Christian DUers: How do you feel about prayer in school?

[blkgrl]

Yesterday I had a tiny debate with someone regarding the prayer in school issue and he basically implied that true Christians believe in school prayer. I told him that people can pray 24 hours a day, silently and to themselves; he said that today's children are loss and school led prayer could get them on the right track without making students from other religions feel like second class citizens. Does anyone else agree with that view? Have I lost my focus as a Christian?

[Parche]

1. No Religion

I do not believe in any religion
There should be NO prayers is schools, if you want to pray
pray on your own time and your own space
We need freedom from religion



LET US SPRAY

[Catholic Sensation]

2. as long as the school doesn't sponsor it

I don't see why it would be a problem. I am against PUBLIC school sanctioned prayers, but if the kid is a christian and wants to pray, it's their business, let the kid believe. GO COWBOYS WOOO! (I'm a Dallas fan)

[Procopius]

3. Moment of silence

How is that offensive? Just a time to reflect or pray.

[blkgrl]

14. Hmm... thats true...

I wouldn't be against a moment of silence. They actually made a big deal about implementing that here in Georgia but I'm not sure if the schools are still doing it.

[Uzybone]

4. No to school prayer

pray at home, silently on the bus or silently in class. You cant have open prayers in class without making non believers feel excluded. The reason children are "lost" is bad parenting not lack of a 1 minute prayer before classes.

And the Bible says..paraphrasing here...beware those who flaunt thier beliefs by always praying in public so all can see.

[tjdee]

5. I'm a Christian, and I say no school prayer--public schools are govt. run.

Nope.

I don't think it's appropriate for a number of reasons, and it would just piss atheists off...and what kind of prayers? Muslim? Jewish?

Run into all kind of problems, best to just pray before school if that's your thing.

[Sophree]

40. Yup, that's what youth groups are for

Publicly pray after school with your youth group.

Pray all you want at school, in the shower, dancing a jig, whatever- it's a private thing and you don't have to do it in public to be a Christian.

[ComerPerro]

6. Thats a load of crap

School led prayer can not possibly serve all religions, and will always single kids out.

I don't like the idea of kids learning religion at the same place they learn multiplication tables.

The biggest problem is not that the government is endorsing a religion (which is a problem here). The biggest concern is that it will teach the kids not to question the Christian faith.

[oldleftguy]

7. During final exams, etc..

..I have no problem as long as there is no cheerleader in the front of the classroom.

[ComerPerro]

10. See, this is part of the problem with that issue

People hear "no prayer in schools", and the conservatives take that and run with it, lying their asses off.
By the time the conservatives are done, they have the general public thinking that any individual student who prays on his own will be expelled. This is what gets the religious right up in arms.

[hunter]

32. Well maybe, if she was a pretty cheerleader!

I've met quite a few Bible-thumping old time religion fundamentalists who are against "school prayer" because they abhor any watered down sort of Christianity. They like to drink their Christianity straight, full 200 proof, the kind that burns your throat. They would never accept any sort of "near beer" Christianity, not any sort that might be offered up in a public school.

But what do I know? I'm mostly Catholic. I'd be out there in the hallway during public religious "services," goofing off with all the atheists, pagans, Jehovah's Witnesses, Quakers, Buddhists, Baha'i's, Jews, Muslems, etc., while all the totally lame assed kids were trapped inside the big auditorium reciting banal prayers as they sucked down their daily dose of toxic pseudo-fundy-Christian-Kool-Aide.

Fire, dear Lord, give me fire!

[Pepperbelly]

8. nope ...

even Jesus in Matthew instructed, "Be ye not as the hypocrites who pray on street corners." He then instructed his disciples to go to their most private toom for prayer.

[zeemike]

13. You are right

And is it not ironic that those that call themselves Christians openly defy this commandment from Jesus himself?
That is why I call myself “A follower of the teachings of Jesus” so there will be no mistake.

[blkgrl]

17. I wish I had remembered that...

I wonder how he would have responded to that!

[alcuno]

9. When I hear the word "Christian" I think fundie. I am a Catholic.

And as a teacher, if anyone thinks that I'm leading their children in prayer or hanging around in the classroom for the school prayer, they need to have their head examined. True Christians believe in school prayer? Who decides what is true?

I'll be out in the hallway with all the other "non-Christians" leading a revolt against "Christian" propaganda.

[ibegurpard]

11. I think it's fine

in Sunday School, that is. I see no need for public displays of piety. I come from the Mormon background...they consider themselves Christians but a lot of fundamentalists don't think they are...they think they're a dangerous cult. My point in stating that is WHOSE prayer are they going to say? Should it be a Christian prayer? I think it's possible to teach morals and ethics without putting a particular religious sect's slant on anything.

