2007-04-22 13:03:26 · 29 answers · asked by brothermikegoestenkors2 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think kids should have the opportunity to pray, but I don't think it should be forced upon someone that doesn't want to do it....this should satisfy both sides, no?
Peace, Love, and Blessings
Greenwood
2007-04-22 13:07:54 · answer #1 · answered by Greenwood 5 · 4⤊ 4⤋
No, and yes.
People try to look for simple ways of solving complicated problems but sometimes just create more problems.
Some people think that school prayer will make children better or nicer or more Godly.
Most people think school prayer will infringe on the students' freedom of religion. What kind of prayer is prayed when you have Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Wiccans, Agnostics, and Atheists in the same classroom?
It is unreasonable to compromise everyone's values to come up with some bland prayer that will be acceptable to everyone.
The Catholic Church agrees with the U.S. Constitution as currently interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court and does not support "structured" prayer in public schools.
In the Vatican II document, Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae (Human Dignity), the Church states:
The human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits.
Children will continue to privately pray before tests just like they always have.
With love in Christ.
2007-04-23 00:46:27 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The issue is whether the teacher LEADS the class in a prayer. Anyone can privately pray anytime. Why isn't that good enough? Why does the teacher have to lead the class in prayer when anyone can pray privately inside their mind at any time?
2007-04-24 10:45:18 · answer #3 · answered by Daniel S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If anyone wishes to pray on their own, I would stand and fight for their right to do so.
Prayer should NOT be a part of the school curriculum. It should not be lead by teachers. People have MORE than enough time to do that at home and at church. There's no need to do it in school, too. The only reason anyone is really interested in having mandated prayer in schools is to rub in other people's faces that THEIR beliefs are being shown favor. Anyone who says differently is a liar.
2007-04-22 20:14:43 · answer #4 · answered by Jess H 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Private prayer is allowed, but we should never have compulsory prayer. Then, the questions are, who gets to pick the prayer, and what god do you pray to? The christian god? The jewish? The greek or roman pantheon, or norse, or indian, african, or other? What about the Flying Spaghetti Monster? What do you want atheist kids to do - read a poem about Carl Sagan? What about anyone who follows one of the variety of Pagan religions?
Remember - freedom of religion also includes freedom FROM religion. "None of the above" is a valid choice here.
2007-04-22 20:14:41 · answer #5 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely! We have had such a moral decline in this country since prayer was taken out of school in 1962! Abortions, gay marriages, violence, and I have a sense we don't care about one another anymore! We need to get back to loving one another as Jesus commanded this! Also there is no such thing as separation of church and state! Where is it mentioned in the constitution??? Most of our founding fathers were Christian and would find it repulsive what is going on today!! They never meant for prayer to be taken out of school to begin with!
2007-04-22 20:27:39 · answer #6 · answered by G.W. loves winter! 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
even Christ didn't force his religion on anyone. he spoke truth. then let people decide for them self.Church and state should be divided, how can it be united with Bush in office? that would be blasphemy. for prayer in schools not good. you can pray any time you like. what is done in secret is rewarded in light.
2007-04-22 21:28:31 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ABSOLUTELY!!!!
No child was ever harmed by having a moment of school supported prayer, no child was ever forced to participate, no child was ever told which god (or goddess) to direct their prayers to, and nobody had any serious objections.
Evolution was taught in school, and I don't recall that anyone had any problems with that, either.
Then one woman, paranoid that her precious progeny might not have the faith to stand up to public prayer, got her panties in a pout. And the world changed.
Have our kids actually been any better off without school prayer?
I don't think so.....
2007-04-22 20:23:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
If anyone wants to pray silently by themselves I have no problem with that but as far as organized prayers in which all students are asked to participate then no. Remember, there are more than just christians going to public schools.
2007-04-22 20:10:00 · answer #9 · answered by genaddt 7 · 6⤊ 2⤋
No...school is a place for learning. There is only so much time in a day to teach the little buggars. Why waste precious teaching time on something that produces nothing?
2007-04-23 03:55:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
During a moment of silence each morning, kids can pray if they want. Forced?.. No
I also believe that if a football player wants to kneel in prayer after he ran a touchdown....allow it.
2007-04-22 20:12:23 · answer #11 · answered by Bonnie Lynn 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