What's wrong with having prayer in schools?

Question

I'd like someone to explain it to me logically so I can understand.

Answer 1

I can give you one very important reason against it that should make any rational person at least stop and think twice about it.

We have a right in this country to freedom of religion and the right that the state or government not be biased towards any one religion. So, what this means is that if you allow prayer in schools, assuming this is by christian standards, then you can not disallow others... ie, budhhist chanting sessions or islamic kneeling for prayer at certain times of the day. Those are only two examples.

So you see, you open a pandoras box; a very large one.

Some might argue 'well christianity is our majority religion and what our country was founded on; therefore, it should set the standard for what type of prayer.' If you do that then you end up being no better than dictatoral countries that demand one religion or rather the practice of one religion while also ignoring the constitution.

Btw, don't listen to Georgiegirl, the constitution specifically dictates the separation of state and church. In layman's terms, it does this by saying the government (which the supreme court has ruled to be any service that tax dollars pay for - public schools) shall not make any laws (actions) that influence (that can be negative or positive influence) a religion nor shall they prohibit the free exercise of religion. So you see, the constitution distinctly states for religion to NOT get involved with legislation or public services.

This is exactly why I was saying that if you had prayer in school then why would the standard be christian based? ie, bowing you head in silence. Why not make is where everybody kneels and chants like buddhist or muslims? You get the picture I am sure. Ppl who argue against this suffer from self-importance, arrogance and lack of insight into issues.

If you are interested in that part more, you can read some quotes from Thomas Jefferson where he states this separation very clearly at.

Answer 2

http://www.biblia.com/911/america4.htm So many people are citing the separation of church and state when they have no clue what they are talking about. It would do them well to study the Constitution before saying anything. This is how ignorance is passed from generation to generation. I think the school system should have a 2 minute time for silent prayer. If you chose not to fine don't. Then I think the school system should start the day off on how America was founded, how the Declaration was written, The Constitution of the USA, I think every American school child should have to remember the preamble and the Constitution. I think they should have to do an in-depth study of American History, Aren't all of you children glad I am not in a public office? I think education should be just that education. Not socialization and play time. I think all children should have to learn a second language. This is why I home school my son. The educational values are to low in this country. I was going to send him back to public and he begged me not to considering he wants an education.

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with it as it was practiced before the Supreme Court outlawed it. Public schools used to have a moment of silence and told students the they could use it for "prayer or meditation." There was no one praying out loud, there was no reference to whom they were praying, therefore they were no endorsing any religion, nor was anyone forced to pray, they simply had the option to do so if they desired. Now can someone explain to ME how that violates to Establishment Clause? If you can come up with a decent argument, I'd love to hear it, because the Supreme Court's argument sure doesn't hold water.

Answer 4

Separation of church and state is a remarkably good thing. State supported schools can't promote any religion including prayer. People who do believe that religion and prayer should play a major role in their children's' learning are free to choose church affiliated schools and as long as the schools are accredited there are no problems.

Examples of the down side to not having this separation between church and state are cruel and exaggerated. For example, a man in Afghanistan was spared the death sentence earlier this year for being an infidel (non-believer of the Muslim faith) only because his sister testified that he was insane.

Answer 5

Absolutely nothing.

Prayer in school should be reinstated. Just saying a prayer or simply bowing ones head for a moment doesnt' affect ANYONE who doesn't believe. GET THE F OVER IT.

Simply asking for a moment of prayer DOES NOT sanction or support a particular relgion. It does not force anyone to believe or support anything that they do not want to support. It does not even force someone to bow their head. It only asks them to be quiet for a moment so that THOSE WHO BELIEVE can have the opportunity to say a prayer.

Anyone who is offended by that offends me. Do I have any rights around here? Oh right, no I dont, I forgot.

Answer 6

There is nothing wrong with a student praying to themselves if and when they feel the need. What is wrong is people feeling that (for some reason) they HAVE to make it a group thing. Our country is too mixed for this, it is impossible to include ALL faiths and views and wrong to make it just about one.

For Christians to try to dominate and make it all about them and their ways, that is like whites trying to force everything to be OUR way. Naturally, people would/did/do not take kindly to that. Same thing, different format.


People are free to pray whenever they want without making it a group deal. I don't understand why some seem to think that isn't possible now...did it stop working? Many schools have a moment of silence that people can do with what they wish.

Answer 7

It's wrong in the sense that if you have prayer, then every religion in the school would be recognised when prayer starts. Which is impossible because in America chritisnity is the religion that is practised and that might be what is being practiced in schools. So to aviod chaos in schools, it should not be allowed except in the privacy of the students abode.

Answer 8

Schools shouldn't be forcing religion down kids' throats. Religious education and observation is for the child's family....not the schools.

There are so many dfferent religions represented by children in the schools, that to pick a prayer to have the kids say is discriminatory to those who either don't follow that religion, or don't have a religion at all.

Answer 9

Do you recommend crucial prayer in public faculties, the place little ones are a captive objective audience and subject to the self-discipline of instructors and directors who're government workers? Do you recommend the type of mandatory (or allegedly "voluntary" yet definitely inescapable) college prayer which would be a clean violation of the corporation Clause of the 1st modification to the USA shape? specific, I definitely have a topic with that. little ones can, of their very own volition, mutter a prayer to themselves till now a attempt, or convey jointly throughout lunch or till now classification to wish in a circle, yet any form of respected prayer throughout classification time or the different occasion wherein a pupil does not have the significant option to eliminate himself isn't ok.

Answer 10

1) Religion is a private matter.
2) Religion is taught at home or at church
3) Religion can cause a divide amonst students.
4) Can cause an unecessary interuption or accomodations.

for example beside Christanity, what if a Muslim needs to pray in a certain direction at a certain time of day.

lets make the example more extreme, say that prayer involves a drum and chanting and a circle........
you allow one form of prayer you allow them all.

but mostly
religion is a private matter........that people make it public doesn't mean it should be....