[supernova]

12. No to school-sanctioned prayer

Don't like organized prayers at all. Individual students can pray on their own all they like.

[Nikia]

15. Not school led

I think that some people go overboard about freedom from religion. Any student should be able to pray whenever he or she wants as long as it is not disruptive. The school can decide what is disruptive and use the same rules as it would with speech or other activities. Whatever students decide to do in groups religiously should be protected as well. If the basketball team by concensus decides to prayer amongst themselves, for example, before the game, that should be permitted. If a group of students want to lead prayer before school starts, all students who wish to participate can do so. School is a public place and public expression should be permitted. School mandated prayer is unfair to non religious students and students with religions different from the one(s) that might dominate the area. At my own public school, we had prayer at graduation and prayer at some extracurricular (non religious) activity banquets. To my knowledge, no one complained about this and it was accepted as part of the culture. I personally have no problem with anyone of any religion praying around me with any words they may use and would stand respectfully if at a function where a prayer was said that I would disagree with (relgiously). If it were an every day thing that the school made us do, I suppose that I might get a little annoyed.

[BonjourUSA]

16. The school must teach respect and tolerance

The prayer at the school (which would be obvious a Christian one) would be a lack of respect lack all the other religions and the unbelievers.

It would be also a lack of tolerance since it would imply that the dominant religion is the Truth.

[blkgrl]

22. So my question is, should Christians care

about promoting tolerance for other religions and non-believers?

[noiretextatique]

29. YES...and christians should also accept

the fact that the tax dollars of other those of other faiths and non-believers help pay for schools.

[blondeatlast]

37. If they are true Christians.

I have no problems with others beliefs, period.

[Catholic Sensation]

18. Terms like "true Christian" piss me off

As a firm believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I HATE it when people say "well true christians would do this" and shit like that. Well a true Christian wouldn't support tax cuts for the rich and true christians would be more supportive of the poor if they want to use the teachings of Him to be the basis of true christianity. (Jesus paid the taxes he was told to, he also helped the poor and ministered to them when the Pharisees loathed the poor.)

[creativelcro]

42. christians

Absolutely... Selfish, rich, christians are a pure contradiction... -CV

[gratuitous]

19. Heck, I prayed fervently

Before every math test. Ba-dum cha!

But the idea of a communal, state-tested and -enforced prayer for all children is anathema to me as a Christian. I regard prayer as a deep communion and connection with the Almighty, and to cheapen it by reciting some rote prayer concocted by some functionary just seems repugnant to me.

I agree with your friend that children need guidance in their lives. I'd prefer to see that guidance come from their parents and the community around them, not mandated at the state capitol in some kind of one-prayer-fits-all nostrum. It's a feel-good placebo for legislators as a substitute for funding schools, children's health initiatives, and food programs.

[AntiCoup2K4]

20. As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in school!

But such prayers are voluntary, and that's the difference. When I was in high school, I was a little more involved in "organized religion" than I am these days, and for a while, I met with a Bible Study group that met before school time, but it was on school property. There were a couple of teachers that met with the group, and the Principal was aware of the group's existence, and didn't have a problem with it.

And as long as they aren't using school time to have prayer meetings, I don't see a conflict. Nor would I with any other group using the school for a meeting place during off hours.

Mandatory prayer - that's a different story altogether. Jesus Christ never forced anyone to pray, and nobody has a right to ask that of someone else in His name. I'm against forced prayer whether Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or even a forced moment of thinking of absolute nothingness (in the interest of equal time for the atheists)

[Ilsa]

21. I believe parents shouldn't abdicate their

responsibility for their children's religious training to the public schools.

I don't want my kids saying prayers at school because I don't know whose prayers they are saying, and I may not approve. I believe in teaching them their religious beliefs at home and church.

Just wait until some Muslim child prays to Allah at school and see how the Bible thumpers react.

[maveric]

23. When was in elementary school in the early 60's we always started

the day with the Lords prayer. The protestant version,which was a bit strange since 90+% of the school was Irish, Italian, French catholic and The other 9+% was Jewish

Back then it was MANDATORY that we recite it every morning after the MANDATORY Pledge of Allegience.
Many parents complained that they wanted to use the catholic version of the LP and were told to send their kids to St. Joes (the local catholic school) if they didnt like it.

Pray in church or in private school and not in public school.

A moment of silence is fine with me as long as its not MANDATORY.

[Dob Bole]

39. The Government can't limit your right to pray in school...

at any time, or any place that you want. It's your constitutional right. Also, if you want to start or join a campus religious organization, the government also cannot interfere.

