Is it ever acceptable to violate a law?

Question

Did you attend a public school that had Bible readings, prayers, religious assemblies, or other religious acts? Did you ever have a coach who prayed before games or suggested you join the Fellowship of Christian Athletes? Did your high school commencement include a prayer?

If any of these occurred at your school, does it concern you that these events may have violated a Supreme Court ruling? Is it ever acceptable to violate a law?

Answer 1

It is acceptable to violate a law. Speeding to get someone to the hospital. Jaywalking to save someone. Countless others.

I grew up in Boston. Strong Iriish Catholic but no prayer in public schools. My children are now in grade school in TN (Bible belt). They pray in public school. Could not draw Jack-O-Lanterns for halloween because it was satanic. Way over the top for me.

Answer 2

I honestly think one of the most complex problems we as humans being face, let alone the rule of law and any type of legislation is being able to be flexible.

There's nothing that's absolute, and holding onto absolute views causes problems because it doesn't "jive" with reality.

When i was in elementary school we had prayers in the morning, even though i wasn't Christian (and am not now), you know i didn't mind, and i still don't mind.

And i think, it seems especially nowadays we have trouble seeing things in a relative light, that everything depends on points of views and different perspectives.

When i'm with Christians or Catholics, and they pray, i don't get freaked out, when i feel that they have a good motivation deep down inside.

So i think your question is very much philosophical, and you'll get a million answers, none of them totally right or totally wrong. Hopefully we can all learn to just look at problems and challenges, one at a time, and look deeply at its causes instead of wiping the canvas with this is this, and that is that.

Cheers!

Answer 3

Only when that law violates a higher standard of justice such as Jim Crow laws in the South or slavery. The "Kant"egorical (categorical) imperative helps a person to make up their mind as to the value of their actions. If you can will that all people will act as you are acting in any given situation then it has moral validity. What's it to you if prayers are said? It does you no harm. In the cases you mention, separation of church and state, I would have to say that those actions did not violate any laws because everyone should have the freedom to exercise their faith, in association with others, without the interference of the state.

Answer 4

Laws are made by people, and sometimes people are wrong.

Slavery used to be legal, and we were wrong about that. Protecting Jews was illegal in Nazi Germany, they were wrong about that. These may be extremes, but your question was is it EVER acceptable to violate a law. Yes, because some laws are just wrong.

Answer 5

Were you ever mandated into listening to a speech from a homosexual, or to some other type of environmental wack job. If it is made mandatory then its against the law. the government cant make you be catholic or a Satanist, if you don't want to do it then don't. Is against the law for you to sleep with your sister. Maybe not in your state but is is in mine. So leave your sister alone. And go be sick somewhere else.

Answer 6

It is acceptable to violate the law when one's personal needs overrule those of society.

I don't think prayer should be encouraged in school. I don't think the word "God" should be in the pledge of allegiance.

I think if people wish to pray to God before a game, then I should be allowed to openly pray to Satan.
( I believe in neither, but it's all the same to me. )

Answer 7

of course it is. how do you think that king became with his politics,slavery,lincoln,etc. don't be so s..... the law is not always rigth the law is just a philosophy and an idea of how paople and morals should be and behave.