Banning the Bible

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Published: October 7, 2007
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Visitor Comments: 17

(17) george kelly, October 27, 2007 3:28 PM

We must maintain freedom of speech in all ways. Make certain that we defend this RIGHT no matter religion,color,heritage or creed. Ihappen to be a Catholic but don't agree with all Religions but give them the right to practice theirs.AMEN

(16) Minna O'Brien, October 16, 2007 7:42 PM

Religious freedom must be upheld.....everywhere

One of this country's most sacred freedoms is freedom of religion (first amendment).

Any infringement on this is unjustifiable.

Also, it is not the government's job to sensor dangerous thoughts. In fact, they are explicitly told not to (also the first amendment).

This whole arrangement is blatantly unconstitutional.

(15) Dovid, October 11, 2007 7:37 PM

You're right, but they're secularists

You're right, but they are secularists who don't understand the importance of religion. Religion weighs so little on their scale of importance that even a minor 'chashash' of a chance of radical material, or even the 'equality' you refer to, weighs more.

In other words, you are right, but I don't think the Bureau of Prisons will understand that.

(14) Rosen, October 11, 2007 5:19 PM

fundamentalism

To add what the Rabbi mentioned about the problem being radicalism, there is also a significant problem with fundamentalism across the world - people want to crusade and convert others to their way of thinking, whereas Judaism, is one of the few or the only religions that does not condemn nor kill others for not thinking the way we do. Faith is a free-willed initiative, and should not be a crusade, because crusades can end up fundamentally wrong. Thus, it is better to have faith than spread it onto others.

(13) menon sankara, October 11, 2007 8:12 AM

Its an irresponsible action.

Why remove holy books of all religions?
The fault lies with irresponsible people preaching the wrong things.Please ban such preachers.

(12) Noach, October 11, 2007 5:58 AM

American Prison Life

I have been a pen pal to prisoners in American jails for three years and I have learned a great deal about the conditions in which they live. I correspond on religious topics and learn with two prisoners by mail. Bereft of texts described in the short video their livers will be harmed and their future freedom state jeopardised.
Aish and Rabbi SDalomon are to be highly commended for publicising this torture to the neshomos of Jewish prisoners and there is a need to rally support now. Write to the Aleph Insititute in Miami and ask what you as an individual can do to help. Become a penpal now and help in a tangible way.

(11) J. D. Adam, October 10, 2007 12:51 PM

Removing religious texts removes hope.

Thank you for bringing this information out in the open. It is one of many attacks on religious freedom in America under a President who has claimed to be a "man of faith". With your continued and careful exposure of dangerous behaviors by prison and other authorities, we are in a better position to "act" as we should, as Torah teaches us.

(10) Rev. Mark J. Seydel, October 10, 2007 8:54 AM

I couldn't disagree more

Prisoners are lucky to have books. Prison is not a country club. It is my opinion that religious texts should not be in prisons, as they promote all kind of delusional thinking, prejudice and separatism. Stop whining. Of course you want the texts there. You have an agenda. From what you are stating the texts promoting witchcraft should be allowed in prisons. As an inter-faith minister I know that they are some of the only religious text that promote non-violence.

(9) JL, October 10, 2007 1:06 AM

materialism Vs religion

It seems this is one more instance of the ongoing war of materialism against the religious spirit. If islam is so much in favor nowadays it is probably because it is the most down to earth of all religions, so much so that it can hardly be called a religion at all.
The muslims keep telling us they will rule the whole world. They will, with the help of the materialists who are overwhelmingly present in the "free" world.

(8) Anonymous, October 9, 2007 9:44 PM

How should the Koran be used in jails?

I understand that prison's are a rich recruiting ground for radical Islam. How do we separate out the Koran from other religious books? And how do we monitor the Imam's sent to convert those they can?

(7) Rebecca, October 9, 2007 8:58 PM

I agree

This is happening in a lot of prisons, and what is most pertinent to this story is that those prison chaplains are NOT removing Christian materials. My fiance, unfortunately, has been put in a Low Security Federal Prison. He is very fortunate in that there is an organized group of Jewish prisoners there, as it is in an area that is predominately what we consider 'bible belt'. He has told me of the pogroms carried out in the library. Removal of almost every single text that is not Christian. We must remain digilgent in our efforts to help those incarcerated, who want to maintain faith, and grow in their faith, while serving time.

(6) Merle lynn, October 9, 2007 4:37 PM

Why the Zohar and Maimoidies|?

How do I complain about this to the government and prison commissions? Jews are not the cause of 9/11 but support of them is the reason. Those that support Judaism are the radical enemiy's target. Supporting this is supporting the enemy.

(5) A. Sherman, October 9, 2007 4:31 PM

Will they give the Old Testament another chance?

Hopefully the prison authorities might reconsider, & take another look at the Old Testament before definitely deciding to ban it. Unlike the radicalism of the Koran, the Old Testament focuses more on day-to-day domestic issues Like putting to death adulterers, blasphemers, gays, & rebellious sons. Now, who could possibly find anything objectionable about that?

(4) Anonymous, October 9, 2007 12:37 PM

what can we do about it ?

what can we do about it ?

(3) Beverly Kurtin, Ph.D., October 8, 2007 4:43 PM

Yes...but

Rabbi, I love how you speak in a way that anyone can understand...anyone but prison administrators. They don't know about our books, our language, our traditions and what is worse, they don't WANT to understand.

I've never been in prison, but know some people who have. Their stories could raise the hair on a bald man. The deliberate cruelty, the insensivity, and the unwillingness to learn anything is beyond anything we in the free world can begin to imagine.

I'm with you on this one 100%

(2) Christopher, October 8, 2007 1:44 PM

Radical religion

I would like to believe that the enemy is not religion, but radicalism. And in most cases, I think that's true. But when I've looked into the Quran, I've seen something entirely different from the message of love and justice that I've found in the Jewish Bible and in the Christian Bible. In the Quran, I've found pure hatred and radicalism. So if the enemy of America is NOT religion, but radicalism... what do we do with religions that are extremist from it's very beginning? That's also something to think about, but I don't like thinking about it. And I'm too scared to ask this question in public, and even more scared of the answers people might come up with. Peace. Love. Justice. Forgiveness. These are the things the Bible taught me!

(1) Ryan, October 8, 2007 8:10 AM

Well said

Couldn't agree more.

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Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

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Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W. is a noted psychotherapist, in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 25 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions. He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

Rabbi Salomon is co-author, with Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of the best selling book "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment," (Mesorah), and is also the co-producer of the highly-acclaimed film, "Inspired."

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