Web Gems: Selections from SLJ.com

I totally agree with the critics. It most definitely sounds like the library was pushing an “occult” agenda. Writing in invisible ink and secret codes are benign things. But astrology? Tarot cards? Numerology? Why on earth was this to be their theme? It really makes you wonder! These things are most definitely occult, everyone knows it, and Christians should have no part in it nor of the Eastern religious practices. I certainly wouldn’t let my child take part. So, good for the Christian conservatives for standing against this. I was also offended by the woman’s tone toward the end of the article. In reference to the Harry Potter event, she made the remark, “...They [the Christian conservatives] didn’t blink.” Very antagonistic.—July 18

Are we saying that any spiritual fiction that isn’t the same as the fiction invented at the Council of Nicea isn’t publicly acceptable fiction? Sounds like censorship to me. Does it matter that 15 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Freemasons, Deists, or Humanists? Or that Paul Revere and George Washington had “occult” interests too? Freedom of religion also means freedom FROM religion. That’s why we have a Constitution.—July 19

Very disappointed in the library, the City of Easley, and Pickens County. A library is supposed to be a place of knowledge and not a place that succumbs to groups which promote ignorance and particularly those groups which try to get church and state in bed with each other. It is a right to be educated and these people have denied the library’s right as an educational institution and the right of those who wish to learn about the things being taught in the program.

This Baptist church and members are VERY out of line in a most egregious way and in violation of the U.S. Constitution since they have imposed their religious views/beliefs upon a county government. How dare they think that no one should have any rights to free speech but themselves. How dare they take the right to learn about things as tie-dyeing away from others. These Baptists have abused the very rights that allow them to exist and in the process have promoted ignorance, which is not surprising since to be a Baptist minister all one has to do is claim that God called them to preach and go find a church.... The charge of Witchcraft against the library no longer has any legal standing and if anybody wants to engage in Witchcraft it is their right to do so.—July 21