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Does secular = government?
Posted: 2005-02-24 03:35pm
by Boyish-Tigerlilly
I am arguing with a friend of mine who keeps saying that anything secular automatically means "government." 22% of all private schools are secular, which when combined with charter schools, which are largely free of government involvement, according to independent accredation sources, there are about 5 percent of schools that are secular and not controllwed by the government.
Regardless, this is his statement nonsectarian schools aren't secular, and that
SEcular = government.
Re: Does secular = government?
Posted: 2005-02-24 03:48pm
by Darth Wong
Boyish-Tigerlilly wrote:I am arguing with a friend of mine who keeps saying that anything secular automatically means "government." 22% of all private schools are secular, which when combined with charter schools, which are largely free of government involvement, according to independent accredation sources, there are about 5 percent of schools that are secular and not controllwed by the government.
Regardless, this is his statement nonsectarian schools aren't secular, and that
SEcular = government.
Perhaps he should invest in a government. "Secular = non-religious". The fact that the government happens to be (ideally) non-religious does not mean that secularism is defined as the government.
Break down his logic where secular=A, non-religious=B, and government=C. You will get "A = B, and B is an attribute of C, therefore A=C". Which is stupid since, by this logic, if "mighty" is a synonym for "powerful", and "powerful" is an attribute of a 2005 Corvette, then the word "mighty" means "Corvette".
Posted: 2005-02-24 04:00pm
by Boyish-Tigerlilly
apparently I am on his "ignore list now" since I am too stupid to "understand" that his statement
"secular = government" really meant "the governtment makes up the bulk of secular schools"
The above doesn't connotate that. It connotates that he's equating the two.
Now im accused of nitpicking
Posted: 2005-02-24 04:09pm
by General Zod
your friend needs a better dictionary.
merriam webster wrote:Main Entry: 1sec·u·lar
Pronunciation: 'se-ky&-l&r
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French seculer, from Late Latin saecularis, from saeculum the present world, from Latin, generation, age, century, world; akin to Welsh hoedl lifetime
1 a : of or relating to the worldly or temporal <secular concerns> b : not overtly or specifically religious <secular music> c : not ecclesiastical or clerical <secular courts> <secular landowners>
2 : not bound by monastic vows or rules; specifically : of, relating to, or forming clergy not belonging to a religious order or congregation <a secular priest>
3 a : occurring once in an age or a century b : existing or continuing through ages or centuries c : of or relating to a long term of indefinite duration
nothing about secular institutions automatically being government institutions.
Posted: 2005-02-24 04:12pm
by Spanky The Dolphin
Too bad he blocked you before you could ask him about the term "secular music".
Posted: 2005-02-24 04:16pm
by Boyish-Tigerlilly
I am not blocked. It's on a forum, but the guy is such an asshole it's not even funny. He just ignores you, but makes himself look really cool while doing it. I merely mentioned that secular wasn't government, and he went off on a tirade about me being nitpicky and a stupid colledge kid. People like that are aggravating, especially when you know them.
Posted: 2005-02-24 09:16pm
by Darth Wong
Boyish-Tigerlilly wrote:I am not blocked. It's on a forum, but the guy is such an asshole it's not even funny. He just ignores you, but makes himself look really cool while doing it. I merely mentioned that secular wasn't government, and he went off on a tirade about me being nitpicky and a stupid colledge kid. People like that are aggravating, especially when you know them.
I find that the best response to a long tirade like that is to simply quote the whole thing and then say something like "Nice personal attack; care to answer the point now? Or is that your way of admitting that you have no answer?"
Posted: 2005-02-24 10:40pm
by Boyish-Tigerlilly
Well, I did that just now, but I really don't know how to answer what he said earlier.
He said since Religious schools and even secular private schools recieve funding from the government, they are both government controlled. Since Secular = government control, even the relgious schools are government controlled.
I don't get how that's not a contradiction. Now Religion = secular?
Posted: 2005-02-24 10:43pm
by Darth Wong
Boyish-Tigerlilly wrote:Well, I did that just now, but I really don't know how to answer what he said earlier.
He said since Religious schools and even secular private schools recieve funding from the government, they are both government controlled. Since Secular = government control, even the relgious schools are government controlled.
I don't get how that's not a contradiction. Now Religion = secular?
Since when does "get funding" = "controlled?" I would
love to be able to say that any organization I've ever given money to is controlled by me, but t'aint the case.
Posted: 2005-02-24 10:48pm
by Boyish-Tigerlilly
I haven't the slightest clue, but he just ignores when I say it. It's like he wants a lightswitch. ANy aid or funding = controlled.
He gave one example of how a private school, like Monmouth University, adheres to antidescrimination and handicap laws. That is prove they are government controlled =D
Posted: 2005-02-24 10:52pm
by Darth Wong
Boyish-Tigerlilly wrote:I haven't the slightest clue, but he just ignores when I say it. It's like he wants a lightswitch. ANy aid or funding = controlled.
He gave one example of how a private school, like Monmouth University, adheres to antidescrimination and handicap laws. That is prove they are government controlled =D
I guess I'm government-controlled too; I do things in order to keep my tax breaks!
Posted: 2005-02-24 10:56pm
by Boyish-Tigerlilly
Yea. It's a government strings conspiracy.
Posted: 2005-02-24 10:56pm
by Spanky The Dolphin
Ask him about the term "secular music." That should derail his insistance that secular exclusively relates to government.