why do people think that it is ok to pray in public schools?

Question

In the Holy Bible we find Mathew's accounts of Jesus in prayer 6:5-6 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt be as the hypocrite are: enter into thy closet and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy father which is in secret." from Mathew14:23 "Jesus went up on the mountain by himself to pray." again ...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....But thou, when thou prayest, enter into the closet, and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret... this is why i beleive christianity has nothing to do with jesus's teachings, becasue he taught NOT to pray in public, im religious, but i know for fact jesus taught it is wrong to pray in public. i am totally against the bush regime that is obviously diminishing our rights, so its ordinary to think that it is freedsom of religion, but just thik about other religions, and its not using your rights when praying.

gman the bible isnt just christan, you closeminded fool, and i happen to follow jesus's teeachings, and he taguht me to not pray in public. and im not using the bible, to hear or whatever, im just rambling on like lots of peolpe on here, jesus said nothing basd about that. and he also said nothing bad about pot

Answer 1

It also says: pray without ceasing.

Answer 2

Praying in a classroom is not in the public. It is with a lot of children, hoping and praying that the day will be good for them. Why shouldn't we teach our children all over the world, that it is a blessing to be able to pray together. It also says in the Bible ,if one or more pray together it is a special thing. It says in the Bible To PRAY TOGETHER ! You are accurate on the fact that Jesus went to pray by himself. I am also against religious people standing on the corner , shouting out the message. But in the classroom , it is not the same. We are also told to teach the little children. There are many little children who do not pray at home. They have never been taught. So it gives the little children a glimmer of a new hope. What is so wrong with that?? No matter what nationality it is, a prayer is a prayer.
satan surely does not want for us to pray in school or anywhere else. So we need to make sure that prayer is continual

Answer 3

Obviously "pray without ceasing" does not refer to corporate prayers, prayed aloud and led by an official leader. If that were the case no one would ever get any work done. I always prayed in school and I didn't need anyone's help, permission, or participation. And frankly I didn't particular want anyone to know what I was praying for. That's a great thing about prayer-- it can be kept between the Pray-er and God. That is the best way to pray except in groups that are gathered for the purpose and public school isn't one of them.

Answer 4

There is a difference between praying together and standing on the street corner praying loudly for others.

Isaiah 45:20
"Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.
Isaiah 45:19-21 (in Context) Isaiah 45 (Whole Chapter)

Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 1:13-15 (in Context) Acts 1 (Whole Chapter)

Acts 4:24
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
Acts 4:23-25 (in Context) Acts 4 (Whole Chapter)

He's saying don't act all high and mighty.

Answer 5

Seems like you left out a primary word.. "not be as the hypocrit," is the precise wording. I have been steadfastly promtiing this same thinking for many years.. They don't want to hear it..Prayer is a very individual thing and each has been directed to do this in private and silently, or secretly. Each indicating the same thing.

This admonition can be found in other places also, is not restricted to that one passage. The religion of man has superceded the advice given to them. Within the very book they profess to live by. I am a christian.. and still find this rather abhorant and not according to the Holy Book. On top of that, they have reneged on the teaching of the second part of the Gospel.

Answer 6

As with most things, it is your motivation. Do you pray to get recognized or do you pray to have a serious relationship with God? Remember, Jesus was rebuking the "religious elite" of the day when He made the statements in your question. People that were using religion to promote them selves. I truly believe that praying in public is ok, but there is no need to make a big show - bow your head, say your pray and move on.

Answer 7

I THINK YOU SPEND TOO MUCH TIME READING THINGS INTO THE SCRIPTURE THAT ARE NOT THERE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN NOT TO PRAY IN PUBLIC, IN THOSE DAYS THE HOUSES WERE NOT MANY ROOMED AS THEY ARE NOW AND SO TO TALK WITH GOD SOME HAD TO FIND A SPACE SO AS NOT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES. JESUS DOES NOT WANT US TO PRAY IN PUBLIC BY PUTTING ON A GOOD SHOW OR SAYING LOOK AT ME I AM SO GOOD I PRAY JESUS IS ALL ABOUT CHRISTIANITY AND THAT IS A FACT HE DID NOT TEACH US NOT TO PRAY IN PUBLIC AS FOR RIGHTS EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PRAY WHEREVER THEY WANT AND WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM OTHERS THIS IS WHY WE LIVE HERE IN THE USA AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT PRAYING TO GOD IS A PERSONAL AND PRIVATE MATTER AND SHOULD BE HELD IN GREAT RESPECT SO BEFORE YOU GO ON ANOTHER RAMPAGE GET SOMEONE WITH BIBLE KNOWLEDGE TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE VERSES

Answer 8

The point is that if one is praying merely to be seen a certain way by other people, then one is not praying but seeking some sort of glory for oneself.

I pray in public places a lot--silently, with no demonstration.

It is okay to pray in public schools. It is okay to pray anywhere. What is dubious is when one prays so that one may be seen praying. That is, when one prays so that others may think that he or she is pious.

As far as institutionalized prayer, that is where there is a separation of church and state. I don't think that people who do not wish to pray should be forced to.

Answer 9

Reckon you don't pray in church, assuming you attend.

Probably, you don't say a blessing over your meals.

Guess your kids have to figure out how to pray by themselves? Since you probably don't have enough room to fit them in your closet?

Pray at weddings? Funerals?

Better yet, Jesus says, in the same passage, "for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." vs. 8. Why bother praying at all??

Bad enough the Atheists, etc. attack Christians. You claim the same Jesus & attack others who do the same??

"Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good & acceptable & perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2

Answer 10

In the sciptures you are speaking of the Lord was speaking of praying In the pride of man ,read on In your Bible and It illastrates the prayer of the pharasee and the man beating on his own chest saying humbly Lord I am a sinner that Is the differance.

There are many times In the Bible when people prayed In public Its the heart of the man that makes the differance,Its not a show.

Me I hear people swear In public In front Of children????

How come this does not offend people or sex under the stairwell In public school,this doesnt bother anybody?????

Answer 11

It is legal for people to pray in school, as long as it isn't lead by a teacher or school official and it isn't mandatory. Religions aside from Christianity also use prayer.

I'm Pagan, and I spend a few seconds before a test to take a breath and pray that I can retain everything I studied with a clear mind. There's that joke that as long as there are tests, there will always be prayer in school.