Prayer in public schools and free will...?

Question

I hear the argument all the time that we are in so much trouble as a society today because children aren't forced* to pray in public schools. I also hear the argument that god gave us free will so that we could make the concious choice to follow and pray to him. Would it really appease god to have prayer force fed to him? Don't you think he might just be the tiniest bit upset to have free will circumvented so that he could recieve millions of half-assed prayers?

*I say forced because there is no law saying that one can't pray in school on their own time (between classes, lunch, etc.) Proponents of school prayer want it forced on every student.

Answer 1

We're in trouble because we've lost a sense of family and community, not because we don't pray.

Answer 2

It was NEVER FORCED on anyone. When prayer was in our school systems, the PA Systen came on with a short prayer students generally bowed their heads, then we had the Pledge of Allegiance while students recited it facing the US Flag. I see nothing wrong with it. It did no harm that I could see. I do not believe that it means a student can not pray just because we do not have public prayers in school. The crazy people that are taking everything to court these days seem to think that our schools are to be run each and every one with JUST THEM in mind. It is a school teacher's job to teach students the basics of a good rounded education. Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Social Studies, and Science are at the top of the list. We should also assume the they will be more rounded by offerrings of such things as health, physical education, history, geography, and some of the arts. Religious Teaching should be done by their parents in the HOME! GOD gave man FREE WILL. He did not say that man was always free to use it. Societal laws should restrict our ability to use free will when it interfere's with other's rights. Have a great week.
Eds

Answer 3

From my experiences most schools allow quiet time for students to pray or not pray as they see fit. Kids are free to say Grace before eating lunch and I'm sure many have prayed on test day.

Most of the people arguing for prayer in school think they're doing a good thing, without any idea about what they're talking about. I wonder what Catholic parents would do if their children were made to pray to Allah.

It may not be right, but that's the way it is.

Answer 4

I agree with you to a point. I think school prayer is encouraged to encourage children to live their lives in a moral manner. I do not think that it should be forced. I also agree that forced prayer is not prayer at all. The Bible says that we should pray in private.

Also, given that schools are state institutions, it sets dangerous precedent in terms of allowing the government to validate one religion over another. It amazes me how people condemn Muslim countries and the lack of freedom the religious leaders of the government allow . Many of these same people think school prayer should be forced. I guess if they could see the contradiction inherent in this, they wouldn't push forced school prayer.

We have free will. We come to God on our own and in private. Moral behavior can be encouraged in schools in other ways. They could start with teaching the teachers to actually care about their students and the school administrators to run their schools like institutions of learning and not prisons.

Answer 5

I think they should put things back to the way they were like back in the 50's as far as prayer goes It was better the way they had it then One could pray out loud and not have to worry oh is someone going to tell me I am wrong because I have my opinion now days sometimes you tell your option and they say oh gosh a religious person well everyone believes in one religion or another because if they don't believe in God well you can pretty much say they like believe in the Devil

Answer 6

It's very simple. If everyone prays the same, eats he same, acts the same, and thinks the same, you have a lot fewer problems (and troublemakers become easier to spot). No need for special textbooks, special meals, accommodations for crazy heathen holidays or practices. Everyone has the same holidays, the same schedule, all the same songs. Even better, nobody gets exposed to flakey foreign doctrines and ideas, so difficult questions never come up. Everything runs smooth like clockwork. It worked in Nazi Germany, why can't it work here?

Answer 7

and where has America gone SINCE the eradication of public prayers in schools?
If you really studied of crime, teen pregnancy, out of wedlock births, the destruction of the traditional family, murders, since 1962, you would have seen these rates skyrocket to the point where mankind can't build prisons big enough and can't find answers.
As far "forced,' let fill you in on stories of Christians can't do anything in school about their faith.
1. a teacher was told to put away his Bible in class or lose his job. His class was doing homework and he was not teaching or reading aloud.
2. a nine year old student was expelled for three days for reading her Bible on the bus. She was told to NEVER bring it on school property again.
I have seen the slow disenigration of Christian beliefs because of atheists and agnostics who can't stand the Truth and amazing, don't go after other religions, just Christianity.
America has flushed the toilet on its basic foundation and principles that help this country flourish. Now weak selfish liberals have proclaimed the self righteousness and morality has virtually vanished outside the Christian church.
One more thing, if it wasn't for the Christians and their "half assed" prayers, this country would have destroyed itself years ago on liberal institutional thought.
Hypocrite.

Answer 8

I disagree. I am a proponent of school prayer and I believe that it should be a couple of minutes set aside for those who wish to pray to whatever diety they choose. If they do not wish to join in prayer then they can read a book or something quietly out of respect for the others. No one should be forced to pray.

Answer 9

I pray any where and any time. at school, no one knows but me and God. I don't have to move my lips.So any one else can do the same. I would never force prayer on anyone because it would not mean a thing. To me, Prayer itself suggests Freewill

Answer 10

Prayer could not and never will be forced on anyone. But how about the fact that many schools prohibit prayer, the pledge of allegience stating that we are "One Nation Under God", and will teach evolution, but not creation? Freedom should go both ways.

Answer 11

I think its wrong to force people to pray to God. If their religion doesn't support prayer then maybe they don't want to pray.