Prayer back in schools

Gio

Gio

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What do you think about the issue of prayer being back in schools?
 
I'm not religious, so I'd basically dislike doing it. I respect anyone who does have a strong belief and wouldn't force my beliefs onto anyone else.
 
Scotty123 said:
I'm not religious, so I'd basically dislike doing it. I respect anyone who does have a strong belief and wouldn't force my beliefs onto anyone else.
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But what about allowing a time like the moment of silence to be pray? If you're not religious, you're not required to participate. 🙂
 
I disagree with it. I believe that you should have the ability to pray, but organizing groups and/or praying publicly should not be allowed during school. The US constitution grants everyone freedom of and FROM religion. If you don't want to participate, that always needs to be an option. In general, I think that is a good principle that the world should follow.

As far as after school events and clubs, I would support that. However, I would not like to see a return of prayer over the intercom, or prayer before sporting events, or something similar.
 
I'm with Pandaa. Keep church and state separate.

I think if you want to, you should have an option of joining a program that will have a prayer for students who sign up for it. Yet not to be broadcasted over the whole school or in rooms that students didn't sign up for.

Some students who are not religious might say it is taking away from time that could be spend learning.
 
I feel that you should be allowed but you should have the ability to opt out if you don't believe in it. In my old school, if you didn't do a minute silence to pray then you would get detention. This was a public school which was open to every religion.
 
I don't agree with prayers in school however non religious meditation would go a long long way and help keep kids calm and focussed and disciplined<br /><br />-- 10 Feb 2014, 00:18 --<br /><br />Is there talk of it being brought back?
 
Schools around here are pretty diverse. There is so many different nationalities and religious backgrounds (or lack thereof) so no I don't think so. Kids are only in school for about 6 hours a day, that time should be spent focusing on their education.
 
Prayer is allowed in schools; it just can't be teacher-led.
 
I have no issue with students in schools that want to personally pray during their spare time, but I cannot abide the thought of religion intertwining with matters of state. Especially education. Not even for something one would think to be insignificant, such as a few moments of prayer.

Below is the kind of thing that happens when you let religion run public schools.

http://www.nola.com/crime/baton-rouge/i ... _aclu.html
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... roats.html [A less...unbiased version, but still factually accurate.]
During less than a month at the school in August and September of last year, the lawsuit claims C.C. was told those who didn't believe in God were "stupid" and was given low marks on tests when he didn't answer questions pertaining to religious doctrine.

One particular question was a fill-in-the-blank statement: “ISN’T IT AMAZING WHAT THE _____________ HAS MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

When C.C. left the blank empty, Roark [His Teacher] wrote in "LORD" in large red letters and marked the answer wrong. The Lanes said students in Roark's class, in which their daughter "S.L." is also a member, get extra points for citing Scripture at the bottom of tests. They allege Roark also skipped over the chapters in the textbook that discuss evolution.

When the Lanes wrote a complaint letter to Principal Wright, they said he read it out loud over the school loudspeaker. Superintendent Ebarb, before reminding the Lanes they were "in the Bible Belt," suggested they transfer C.C. to another school that has "more Asians," the court documents said.
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I think it depends on the community and the school. For example, the school I went to was like 95% mormon. Now I'm not mormon, but had they decided to do prayers since almost everyone was the same religion, I'm sure that would've been okay. I know I wouldn't have been offended and if anyone there would have been, well then you probably shouldn't live in that community.
 
Cody said:
... well then you probably shouldn't live in that community.
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Segregating the world based on religion doesn't seem like the best idea to me.
 
Between the students, definitely. But the school administration shouldn't endorse it in an official capacity, that is unless it's a private school.
 
Snobothehobo said:
Segregating the world based on religion doesn't seem like the best idea to me.
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That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is if you happen to live in one of those rare communities where almost everyone is the same religion, then you shouldn't complain when they do their own things in public and what not. If you don't like it, live in a more diverse place.
 
Teachers and staff should be able to lead school prayer, but they should not be able to force it upon anyone, and it should not be excessive enough as to take away from the school day.

The founding fathers did not mean for the country to be like it is today. To them, freedom of religion meant "don't bother us if we're not part of the same religion", not "religion has no place in public (as in schools, courts, and other government property)".

The country was doing fine with religion and state closer together. We've been slowly going downhill recently.
 
Unless it's a catholic school, schools nor any other non-religious establishment should try to bring any form of religion in. Just leave it, have guidelines that say "Leave your religious customs at the door." It's better for everyone that these places don't even bother trying to adhere to someone's "religious needs".
 
I don't mind it. Then again, I'm from the UK and we don't have seperation of church and state. Guess what? It's probably done more to make us more tolerant, rational people than any law ever would. In fact, I bet if you brought it back in the US, the more hardcore fundamentalist sides of the religious sphere would pretty much lose about 80% of their popularity. Why? Because it's not treated like some sort of war to keep fighting.
 
Let those who are religious pray, bring Bibles, etc. No need to try to stifle someone's religious views. I don't agree with forcing religion on students in schools though and highly feel school officials shouldn't impose any form of religious belief on students. I feel they shouldn't discredit either but take a neutral stance towards any religious affiliation.
 
They should keep them Separate unless an alternative for those who choose to not participate is Decided upon. Not everyone has the same religion, beliefs, etc. Forcing something upon a person is not a good or ideal way to go about things at all. I'm not saying it would be forced, but it leaves people without much option when they're in a room and 15 out of 20 are praying or whatever the case may be. Just my opinion.
 
I would say I am on par with Kristoff to some degree. I am atheist and respect others religious beliefs, so the whole get that out of school thing is a good thing to me. They can have a club or what ever, but everything should be funded by the student club members. Us as a tax payer should have to pitch in for club budgets. Schools funds should be used for educational purposes & not clubs or catered to ones beliefs. The sad truth is US schools waste tons of cash just to see the same income or possibly more the next time around. Meh
 
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