Everyone was allowed to Pray their own religions prayers during a certain designated time? For instance give a half an hour each morning to let the kids pray to which ever god they worship and for the ones who didn't want to they didn't have to? Atheists instead of saying absolutely not, do you think that it might be a fair compromise and also do you think it might teach religious toleration?
2007-02-12 06:30:31 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Atheists could just hang around. Do something else, I don't know.
2007-02-12 06:35:22 · update #1
Why must religion be practiced in school? I have never understood this. I certainly believe that anybody should be able to pray if they choose to do so. However, I think it is wrong to set aside time for a school sponsored "prayer time" when it should be used for learning. What is lost if children don't pray during school? Religious tolerance can be taught without prayer in school.
2007-02-12 06:48:39 · answer #1 · answered by RcknRllr 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would agree only if the atheists could use this time for an extra recess or to play video games... The turnover rate to atheism would be tremendous.
Really though, prayer should be kept out of public schools, it's in the constitution and it was the founding father's direct and clear intention to keep religion out of all government affairs - including education. Having prayer time would not only violate that, but it would take valuable time away from real studies.
And I really don't think religious toleration is something we should be endorsing, not when most religions themselves (Islam and Christianity especially) are extremely intolerant.
2007-02-12 06:38:42 · answer #2 · answered by Mike K 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Mandatory prayer, in school or otherplace, is not a good idea, and mandatory prayer *time* is not a correct way to encourage children (or adults, for that matter) to think about spirituality. A world religions course would be more appropriate, or some sort of "Impact of Religion on Cultures and Societies" course, which would go over best in a college, obviously...
And while public schools are supposed to have a sort of "neither approve nor disapprove" stance on religion and prayer, I believe it would be healthy to encourage students to lead their own prayer times, times of worship, or clubs with other students, just as the school would encourage students to participate in other cultural and social activities. They don't have to endorse something to encourage it.
2007-02-12 06:45:48 · answer #3 · answered by Emily D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't have any problem with kids praying in school. Discuss it with willing participants if you wish, but don't let it turn into proselytizing.
I love how tolerant Jinenglish is. We had a prayer group at our public school til they were told to stop (before school they would meet) I always thought it was wrong that they had to stop. They never bothered anyone.
2007-02-12 06:34:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a Christian, I believe the only solution to the education problem is to do away with the public education system all together. It would take a while, but vouchers are a start.
I'm not in favor of mandating that our non-Christian public schools "act" Christian by having some sort of prayer in school. I'm in favor of my Christian children being educated by Christians. What I am against, is paying twice for my children to be educated. Once in my taxes, then again at the school I send them to. I'm also against paying to have the state indoctrinate all the other kids whose parents cannot afford to send to Christian schools.
Religious tolerance? Jesus said that He is the ONLY way to heaven. You want me to send my kids somewhere and be taught that Jesus lied? Or do you want me to teach my kids that Jesus didn't lie, but it's more important to be politically correct and ignore the great commission, and let all the other people go to hell? That seems kinda like raising a mean kid.....
2007-02-12 06:45:33 · answer #5 · answered by teran_realtor 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am a Christian, and no, I wouldn't compromise on prayer in schools. That's because I don't believe that it belongs there, any more than it belongs in a work environment. Prayer is something that one does at home, in private (or at a house of worship). There is no reason whatsoever to devote time at a public, state-sponsored school for prayer (although prayer at a private religious school is, of course, another matter). Pray during your off-time.
2007-02-12 06:39:10 · answer #6 · answered by solarius 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'd say about 5 minutes, which for most kids, is more than enough time to pray. We're lucky to get 2 minutes out of our kids so 5 is really pushing it. If kids didn't want to pray, they could meditate or something, as long as its quiet, it shouldn't be hurting anyone.
2007-02-12 06:39:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes that would be for the best cause otherwise you just have a teacher inflicting their own religion on the kids which can be confusing.And those who don't pray can sit in nothingness since they'll be do that for a long time.
2007-02-12 06:36:10 · answer #8 · answered by Ben 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We have to. God does not command us to stop people from praying to other Gods, nor does he command us to make people pray to Him. That is not our job. Ours is to pray for others and spread the Gospel. If we see a time for presenting the Gospel when we know that someone is praying to an unholy god, we are to do that.
2007-02-12 06:35:20 · answer #9 · answered by Christian93 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe most do this anyway already! At least in my kids school
2007-02-12 06:33:27 · answer #10 · answered by nickname 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