Would a Christian allow prayer in school if all major religious prayers were taught to your kids?

Question

Would you accept that prayer be allowed in school on the condittion that all major religions had a place there, not just one, and that they all are to be taught to all children regardless of their religion? Would a Christian allow a Muslim or a Hindu prayer to be taught to their kids as a result of allowing prayer in school? Could a secular kid be allowed to refuse to pray?

to mzjakes
Permitting VOLUNTARY prayer in public schools is already a right, no one is taking away the right of a child to pray in school.

Answer 1

That's the flaw in their argument. Nine times out of ten, they only want Christian prayer and Christian material in schools. It's the same people who support the Ten Commandments being placed in a government building, but would flip over backwards with anger if someone put the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism or the Five Pillars of Islam in there as well.

Answer 2

Prayer is allowed in school (and was NEVER banned), just not faculty-led or disruptive prayer. People are painfully ignorant of the actual facts where this issue is concerned.

This question takes a little bit of a different angle on the faculty-led side, so it's still quite interesting. I would guess that most would not. However, the simple fact is that in many schools, there simply aren't any Muslim, Hindu, or Jewish students, so chances are those prayers simply would be left out, and it's unlikely any parents would challenge it.

Answer 3

I am a Christian, and I actually agree with you. I don't think a non-believing teacher praying in front of the room accomplishes anything. Christians can pray at any time and in any place, and no one can stop them.

I think the "prayer is schools" argument is really more about how Christians feel their faith and belief in God has been driven out of the schools and made a big taboo, so that teachers feel comfortable reading stories related to other faiths, but fearful of reading the Nativity, so that a nearby school it is okay to set up alters to spirits for "Day of the Dead" but not to display anything, even a decorated tree, in celebration of Christmas.

Answer 4

Good question. Can't wait for the answers. To be fair, it has to be all or none. You cannot exclude and be just. Personally, I still prefer none. Not just because I'm a Humanist and don't believe in prayer. Mainly it's because kids need MORE instruction in useful courses, and we can't afford to spend a huge chunk of time on prayer. Let them pray as they will at home or at temple, or quietly on their own, if they like. Just no school-led prayer.

MzJakes: "Permitting VOLUNTARY prayer in public schools is a far cry from teaching religious doctrine. While many, of all faiths, are supportive of the former, almost none are supportive of the latter."

I'm for that, and I think most are. In fact, voluntary prayer is allowed now, if it's truly voluntary. But there are many who want their particular brand of religion to be the only one taught.

Yummygood: "This country wasn't founded on Allah, it was founded on God the Father of Jesus Christ."

That's false, but we'll leap over that for now. Do you mean that only Christian prayer should be allowed in U.S. schools? Does that strike you as fair? What about the little Jewish girl and the little Muslim boy? Should they be forced to participate in Christian worship?

Answer 5

Just how long would all of these prayers take...would there be any time left for learning?

(I'm FOR prayers in the school) Major religions should have a place, but the parents have the right to choose which one they want their children to participate in or not.

Answer 6

I think that they should let anybody pray no matter what their religion. A friend of mine told me that when he was in grade school an Indian came and did a little dance and some kind of religious ceremony as a dedication of the school. It seems absurd to me that public schools will allow that, but they won't allow christians to pray. we are suppossed to have free religion, so if your a Muslim, Hindu, or Christian you should be able to pray wherever you are at.

Answer 7

I would. Then again, I think it would be interesting to have a different prayer said each day before class. Like, Monday is Hindu, Tues. Buddist, Wed. Christian (domination changes every week), Thrus. Islam, Fri. moment of silence. Or something like that.

Answer 8

jedi1josh,
I think that you are mixing up the issues. Prayer, and teaching prayer. I wish I was in school so that I could pray right in the classroom. No one would even know. You don't have to hold your hands together, you don't have to close your eyes, you don't even have to bow your head. It kind of looks like you are talking to yourself. Only you are not!

Answer 9

Jesus taught us to respect everybody and love one another so I think it would be ok to let other prayers in school as long as your own religions prayer is in the school too

Answer 10

For Christmas a pair years in the past, my oldest boy asked me to place in writing out the Lords Prayer in Ukrainian - unquestionably, interior the English language approximation of Ukrainian sounds, yet you get the belief.. He need no longer have troubled with the aid of fact God speaks the two languages, and he's already heard that prayer earlier. however the little bubba did that to honor his Grandmother, my mom. She additionally did no longer technically desire the translation with the aid of fact she's a polyglot, and has heard it earlier besides.. the entire factor of him making that tape became to honor her, the comparable way i attempt to honor individuals of the eternal Church once I pray in Latin. interior the comparable way, you will honor memories of your father via doing those prayers in Latin. Language concerns, regardless of if those dim-bulbs listed right here are too dumb to determine it out.