once we are saved and follow our Lord, is to tell others so they may make the same decision for Christ. When Jesus returns for his people every knee will bow and if you never hear the gospel again until that day, you will remember my words to you. If you confess your sins and ask Jesus into your heart you can join us in heaven; otherwise, you will be eternally damned.
Please do not attempt to brain-wash me. I'm not so easily fooled.
Dear Mr. Butler,
I find it comical that you dare to post on a site that obviously involves content that you have such little information or knowledge For example, you boast how science has proven religion to be wrong yet your examples were based on science proving science wrong. No where in the bible does it mention that the world is flat, no sir, that was a theory of a group of scientist. No in fact, if you even bothered to research the religions in which you so zealously appose you may find much more truth then fiction. In fact, there is not a single point in the bible that has yet to be proven wrong. Your ignorance of the truth does not justify your pompous claims to be able to distinguish and to clearly differentiate what is fact or fiction.
As a mater of fact, science is more based on theory and open to conjecture then the bible and Christianity. Would you not consider medicine a science? Would you, not give sole accreditation for the advancements and development of the science of medicine to the random talents of mankind? Yet daily the scientific theories are proven incorrect or wrong. Daily people are healed when medicine dictated that it would be impossible for such a thing to happen. What say you to this Mr. Butler? How can man, with such a glorious domain over its own self importance dare to be wrong so often? Yet your faith in science and the self indulging talents of mankind is not to be questioned. What biblical belief has changed or been “proven wrong bit by bit” over the past two thousand years by zealots such as you. Perhaps the flaw is not in the simplicity of Christianity but in your complex faith system in science that is so routinely shaken but change, mistrust, deceit and lies. If it is complications that you seek you have surely found them in your own self glorification but for Christians it really is as simple as accepting Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior. It’s unfortunate you will not allow yourself to open up to the possibilities of what could be by having God in your life because at some point your life will end. Gladly you will not have an opportunity to see science dispel the bible nor the facts within it.
Of course your intent really wasn’t to enroll your children in LCA nor is it to generate a healthy debate on this board. No, your intent was to state your political beliefs that are beyond mainstream. Your condemnation of George Bush or the War or alternate life styles is really of little importance to anyone seeking to enroll their students in LCA but it certainly entertaining seeing you call others hypocrites. What was it you said, you treat others with respect and live an exemplary life. Yet you find time to condemn the actions of others such as George Bush or Christians in general. What exactly was it that Keith did so wrong that made you want to post a message that would dissuade potential clients from attending his school/business. Perhaps, you would have success starting your own science based school. In fact, I’m curious as to why you would consider placing your kids in a private school to begin with since the liberal standards of the public schools systems have generated such stellar success. Perhaps you can find another commandment to conveniently add to try and offer some justification for your own actions. But again, you will likely find your ignorance of the bible your own undoing. While you seem to find some solace in quoting the old testament you seem to have very little understanding of the new testament and the words of Jesus Christ. Truth be told Mr. Butler that we are all sinners and this is the very reason that Christ died on the cross for us. By, the way, Jesus was nothing like anyone else including a great and important man such as Martin Luther King. For you can still see the site were Mr. King is buried today, you can go to the graves of any scientist, mathematician or politician that has ever live. But only the tomb of Jesus Christ is empty and sadly for you that is the most important fact of the bible that you won’t find the truth about until you pass from this world.
Kind regards,
Kirk Miller
That's because science actually leaves room for error. Religion leaves no room for error. Those who believe blindly accept while those who do not are preached into submission.
Oh, and my statements about LCA were basically a transcript of the meeting. You'll note that the religious debate didn't start until the anonymous poster several months later.
It's not really a debate anyway. I'll never believe in your absurd religion and you'll never subscribe to my pragmatic view of the world so the point is pretty much moot.
One more thing....I dare post because this is America. Remember the First Amendment? If you don't like what you see, please turn the channel. Thanks.
Mr. Butler,
After reading the above posts my heart goes out to you. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and He is my best friend. I know you do not care if I pray for you and you probably prefer that I don't. But, I will pray for you...every day to receive Jesus into your heart. Our time on this earth is very short compared to eternity. You must accept Jesus Christ into your heart to enter the gates of Heaven. It's that simple. At some point and time, Mr. Butler, you have to take a leap of faith.
Gosh, come to think of it....I'm starting to believe. Oh, yes. Oh holy light. Thanks all. I'm saved. Now, would you please leave?
Can I ask you a question? What has made you so cynical?
I was born gay ;)
Mr. Butler, my apologies for touching on such a sensitive nerve. As you have failed to either read or understand my point about posting let me state it more clearly. The question really isn’t rather or not you have the right to post it is about your intent to do so. Funny that you now chose to use living in America as your justification. The country that was actually founded for those seeking religious freedom. The same rights you now use as your umbrella of defiance were bought and paid for by countless lives in battle. The same types of battles that you so callously mocked as unjust moments ago.
