TX teacher claims fingerprint ID 'Mark of the Beast' violates freedom of religion

November 7, 6:03 PMPortland Humanist ExaminerMicha J. Stone

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The beast?

(commons.wikimedia.org)

A Texas kindergarten teacher is refusing to undergo fingerprint identification because of her religious beliefs. Pam McLaurin, a 22 year veteran school teacher, claims fingerprinting constitutes "the Mark of the Beast", and violates her first amendment rights to freedom of religion.

McLaurin, an evangelical Christian, is facing potential suspension and dismissal if she continues to resist the fingerprint identification process, which is the law in Texas, as well as most other states. School teachers and other professionals responsible for the care of children are frequently mandated to undergo fingerprint identification and a background check in order to maximize children's safety and eliminate those unsuitable for such responsibility.

McLaurin's claim is similar to claims made by a group of Michigan farmers, mostly Amish, that are fighting rules mandating the tagging of livestock with RFID chips. The farmers claim the chips are also "the Mark of the Beast".

In response to potential sanctions for failure to comply with state law, McLaurin has filed a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency. Her lawsuit cites various passages of Revelation, the final book of The Bible; for example:

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand and on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.… Then a third angel followed them saying with a loud voice — if anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God.… He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

McLaurin's refusal to comply, and her reasoning for such refusal, is intellectually repugnant. An individual with such beliefs probably does not belong in a public school. The bottom line is that fingerprint ID is a reasonable request, and part of any thorough background check. If McLaurin can not play be the rules, than she needs to take her Bible and go play somewhere else.

For more information check out Trina Hoaks, Atheism Examiner; and Hemant Mehta, The Friendly Atheist