Should Prayer Be Allowed in Public Schools?

[aronia]

Should Prayer Be Allowed in Public Schools?

Allowing prayer in public schools remains a compelling and often heated issue for many Americans. Is a student-led Lord's Prayer acceptable before the big game on Friday night? What about a two-minute "moment of silence" during home room? Of course, this isn't simply a matter of prayer itself but a representation of a much larger, more encompassing topic: Where does the line exist between religious freedom and religious imposition?

http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/should-prayer-be-allowed-in-public-schools

[godgoo]

Yeah I think prayer should continue in schools world wide. I was brought up and went to a prodestent school, we had hyms every morning and church hyms (actual church) on a wednesday. It did me good, Christmas we use to be engaged in all aspects of and celebrationg the festive season. I am sort of old fashioned though for my age, a young man with an old mind. I think the best part of it all was the nativity, we would all argue who was going to be a wise man :). I think this should continue. Besides when it's raining and cold outside you can always rest up in a nice church, I have done this a few times. We need a church even if we don't actually attend it every sunday or so to pray, just leave a donation. so yeah say your prayers, and have the religion thrown in with the science. Before we end up with a load of depressives that just copulate and nothing else.

[lordzoma]

Well considering people are their own god, I think it's pointless. Besides, in western society, the government is both the parent and the god. Might as well pray to the president.

[truth finder]

nagh they should stop it i'm a christian but i don't push it on any one, there are to many religians this day and age....private schools are different.

[Anders Lindman]

The question I think is if schools should be allowed at all. Kids sitting like in prisons for YEARS and what do they learn that can't be found on Wikipedia within a few seconds?! :confused: Ok, basic language knowledge and a few other things, that can be useful, but children are VERY fast learners, so the education system either sucks or has been set up like that for some more sinister purpose.

[infinite_consciousness]

I think people should have the option to pray if they wanted to. What people believe is none of my business. Just as long as they don't impose their beliefs on me.

I believe everyone has the right to believe in whatever they want as long as they aren't hurting anyone or imposing on anyone. I'm not into religion, by the way.

[geezer661]

Yeah I think prayer should continue in schools world wide. I was brought up and went to a prodestent school, we had hyms every morning and church hyms (actual church) on a wednesday. It did me good, Christmas we use to be engaged in all aspects of and celebrationg the festive season. I am sort of old fashioned though for my age, a young man with an old mind. I think the best part of it all was the nativity, we would all argue who was going to be a wise man :). I think this should continue. Besides when it's raining and cold outside you can always rest up in a nice church, I have done this a few times. We need a church even if we don't actually attend it every sunday or so to pray, just leave a donation. so yeah say your prayers, and have the religion thrown in with the science. Before we end up with a load of depressives that just copulate and nothing else.

No lets keep science and religion seperate. What science doesnt answer yet, lets not fill the void with bullshit tht has no evidence. And no it should not be allowed before big games and wht not. Its stopping my life by not letting the game start and thts imposing yr bullshit in my life. Keep the bullshit for the bullshit belief buildings and yr own homes

[dude111]

I think it should be allowed....

If someone wants to pray to thier GOD,they should not be stopped from doing so!

[gripit]

During the 70s, in Public School, they used to say 'the lord's prayer' each morning :rolleyes: I had no clue what the fuck it was all about as my parents had never exposed me to that crap (thank god.......lol :D). Then, in grade 4 or so, there was a couple of Mennonite kids (or something) that excused themselves from 'the prayer'...and I went "huh?, I don't have to listen to this bullshit every day? AWESOME!!"...and I excused myself from then on :)

That being said, of course it should be banned. School is already the opposite of education. Why make it worse?! :confused::confused: Practice 'religion' wherever you please, but not in schools. In my city, the most multi-cultural city on the world, to be fair, you'd have to recite a dozen different 'lord's prayer's' in every class, every day!! "OK, prayer is done, off to lunch now!!" :rolleyes: :)

[lady_oblivion]

I do belive assemblys are mandatory(part of the ciriculum and all that jazz well in the uk lol), i remeber singing hyms in assembly and going to church on specific days(i'm not a christian but hey ho i was in school). They still do it now and as a parent you can request that your child not take part, so you have the choice there.

[drhemp]

They used to force us to pray at our village school, I think by the time I was 8 or 9 I point blank refused to do it.

I don't send my kids to school, but if I ever did and they tried to force them to pray to the Christian God I certainly would have something to say about that!

[aronia]

I tent to agree with infinite point of view. Noone should force another living soul to do something against their own will.

[analog]

Prayer and Religious beliefs are personal, if you want to pray to a a God you have the right to, School policy should be 100% neutral on religious issues.

[theoriginalmurph]

If you look closely at both science and religion, you'll see the difference between them is cosmetic and paper thin. If you don't like Jesus, you'll wait for the second coming of Copernicus, and if you don't like the rituals at church, you'll perform scientific experiments. Are you waiting for the official seal of infallibility to come from the Pope, or does it come from a peer reviewed scientific journal? Do you want to say a prayer before class, or do you want a psychiatrist to write you a prescription for some mind altering drug? So, who owns YOU, a doctor or a priest? What is it about yourself you find intolerable that you can't permit others to live their lives according to their own way of life? Instead of asking "Should prayer be allowed in public schools," how about asking, "should public schools be allowed in prayers?" Also, what exactly is a prayer, and when does it begin and end? Do people say "amen" to make the little red LED in their forehead start glowing to let them know it's working? Is there a toggle switch in the brain for either Religion Mode or Science Mode? Do you assume that your perspective is absolute or universal? Do you assume everyone must conform to your point of view about what faith is, or do you give others the benefit of the doubt that they might just be able to see something you're not seeing, understand something you're not understanding, feel something you not feeling, think something you're not thinking, etc., and do you assume it's completely wrong of them until you've given them your official seal of approval? And, where would you get that behavior? You wouldn't be imitating either your public school teachers or private church leaders, would you?

[drhemp]

I think it's disgusting how some Christians think its ok to force children to pray.

Says a lot about Christianity that they have to force brainwash very young children to get them to accept their childish nonsense as the truth.

[saab1981]

My thoughts on Christianity? - I shunned it in favour of extra-terrestrials.

I regret having Christianity forced on me from an early age, though I don't begrudge other people's beliefs. It's their choice afterall, and I don't have a problem as long as they don't force it onto others - sadly, many do...