I guess lumping all religion together is more convenient for you then actually taking the time, purpose or thought to research the subject in any real detail. The terrorist of 911 were religious zealots who “believed blindly” so are they on the same level as Martin Luther King who was a Baptist minister and asked millions to share in his dream? Is it “pragmatic” to identify such extremes into one common conception? Now, who is being “absurd”?
Then of course there is the issue of hypocrisy, you tell me to “turn the channel” or McCauley to “please leave” but yet it is YOUR first amendment right to post away. Frankly, your self infatuated liberal paranoia has started to get the best of you. At least have the courage to stand up for your convictions, I mean to say that your original post was merely a “transcript of events” when in your first paragraph you mention you don’t believe in the “myth of God”. Of course my favorite is how you state that Jesus, who by the way is the foundation of the religion I believe, “existed who was a great human-rights advocate and an exceptional role model for love and tolerance” but then state in your rebuttal to my original post that “religion has no room for error”. Exactly which religion are you talking about? The one that discusses the passion of Christ, the doctrine of the new testament in which Jesus talks about the value of turning the other cheek. The man who once stood in front of a prostitute that was condemned to be stoned by some so called holy men and said let he who has not sinned throw the first stone. Is this the guy and the religion that “has no room for error? You could not be more wrong Mr. Butler. Jesus Christ was all about forgiveness, love and tolerance. The very reason God sent Jesus to us is because he new that we are all doomed by sin and error but though Jesus we would find forgiveness. A man, who was condemned by his own people for nothing more then saying he was the savior and the son of God. Exactly, were is the science books to you find that type of capacity for forgiveness. Frankly, I can’t think of a more heinous crime yet Jesus forgave and he still does.
Truth be told; faith is a personal decision and that as human beings we have the ability to chose our paths and believe and act as we chose. If you truly do believe that Jesus did live and existed as you say and is truly a role model of tolerance then shouldn’t you be equally tolerant of people who chose to live as Christians or Muslims or Jewish or Buddhist or whatever religion they chose to believe? In the end of all of your rants and assertions, I will ask one final question which I doubt you will answer. What have you gained? I know from personal and real experience what impact Christ has made in my life but what pleasures have you found in being so single of mind that you not only have no real answers for your own arguments but that you find satisfaction in mocking others? You may have heard this before but if I’m wrong and my beliefs turn out to be “absurd“, I have lost nothing but for you Mr. Butler, if you are wrong you have lost eternity. But I guess in your mind that is “pragmatic”.
Kirk Miller
Mr. Butler~
I have seen hypocrisy within churches. I have been hurt myself by Christians. I have been condemned and rejected because of judgmental attitudes, lies and self-righteous religious beliefs. I understand legalism quite well; my life has been greatly affected by it.
I have also been hurt by those who are non-Christians. My life has been tremendously affected by lies and false allegations by those who are spiteful. I understand deceit and cruelty~and have lived the nightmare of an unjust and vicious situation because of it.
Does this mean all Christians are hyprocrites and judgmental? Does this mean all non-Christians are liars and cruel? Should I place people in a box and label them because of my beliefs or experiences?
Although your belief system claims to be more "open-minded" and "accepting" and "non-judgmental," your statements seem to show the opposite. Yet I do not find any statements on the LCA website that are so spiteful and judgmental as the ones on yours. Further, the response of Sherry Lancaster of LCA confirms the character of those running the school. I do not see Mr. Lancaster criticizing you as you have belittled him and the school, although it is apparent they are aware of what you have placed on your website.
Whether or not the statements made on this website were to come from a Christian or a non-Christian, they are unkind and inappropriate. The First Ammendment was not put into effect to support tearing other people down and making the judgmental statements as you have here.
And, Mr. Butler, it may be interesting for you to check out the test scores of LCA. They clearly show substantiated facts of the education emphasis taught at the school. Walk through the halls of the school and see Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster interact with the children...see their teachers in action. Then talk to the many parents whose children attend the school for more substantiated facts.
In closing, Mr. Butler, one fact remains to be disproved: THERE IS A GOD. This one fact will continue to remain because is it not a myth. You see, all the things you are trying to believe actually go against what creation and even your own physical being continues to prove: THERE IS A GOD.
On a personal note from my own experience, life can be painful. People fail and are judgmental. People hurt and disappoint, tremendously. Unfortunately, I have made mistakes here too.
But God Himself has never let me down. I have peace, joy and a love inside that can never be explained except to know God. No one can know a myth; but we can know our God because He IS real and alive.
