{"id":2096898,"date":"2023-11-11T00:03:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-11T05:03:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-high-school-student-vindicated-after-allegedly-being-forced-to-participate-in-hinduistic-rituals\/"},"modified":"2023-11-11T00:07:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-11T05:07:44","slug":"christian-high-school-student-vindicated-after-allegedly-being-forced-to-participate-in-hinduistic-rituals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-high-school-student-vindicated-after-allegedly-being-forced-to-participate-in-hinduistic-rituals\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian High School Student Vindicated After Allegedly Being Forced to Participate in &#8216;Hinduistic Rituals&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchristian-high-school-student-vindicated-after-allegedly-being-forced-to-participate-in-hinduistic-rituals%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2096898&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Score one for\u2063 religious liberty. And\u2064 if it happened to \u200bcome at the expense of public\u200d education, \u200call\u2064 the \u2062better.<\/h2>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/2023\/11\/2\/23944366\/former-cps-student-awarded-150k-religious-freedom-suit-over-hinduistic-meditation-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chicago Sun-Times<\/a>,\u2062 U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly has awarded $150,000 \u200din damages and legal fees to Mariyah Green, a Christian and a \u200dformer student at Bogan\u200c High School in\u200d Chicago.<\/p>\n<p>Before graduating in 2020, Green felt coerced \u200cinto participating in \u2062what her attorney,\u2064 John Mauck, called\u2063 \u201ca thinly veiled Hinduistic religious program.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The program in question \u2014 called\u200d \u201cQuiet Time\u201d \u2014 \u2064involved\u2062 \u201ctranscendental meditation\u201d during school hours. It \u2064also \u200bfeatured a\u2063 \u201cpuja\u201d \u2014 a ceremony during which Sanskrit-speaking instructors chanted\u200d \u201cstatements recognizing \u2064the power possessed\u2062 by various Hindu \u2063deities and invitations to those same Hindu deities to\u2064 channel their powers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Significantly, Green learned that her participation in the program would affect \u2062her grades. Thus, \u200dshe\u200b felt\u2064 \u201calone and angry,\u201d \u2062cornered into what \u200dshe properly regarded as a betrayal of her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nicaragua-experiencing-massive-move-god-events-draw-650000-far-tens-thousands-accept-christ\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">faith<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Green\u2019s lawsuit named the \u200dChicago Board of\u200b Education and\u2063 the David Lynch Foundation, which\u200b developed the \u201cQuiet Time\u201d program, as defendants.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, a\u2064 Chicago \u2063Public\u2063 Schools spokesperson described the judge\u2019s ruling \u200das a \u201cvoluntary resolution between\u200d the parties akin to a \u2064settlement\u201d and \u2062said\u2064 the program\u200d \u201cdid not \u200bviolate any student\u2019s constitutional rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch\u2064 Foundation,\u200d defended the program.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTranscendental Meditation has been learned\u200c by over\u200d 10 million people over\u200b the past 60\u200b years,\u201d\u2064 Roth said,\u200c according to\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/wgntv.com\/news\/chicago-news\/former-student-awarded-150k-after-cps-forced-participation-in-hindu-rituals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WGN-TV<\/a>. \u201cIt is \u200cnot a religion, philosophy or\u200b a change in lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The foundation \u2062also insisted in a \u2064statement that all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/middle-school-student-suspended-banned-sporting-events-principal-says-war-paint-actually-blackface-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">students<\/a> \u201cvoluntarily chose \u200dto learn the \u2062meditation technique with their \u2064parent\u2019s consent and were free to opt out of the program at any time with\u200d no negative consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Of course, Green\u2019s \u2062lawsuit and\u2062 the\u200d resulting settlement suggest that she did\u2063 not feel \u201cfree to opt out.