Reinforcing my conviction that 'religion' and 'authority' don't mix on any level.

You can't force religion down anyone's throat. Even (especially?) if the one doing the forcing thinks it's 'for your own good'.

If 'religious behaviour' isn't voluntary on the part of the individual, I simply don't see what value 'enforcement' (in this case beatings - disgusting) can possibly have.

Could they possibly have thought that this kid would value any form of Christianity after this kind of treatment? Hell - they might as well have been conditioning the kid AWAY from (at the very least, Baptist) religion.

I hope these guys (if they really did this - and the article seems pretty sure, anyway) go to jail for a loooo-ooong time.

And - how many other 'students' have they assaulted?