Mr. Butler one question... What do u have to lose? Being judgemental,and cynical is not what we are about. Hebrews 11:1 says " Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I think that its more about serving God and TRUSTING him than a set of rules, or trying to force God on to other people. It says in Matthew to pull the plank out of your own eye first, then your brothers, because how can you see what is in his eye? We are putting all of our hope and faith in God knowing we have nothing to lose, and once we come past our own problems and are right with God we start to help others. Such as you. I will be praying for you Mr. Butler.. but its not us that give you salvation. We only plant the seed in your heart and water it, and then God makes it grow. God bless Mr. Butler and hopefully God will open the eyes to your starving heart.
Mr.Butler,
I can understand you looking into putting your child into Lancaster. Many of the parents that have enrolled their children there are very pleased with the education that their children are receiving. I have a child enrolled in the early learning center.
I have a christian background. And yes I believe in God. I also believe that everyone has the right to believe what they choose for themselves. We do celebrate religious freedom here in the United States. I also believe that no one has the right to inflict their beliefs on another. And yes I did say inflict. Knocking on door uninvited, shouting matches, and throwing stones won't get you far. Actions speak so much louder than words.
So far I have been happy with the little I have seen come home with my child as far as bible study or devotions.
What concerns me is this. I am not seeing the high standard of education being taught. Every time I drop my child in the mornings and pick them up in the afternoon they are watching tv. Now I am paying a large sum for an education, not for some paid worker, not even a teacher to sit my child down in from of a televison.
I am even more disappointed in the staff. You have to pry answers out of them. In the beginning we had daily progress sheets that went home. Now they are weekly and you are lucky if they are filled out. And if there is anything actually written about your child. It is mostly check marks.
We have requested on specific thing. (As I do not want my child known i will not be specific) this request has been ignored from day one. And when questioning the staff before we enrolled about it, we were told it would never be a problem. After several months at Lancaster, I am thinking that my child was better off in the child care services we were using. At least there the staff was friendly and greeted you, they knew your name. If there were problems you were called during the day. You could call and they would tell you about your child. But the thing I miss the most is a teacher who will greet you at the door and begin telling you about your child's day. The teacher in my child's class won't speak half the time, or it is a afternoon worker that doesn't know anything.
So Mr. Butler, thank you for letting me vent for a few minutes on your site. Seeing what has been posted towards you and your experience with Mr. Lancaster, you probably made the best decision for your child. And bottom line that's what it is all about. What is best for your child.
Celebrate the child. Celebrate the differences. Different is a good thing. Different makes us grow, learn and question. As long as we continue to understand that we are all different and become more tolerant of those differences this will be a better place.
concerned parents
Hi Bill,
In just skimming over your blog, which I stumbled onto indirectly and unintentionally, I thought I would recommend the following link regarding your discussion on science versus the Bible as an interesting starting point for anyone who considers himself (or herself) to be an intelligent, inquisitive, scientifically-minded, earnest seeker of understanding regarding the world and the reality in which we all live and move and have our being. This site presents things from both a Christian (or biblical) and scientific point of view, as the two (I've become convinced over time) are not incompatible. And this resource also ably and sensibly answers the age-old question you raised regarding who was Cain's wife.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/AnswersBook/index.asp
I've listened with interest to several of the AIG scientists (referenced in the previous link) speak at length on these issues with considerable fairness, expertise and persuasion. Another source I would recommend may be found at http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/.
Regarding viewing Jesus only as a great moral teacher, etc., which I noticed in some of your blog statements, I think that C.S. Lewis, one of the greatest intellectuals of the twentieth century, once offered a thought-provoking reflection on this in his book "Mere Christianity":
"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."
Best regards,
Rick
http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/AnswersBook/index.asp
This is the full first link I sent. The blog shortened it.
Rick
Hmmm . . . sorry.
Last try. I'll piece it this time.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
home/area/AnswersBook/index.asp
Rick
Mr. Bulter,
I see that you had an unfortunate incounter with a christian school. I am not sure why everyone is trying to defend God because God does not need defending. HE is who HE is and no one can change that whether you believe or not. I know that as a Christian I do not protray Christ at all times. I think Christians are the worst about protraying christ. This does not negate the fact that we are a Christian. I feel that you have an opinion and we can not force you to believe because only you will decide which faith to believe in. I believe that sending you child to a christian school is great if you believe it. It would significantly confuse you child if you did not believe and the child came home to tell you of some new wonder about Christ that he now believes. This would strain the relationship between you and your child. You child loves you and wants to believe what you believe in because you are it to him. It seems like the whole thing is just back and forth picking on each other. I wish you luck with a school and wish that your child excells in whatever he does. Just remember that these individuals do really care even though it may not seem like it they really do. Christians have a tendency to defend Christ and get angry when someone refuses to believe but it is not up to us to make you believe only you can decide this. Good luck again and remember that people really do care in a Christian setting we just have problems sometimes verbally expressing this
This post has been removed by the author.
Post a Comment
<< Home