\u201d After all, \u200bif her\u2062 grades hinged on participation, then she could not have refused without \u201cnegative consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, her attorney explained that\u2064 the program\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-high-school-student-vindicated-after-allegedly-being-forced-to-participate-in-hinduistic-rituals\/\" title=\"Christian High School Student Vindicated After Allegedly Being Forced to Participate in 'Hinduistic Rituals'\">religious elements \u200bappeared \u2064fairly \u2063overt<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the second day of this\u2063 training in Transcendental Meditation, Mariyah told the instructor that her knee was injured \u200bin order to \u2062avoid kneeling before the image \u200dof a man \u200cin a photograph on a table in\u200c the\u2062 middle \u200dof the room, that she described as looking like Buddha,\u201d Mauck \u200csaid.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMariyah Green\u2019s Christian faith and her dedication to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/rookie-quarterback-praises-lord-savior-jesus-christ-national-tv-historic-performance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jesus Christ<\/a> makes worship of others, such \u2062as these idols, unthinkable,\u201d\u200c he added, according \u200cto the Sun-Times.<\/p>\n<p>If such \u201ctraining\u201d involved\u2063 even subtle\u2064 elements of\u200c coercion,\u2062 then Green\u2019s constitutional rights\u2064 were unquestionably violated. Thus, whether by settlement or verdict,\u200d this case reached the correct outcome.<\/p>\n<p>To place this situation in context, imagine a public school pressuring students into kneeling before a cross. The \u2063howls of indignation would \u2062take years to\u2063 subside.<\/p>\n<p>Coercion aside, this story does have a heartening element.<\/p>\n<p>Many young people \u2063come of age professing \u2063a \u200dnominal\u2062 Christian faith. Perhaps their parents drag them to church. Or they\u2062 attend a Christian school. But these \u200cexperiences do not always produce spiritual commitment or even \u2062serious \u2062thought. In short, they learn \u200cthe language and practices of the faith but go no deeper.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, when challenged \u2063by external forces, \u200dthey cannot defend their faith because they have nothing to defend.<\/p>\n<p>Green, however, clearly can defend her \u200dfaith. In fact, her \u201cdedication to Jesus Christ\u201d inspired her to \u200bfight for the freedom God gave her.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"author_subscription_pitch\">.author_subscription_pitch p{margin:5px;}<\/p>\n<p><em><b>An Urgent Note from Our Staff:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The \u200dWestern Journal has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pfizer-recruits-super-bowl-champ-to-be-official-spokesman-for-covid-booster\/\" title=\"Pfizer hires Super Bowl champ as COVID booster spokesperson.\">labeled \u201cdangerous\u201d simply<\/a> \u200bbecause \u200dwe have a biblical worldview and speak the truth about what is\u2062 happening \u200bin America.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We refuse to let Big Tech and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/governor-goes-around-voters-backs-signs-change-in-state-election-laws\/\" title=\"Governor sneaks behind voters, enacts new election laws.\">woke advertisers dictate<\/a> the content we share with our community. We \u2062stand \u200bfor \u200ctruth.\u200b We stand \u200dfor freedom. We stand with our readers.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We\u2019re asking you to \u2063help us in this \u200cfight. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><b>We can\u2019t do this without you<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Your donation directly\u200b helps \u200cfund our \u2063editorial team of writers\u200c and editors. Your support\u2064 means\u200d we \u2062can continue to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uncovered-american-tax-dollars-funding-way-more-than-just-weapons-in-ukraine\/\" title=\"American tax dollars funding more than just weapons in Ukraine uncovered.\">expose false narratives<\/a> and defend \u2062traditional American values.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Please stand\u200b with us by donating today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><em><b>Thank you for your support!<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/christian-high-school-student-vindicated-allegedly-forced-participate-hinduistic-rituals\/\">Christian High School Student Vindicated After\u200d Allegedly\u2064 Being Forced to\u2062 Participate in \u200b&#8217;Hinduistic Rituals&#8217;<\/a> appeared first on\u200b <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\">The Western Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> Why is\u200b it important for schools to ensure that any religious activities or\u200d programs are voluntary \u2062and do not favor\u2062 one religion over another<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u2063 Has proven herself to be an exception to this trend. She not only recognized the conflict between\u200c her\u200d Christian\u2062 beliefs and the religious program imposed on her but also \u200bhad the courage to stand up for her faith.