Public school halftime show calls sinners to repent

Lake Hamilton’s basketball games are apparently more than team rivalries — they’re revivals. “Get saved or get out” is the message being sent to game attendees.

The band is bringing hell-fire-and-brimstone-style band performances to its halftime shows this year. Complete with props that read “sinners beware” and “repent now,” the show includes hymns a public school gymnasium should never hear.

Tent revivals throughout the years deployed loud, coercive tactics to “save sinners” and proclaim the gospel of Jesus. Folks who found themselves in tents listening to an angry preacher brought themselves there for the purpose of being preached at.

By contrast, Lake Hamilton sports fans are showing up to see high school sports. They want to watch the game, be entertained by the band, have some concession stand nachos, and go home. Instead they’re being forced to question their eternal destiny.

This is unconstitutional on its face. A school accepting tax dollars should not be invoking religious themes and images ever, least of all at the halftime of sports events.

Arkansans, if you believe in religious freedom, this should anger you. But let’s keep our thinking hats on and unpack things further.

With LEARNS taking effect, millions of tax dollars are being funneled into the pockets of private religious schools where wealthy parents were already affording their child’s tuition.

Given the LEARNS Act’s structure, Arkansas is paying for religious indoctrination in schools created for white Christian families. Is it any surprise that a public school is pushing the limits of the divide between church and state?