However, by that same portion of the Constitution, the government can't MAKE you pray in school. I think a lot of people are confused about that difference, and think that the government is trying to outlaw prayer or something.

[maggrwaggr]

24. I used to pray in school all the time

back when I was a little hippie Jesus freak in junior high school in the early 70's.

I also day dreamed a lot and stared out the windows.

If someone had led me in prayer, in some officially sanctioned way, it would have pissed me off. Even then.

These fundies need to go create their own little religious country.

America is not for them.

[Rowdyboy]

25. Government mandated prayer is absurd....

Totally inappropriate. Private prayer is already legal and no one has or will ever try to have it banned.

This from a practicing Episcopalian

[Kamika]

26. i honestly dont care

If the kid or the kids parents want him/her to pray.. SURE

But it shall in no way be forced upon the child by the school.

Oh im a christian

[Malva Zebrina]

27. School led prayer gets one on the right track?

There is not a single reason why a school system that is paid for by public taxes, should ever consider prayer to the Christian god--which is always the god that those who think school prayer is necessary, is the one to be prayed to. LOL

[InkAddict]

28. I once knew an investment banker

of middle age who would crawl under his desk or kneel toward the east right in the middle of the hallway of the bank at the appropriate times for Muslim prayers. He was very pleasant and very devout and, therefore, received great respect for his investment skills. In the 70s, this was not an embarrassment for anyone including the banker, we just waited for him to finish praying and went on with business - how times have changed!

In school, children should not be forced into sanctioned prayer. I'm very sure that silent voluntary prayers are offered up regularly by students, and no one should be perturbed by that - if the supplicant were interrupted in prayer, would not a simple Oh I'm sorry be the polite respectful policy? In sports where injuries occur and where one wants to enjoin a higher power to guide sportsmanlike conduct, I don't see a problem for those that agree, and for those that don't no offence taken. Religion should be taught at home and practiced where appropriate on an individual level - "Christians" could be polite with their responses when trying to evangelize, but sanctioned public school prayers should not be mandatory for those of different beliefs. A private religious school that accepts others who have strong religious bents in other faiths is being antagonist if they require united prayer without commensurate regard, and why would those of opposing viewpoints attend that institution without respect for the beliefs inherent in the school that offers that student whatever else was desired from the curriculum - If not respectful of the institution to which tuition is being paid (host), then I believe that person is a troublemaker on the first order.

[baldguy]

30. My kids should be allowed to pray in school . . .

or anywhere else they choose to for that matter. AND UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, THEY CAN.

"...or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

The problem is that freeky fundies want to DICTATE where, what, when, how and to whom students can pray. THAT IS ILLEGAL.

"Congress shall make no law..."


School prayer isn't about faith. It's about a small minority wishing to gain and maintain CONTROL over the minds of America's youth - It's about power, pure and simple.

[cally]

31. I'm absolutely opposed

I don't believe in any state supported religious beliefs. I don't think a prayer before a football game or graduation is appropriate and pressures students to do what they may not believe. I have no problem with private prayers or groups who meet before or after school as long as the school does not promote these groups.

[blondeatlast]

33. No prayer, no "moment of reflection," no acknowledgement of

religion or spirituality belongs in public schools.

And I am proud to say I am Christian.

Matthew 6

<5> And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
<6> But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
<7> But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
<8> Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

[blkgrl]

34. What's wrong with a moment of silence...?

Enlighten me :-)

[noiretextatique]

38. why should it be mandatory?

if students choose to pray or take a moment of silence...they are free to do so now. there is no need to mandate prayer or a moment of silence. school prayer is a manufactured wedge issue, and a religious right power play.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

35. No you have not lost your focus as a Christian which is TOLERANCE

[PROGRESSIVE1]

36. NO!!!!

If it is a Christian prayer then which denomination should it come from??? All religions have different sects and no ONE sect should be so dominant!

Keep Church and State SEPERATE!!!!

[DinahMoeHum]

41. Not in public schools.

n/t

[ElsewheresDaughter]

43. it doesn't belong...prayer is in the heart..and that's where Jesus said it

belongs..."not in the town square"

[ButterflyBlood]

44. no you haven't, I agree with you

"True Christians" believe in school prayer, bleh what nonsense. Fundies also say that true Christians are homophobic, ect. ect. I'd like to hear him explain how it wouldn't make students from other religions feel like second class citizens.

[Blue_Chill]

45. I support it 100%

in private christian schools.

As for public, pray when you want silently to yourself, or at lunch, or if you need a group form one for before or after school off school grounds.