<\/p>\n<p>Religious freedom is \u2063a fundamental right protected by the Constitution of the United\u200c States. Every individual \u200dshould \u200chave\u200d the freedom to practice their religion without \u200ccoercion\u2063 or discrimination. Unfortunately, in the case of \u2064Mariyah Green, her public education seemed to prioritize the promotion of a particular religious program at the expense of her faith.<\/p>\n<p>The program, known as &#8220;Quiet Time,&#8221;\u200b involved transcendental meditation and Hindu \u2062rituals. It is important to note that this is not an attack\u2063 on the Hindu religion itself, but rather on the imposition of these practices \u200bon students who may hold different beliefs. Green, as a Christian, found herself in \u2062a difficult position, feeling \u2063isolated and \u2063forced to betray her own \u200dfaith.<\/p>\n<p>It is commendable that Green took legal action and pursued justice for the violation of her religious \u200drights. The fact \u200bthat she was awarded damages and legal fees indicates that the court \u2063recognized the validity of\u2064 her claim. This ruling sets an important precedent, reaffirming the importance of religious liberty\u2062 and protecting individuals\u200b from being\u200b coerced into participating \u2062in religious activities that contradict their beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>While the Chicago Public Schools spokesperson\u200d claims that the \u200cprogram did not violate any\u200b student&#8217;s constitutional\u2063 rights, Green&#8217;s\u200c lawsuit\u200b suggests \u200dotherwise. Her attorney explained that the program&#8217;s religious elements were overt, and Green&#8217;s refusal to kneel before an image she found idolatrous demonstrates the extent to which her Christian faith was compromised.<\/p>\n<p>This case highlights the \u200cneed for careful consideration of religious practices within public education. Schools should ensure that any religious activities \u200cor programs are voluntary and do not \u2064favor one religion\u200c over another. Coercion, even if subtle, undermines the principles of religious freedom and should never \u2064be tolerated.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, this situation serves as a reminder of the significance of a genuine, deeply rooted\u200d faith. \u2062Many \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-new-systemic-racism\/\" title=\"A New Systemic Racism?\">young people today<\/a> may claim to be affiliated with \u200da particular \u200dreligion but lack a true understanding and \u200dcommitment to their beliefs. It is only \u200dwhen \u200dthey are faced with challenges like the\u200b one Green \u2062encountered that the depth\u200c of their faith becomes apparent.<\/p>\n<p>Green&#8217;s case should inspire others to\u200b reflect on their own beliefs and take \u200da stand for what \u2064they hold dear. It is through moments of adversity that individuals can grow stronger in their faith and defend it with \u2062conviction. By asserting \u200bher rights, Green has scored a victory for religious liberty and sent \u200da powerful message that\u2063 no\u200c one should be coerced into compromising their beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the ruling \u2062in Mariyah Green&#8217;s case is a significant win for religious liberty. It underscores \u200cthe importance of protecting individuals \u200bfrom \u2062coercion and ensuring \u2062their freedom to\u2062 practice their religion without interference. While \u2063this victory \u200bmay\u200b have \u200dcome at the \u200cexpense \u2063of public education, it serves as a powerful reminder that religious rights should never be\u200d compromised. Green&#8217;s\u200d courage and determination should\u2063 be an inspiration to\u2063 all, encouraging individuals to stand \u200bup for their\u200c beliefs and defend their faith, \u2063even in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Score one for religious liberty. And if it happened to come at the expense of public education, all the better. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly has awarded $150,000 in damages and legal fees to Mariyah Green, a Christian and a former student at Bogan High School in Chicago. Before graduating<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2056,"featured_media":2096899,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2096898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2096898","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2056"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2096898"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2096898\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2096899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2096898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2096898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2096898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}