AtD blurb - "false" religiosity?

[kelber at mindspring.com]

The Cathedral School isn't exactly a religious school.  Anyway, I don't think his son is currently a student there.

Mission Statement
The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine is an independent, Episcopal, K-8 day school for girls and boys of all faiths. The School is committed to a rigorous academic program that integrates the arts, athletics, and leadership development. Located on New York City’s Upper West Side on the 13-acre Close of the Cathedral, the School offers a unique setting for the celebration of the many traditions shared by its families. The School prides itself in being a diverse community in partnership with families who take an active role in their children’s intellectual, ethical, social, and emotional growth. The Cathedral School offers a stimulating environment in which each child can become an articulate, confident, and responsible citizen of the world. Continuing a century-old relationship, the School draws upon the Cathedral’s vast resources and provides its children’s choir. 

Amended by the Board of Trustees May 23, 2005 



Diversity Statement
As educators, we must instruct and empower children to challenge assumptions and ask questions in order to become responsible citizens in a diverse world. At The Cathedral School, we believe that the recognition and appreciation of differences in race, socioeconomic status, cultural or religious tradition, age, gender, ability, and sexual orientation enhance the individual's sense of identity and broaden respect for others. Through curriculum and informal school experiences, children at The Cathedral School come to understand the inherent value of all people.  

The Cathedral School is committed to the following:
multicultural curricula and programs that support underrepresented voices, and thus enhance the experience of all students
admission and hiring efforts to further diversity
a school culture that fosters respect for all individuals and enables community members to question biases and express opinions
continual review of diversity issues among all members of the school community through ongoing meetings, discussions, and professional development

Written by the Diversity Advisory Council
Approved by the Board of Trustees January 24, 2006

-----Original Message-----
>From: Otto <ottosell at googlemail.com>
>Sent: Aug 18, 2006 3:10 PM
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: AtD blurb - "false" religiosity?
>
>Well, I wouldn't call it rubbish but I disagree to Rob here.
>
>2006/8/18, John Carvill <JCarvill at algsoftware.com>:
>> << An atheist making an observation about the negative effects on
>> society of "religiosity" (or "religion"
>> for that matter) isn't going to be concerned one iota about
>> practitioners' sincerity,...>>
>>
>> Well, this is just rubbish. As a devout atheist, can I just point out
>> that we still reserve the right to distinguish between different stripes
>> of 'religiosity'? Someone like Dubya or Jimmy Swaggart, say, using
>> religion to trick and control people, is a lot different from my
>> grandmother going to church on a Sunday.  While I might find it hard to
>> understand how anyone can believe in 'God', I have no right not to
>> respect their belief, but I can still make a judgment about their
>> sincerity. And rather than not caring about how sincere someone is in
>> their religious beliefs, this sincerity (or lack thereof) is the crucial
>> point.
>>
>> > his sending his son to the Cathedral School,
>>
>> It's not exactly news that parents sometimes enroll their children in
>> 'religious' schools because they're viewed (rightly or wrongly) as
>> providing a more stable and conducive learning environment, rather than
>> because the parents are religious. And I'm sure Pynchon would much
>> appreciate your publicizing which school his child attends.
>>
>> Cheers
>> JC
>>