I, personally, don't believe that children should be led in Christian prayer at public schools. One reason I feel this way is that since everyone's tax dollars are used to fund public education, it should not cater to one group of people over another. But my main argument against this is that you can not MAKE anyone pray. You can speak the words, you can even insist that everyone close their eyes and bow their head, but you can not force anyone to pray. Therefore, would being led in Christian prayer really make a difference for those students who do not believe?
God does not force anyone to come to him, why do we as Christians feel it is our job to force everyone to go to God?
2007-02-26 15:50:27 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sheik -- my intentions are not to fool anyone but to exchange ideas.
2007-02-26 15:53:52 · update #1
I'm not lumping all Christians into one group ... I know Christians that are for prayer in schools and those that are agains it. I'm simply using this forum to discuss it.
2007-02-26 16:00:29 · update #2
I just want to thank you for that open, honest and respectful approach. As a non-Christian, I am assaulted (verbally) nearly every day and it is nice when a Christian demonstrates the respect for other people that we non-Christians hope you have but sometimes wonder. You may not get thanked for that attitude very often, but we appreciate it.
2007-02-26 15:55:52 · answer #1 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Prayer should be a personal choice.
I pray in my own home. I don't ask others to pray with me in my home. If everyone did this, maybe we'd all be better off.
The same argument can be made for the celebration of Christmas.
Probably the most important holiday in the year for the civilized world, and it has morphed into a retailer's way to making a profit while the rest of the people go into a frenzy for buying and giving gifts. The true meaning was lost somewhere.
I wish we could all go back to basics. In this way, everything we do would make sense.
2007-02-26 15:58:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why does everyone have to be included in any prayer...I believe in God and I'm not a Christian, Muslim, or any particular faith, but I certainly do not believe in every human that says something in his name...if you make prayer mandatory, then you will have to police the wording of prayers so that they aren't political or fulfill the agenda of the person leading the prayer...If you are thinking that it will be Christian based (it is the religion that involves paraphrasing rather than a chanting of the same few messages) Many religions are not involved in a group prayer anyway...when you talk to God it's in your own heart....so with that said, I say allow anyone to pray, but if you make it a school wide regular event based on a group (mainly) Christian message, then you are so very wrong...It is one thing to try to teach a message, but having a captive audience of young pliable minds be exposed to who knows what message, is a big mistake...these Children aren't public property...they have families with their own personal beliefs and history...
My 16 year old is not religious and is ambivalent about a god, but he took a bible to his study room and read it for a few weeks, he even finished it...he did not read it for religious reasons, but to understand and also be able to say he read it...there is nothing wrong about personal discovery, but it should be PERSONAL, and no business of any teacher or anyone for that matter.
2007-02-26 16:05:22 · answer #3 · answered by Ford Prefect 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When it comes to children (and adults) and learning , there is a rule. The Rule of Repetition. Some religious people want that prayer said everyday and mentioned as many times around young people as possible. Its programming. School is for learning how to advance academical not spiritually. Even saying the word God in the pledge every day at school drives me crazy. Keep it away from other peoples children. And if your smart Keep it away from your own , until there old enough to read all parts of the bible, even the parts they don't talk about in church.
2007-02-26 16:09:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Speaking as a Christian, I don't force anyone to do anything. I mostly stay out of other people's business because I am so much in my own. Your question is flawed because you lump all Christians into one group, when it seems like you are really talking about Christian fundamentalists. A lot of ordinary people are deeply religious and don't try to force their faith on anyone. I think the Bible even says something like, "Faith is a secret" meaning it should be kept to ourselves except in church when we pray together.
I am not offended by people who are open about their faith, however, I do get offended when the religiously inclined meddle with politics. Separation of Church and State was designed to protect religion from government and government from religion. If people want to pray in schools there are parochial schools for that.
2007-02-26 15:58:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The money belongs to God, not the tax payers. I too am a tax payer and I want public schools to have prayers. No, you cannot MAKE anyone pray, but what is wrong with teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Man has kicked God out of schools, and many other places, even though He created everything. Why do non believing heathens have to be so cold hearted about everything? One thing I can say, is that hell is a very hot place and just because one does not believe in it does not mean you won't go there. By the way, the kids who don't believe in God might stand a chance to believe if it were taught in schools. It is their heathen parents who don't teach them. This is why the world is going to hell. Here is a website. Check it out. It is all about the worlds problems and it even has a great answer about your question.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com
2007-02-26 16:23:04 · answer #6 · answered by Dakota Lynn Takes Gun 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I live in California, born and raised. Have three kids that have always attended the public school system and was a very involved parent volunteer in their schools when they were younger.
I am not aware of any California public schools that are encouraging, let alone forcing, prayer while in school. What area, state, country are you referring that is doing as you stated in your question as I've never heard of that going on.
In answer to your question . . . I agree that church and (public) schools should be kept separate. Yet, still not sure where your question came from. Do you know of any public schools that are conducting what you stated they are ?
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2007-02-26 15:56:45 · answer #7 · answered by onelight 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
where there is religion there is a choice to go along with that and if a person wants to follow, a kind of religion, then so be it. however, the one true god we should bow down to is our maker (anyone would know HIM if they are being led by the holy spirit). and if some public school system in "west bubba" is led by the holy spirit then children/administrators should by all means follow. our maker is the truth and the light. even as big as the public school system is god will use anyone may it be the atheist honcho (the real perpetrator) turned christian to influence HIS plan for stirring people into the light. so prayer would be a matter of choice, for now, and if prayer (thd right kind) were to branch into public schools I got to tell ya the holy spirit is like wildfire it spreads fast and wide. Hunny, Prayer if anything is a good thing.
2007-02-26 16:17:44 · answer #8 · answered by xxxladyxxx 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I agree.
However you do understand the first schools were formed by religious people.
Such as Harvard and Yale. Both Seminary colleges run by priests.
You do understand ALL the nobility of ancient times studied frequently in Religious Institutions.
You do understand under the Mercantile and Fedual systems an educated peasant was a Royal pain and it was the Religious institutions educating the Non-Royals.
And if King James had his way, you'd be illeterate.
Religion was largely responsible for educating the masses.
A kitchen girl has no need to learn reading or writing, just how to peel potatoes.
A share cropper has no need to learn math, even though he knows the King gets a larger share of his crops than does he.
The best education today still comes from a CAtholic school. I know several friends who went to them and they are brilliant at spelling and English and math.
2007-02-26 16:03:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Im a believer myself and my biggest concern is that one year there may be an administrator who may be Muslim or a demon worshipper and that person could make the school pray to Allah or Lucifer.
Youre right about forcing people to come to God. He doesnt (but He can get heavy handed about it like with Paul). John 15:16
2007-02-26 15:58:42 · answer #10 · answered by rokdude5 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Just think of all the other prayers that would have to be said for other cultures.... our days would be 50 % prayer OR waiting for the other group to get done. I think there should be a prayer room in every school.... and kids can go before school and pray if they like
2007-02-26 15:54:35 · answer #11 · answered by pink9364 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