Why do some people feel they *have* to force (christian)prayers in schools?

Question

It's not like you can stop a kid from praying on on thier own time. Plus, you have before,after, during lunch, to pray ALL you want.

Please read my question first. As I stated, every child has the right to pray at school whenever he or she feels(As long as it doesn't disrupt class) My question is why the fuss about making a *part* of school. Schools shouldn't teach prayer, just as churches shouldn't teach science!!!

Answer 1

It is a part of the agenda of Christian Dominionists. Moderate Christians are mere dupes in this scheme. Christian 'Dominionists' (Reconstructionalists, theonomists) have largely usurped the local level political apparatus of the Republican Party, and are engaged in a sub rosa process to politically motivate moderate Christians under the false cover of religious issues such as morality and family values. The goal is nothing less than the takeover of all elective offices in the USA.

Their doctrine comes from the Bible, starting with the term 'dominion' at Genesis 1:28... “And God said unto them, [Adam and Eve] Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have DOMINION… over every living thing.” They interpret DOMINION as: “... a supremacy in determining and directing the actions of others or in governing politically, socially, or personally.”

They want to remake the USA as a theocracy... and they are succeeding.

Its most common form, Dominionism, represents one of the most extreme forms of Fundamentalist Christianity thought. Its followers, called Dominionists, are attempting to convert the laws of United States so that they match those of the Hebrew Scriptures. They intend to achieve this by using the freedom of religion in the US to train a generation of children via home-schooling and in private Christian religious schools. Later, their graduates will be charged with the responsibility of creating a new Bible-based political, religious and social order. One of the first tasks of this order will be to eliminate religious choice and freedom. Their eventual goal is to achieve the "Kingdom of God" in which much of the world is converted to Christianity. They feel that the power of God's word will bring about this conversion. No armed force or insurrection will be needed; in fact, they believe that there will be little opposition to their plan. People will willingly accept it. All that needs to be done is to properly explain it to them.

All religious organizations, congregations etc. other than strictly Fundamentalist Christianity would be suppressed. Nonconforming Evangelical, main line and liberal Christian religious institutions would no longer be allowed to hold services, organize, proselytize, etc. Society would revert to the laws and punishments of the Hebrew Scriptures. Any person who advocated or practiced other religious beliefs outside of their home would be tried for idolatry and executed. Blasphemy, adultery and homosexual behavior would be criminalized; those found guilty would also be executed. There are two conservative Christian pastors in Texas who have advocated the execution of all Wiccans. Ralph Reed, the executive director of the conservative public policy group the Christian Coalition has criticized Reconstructionism as "an authoritarian ideology that threatens the most basic civil liberties of a free and democratic society."

By allowing this insidious agenda to progress, we are sowing the seeds of our own destruction, while these religious nut-jobs are paving the way to Armageddon with gleeful anticipation.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reconstr.htm
http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/HistoryOfReconstructionMovement.html
http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/Clarkson_RiseOfDomionism.html

Answer 2

As a Christian (and a teacher) I feel it is up to the parents to teach their children about faith, prayer, etc. It does not belong in the schools....if a child wants to pray before lunch, then fine, but it is not something I want forced on a child.....especially a child who is already of a different faith. School is for educating the children in the core/elective subjects.....parents are responsible for the rest. If they choose to not educate them about it, then ok...the child will have to figure it out later on like I did.

Answer 3

It depends. If you live in a multicultural country like US then forcing Christian pray is called indoctrination and is not right. On the other hand if you live in Greece you may have a minority of 1% of no Christians in a school and avoiding the christian pray would be a discrimination for the majority for minority's benefit

Answer 4

Unfortunately for us here in Britain, prayer is a legal requirement that every school must fulfil on a daily basis. Lucky for me, my school broke the law on every day except the last day before Giftmas.

The very nature of any religion - except for Buddhism, which, of course, is way better than Christianity, or any other Abrahamic religion for that matter - is to assimilate and assimilate more. People who regard their beliefs as universal truths will always try to enforce them on others because they think that it is the only truth. What we see as a belief, which people have the freedom to choose, they see as a truth which everyone must accept. One of the ways they make you try to accept what they see as their truth, but which really is nothing more than a silly belief, is by making kids pray in schools.

And the prognosis? I think this problem is going to get worse before it gets better. With Tony Blair's and his Opus Dei best friend and former Education Secretary Ruth Kelly's education reforms, more and more faith schools are going to be introduced to the country, and there will be many trust schools which recieve money from religious insitutions, which means the religious instututions will be expecting a great deal of influence on what goes on inside them. (Ironically, Opus Dei Catholic fanatic Ruth Kelly is now in charge of gay rights in Britain. *Hides*)

Eventually, though, Parliament will wake up and smell the burning Harry Potter books and realise what a load of nutcases religious people really are. Sometime in the future, I think, there will arrive a statute which stops compulsory prayer in schools.

Answer 5

Sometimes I think it stems from control issues that some people have.

Generally, though, it is because those Christians who advocate this believe that this is a great way to evangelize...to reach out and save other lost souls.

Unfortunately all their efforts do is actually the opposite. I am much more impressed with the Christians who show a great deal of respect to me, my beliefs, and approach me with love and humility than I am the one's that show me no respect, criticize and even make fun of my beliefs (and get them wrong...I'm a Hindu and nothing is worse than people who have been misinformed about Hinduism to then tell me what it is I believe when it isn't what I believe at all and they simply look like fools), and who approach me with arrogance.

And honestly it is the one's that approach me with love and humility who give me a great sense of Jesus from them. It just pours off of them. I may be a Hindu, but I still love Jesus (Yeshu as he is called by Hindus). I may not wear the label of Christian and thankfully those Christians that are very loving and approach people with God's love and in humility they seem to understand me and have a great deal of respect for people. I always tell them that if I ever do return to Christianity it will because of them. In them I see Jesus. I do not see Jesus in the arrogant ones.

Besides, if you just allow prayer in school to do the evangelizing...etc...I mean, what role does the church now play? Isn't that lazy evangelizing?

Peace.

Answer 6

Control. They want control. Its not God's way.
On the other hand, even in Russia during the worst time of Communism they never stopped prayer in the schools.

Answer 7

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE FORCING PRAYER IN SCHOOLS, THEY ARE JUST WANTING THE SAME RIGHTS FOR THERE CHILDREN AS NON CHRISTIAN PARENTS HAVE. THE NON CHRISTIAN PARENTS DON'T WANT PRAYER SO THERE CHILDREN HAVE THIS RIGHT SO THE CHRISTIAN PARENT OUGHT TO HAVE THE SAME RIGHT FOR THERE CHILDREN TO PRAY. PEOPLE PRAY ON THERE JOBS ETC, SO WHY CAN'T A CHILD PRAY AT SCHOOL? THEY ARN'T HURTING ANYONE! I VOTE FOR EQAUL RIGHTS! WE LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY!

Answer 8

Probably the exact opposite of the reason that some people feel they *have* to force (Christian) prayers out of schools.

Answer 9

I don't think anyone is trying to "MAKE" anyone pray in school. We are trying to make sure that non-believers dont'take away our constituational freedoms.

why does it bother a non-Christian if a Christian prays in school? What is so offensive?

Answer 10

Because they know that with each generation the children are questioning the religious dogma passed down over time ... and, it's quite likely that their grandchildren or great-grandchildren will be agnostic or atheist.

Basically they are afraid of extinction.