Why can Muslims pray in public schools while Christian's can't?

Question

is there a double standard?

from what I hear a lot some students have been taken to mosks hope I spelled it right if not correct me when there not Muslims being forced to go saying it will bring them together and the parents got there notice 2 days before they needed to go.

Answer 1

Yes, Christians are discriminated against in this country.

Answer 2

Actually, legally, any student can voluntarily and non-disruptively pray, alone or in groups, pretty much on the same terms as other speech. (In other words, a student can't just decide to stand up during class time, and start loudly praying while the teacher is teaching, but in between classes, during study hall, or saying grace before lunch, all this is legally permissable.

What is NOT allowed, if for teachers or staff to lead students in prayer. This is not legal weather it is a Christian prayer, a Mulsim prayer or a Wiccan prayer. Below is a link to what the laws actually are. This joint statement of public policy was put together by a broad cross section of religious and civic groups and leaders. It explains what the laws actually ARE, not what people mistakenly think they are, nor what some people want them to be.

Not to say that all schools obey the law perfectly. If you know of a Christian student who is being denied their right to voluntarily and non-disruptively pray, they should contact the ACLJ.

If you know of a non-Christian who is being denied the right to voluntarily and non-disruptively practice their faith, or if you know of a non-Christian who is being pressured by school officials to convert to Christianity, then they should contact the ACLU.

The law says students have a right to wear religious jewelry, but that hasn't stopped public schools in the past from suspending Wiccans for wearing their pentagams, Jews from wearing stars of David, while allowing Christians students to wear their crosses.

Sure, some schools violate the law, but the law does NOT say that Muslims can pray in school and Christians can't.

However, I can see where the confusion arises. The law says students have a right to voluntarily and non-disruptively pray, but so called Ministers of Christianity get on TV and tell the world that it is illegal to pray in school. No wonder some people get confused.

Answer 3

First of all," officially" America does not have a national religion. And just as Christians celebrate and practice their religion freely in school (Christmas,Easter,etc.) as well as Jews, Muslims should be allowed the same freedom. You don't have to like my religion, but you do have to respect my right to practice it. I And considering that the students never even used the room during Ramadan (the holiest month in Islam, by the way) the point is moot. I think the bigger issue is why are there so many bigots on the on the board?

Answer 4

1) In Islam it is an obligation. It is also physical, you can't just say it in your head and be done (at least not for the 5 daily prayers other supplications can be said in your head).
2) I believe anybody can pray in school, it just cannot be some organized prayer or a prayer the teacher is leading you over or telling you that you need to do. (at least this was true in my day). I mean they have classes in TX that teach the bible as literature...so religion is not completely out of the schools...when I was in high school we had a religious club too...we just didn't get money from school and stuff

EDIT: It's mosques...the rest is a little hard to understand ---they were forced to go to mosques???huuuuhh? You mean they had a field trip? The kids probably didn't tell their parents till a few days before. I had a field trip to a synagogue---this is America---we have many religions here--love it or leave it!

Answer 5

What prevents Christians from praying in public schools? Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day, and the school needs to recognize and make allowances for that. There's nothing wrong with excusing a Muslim child for a few moments so he/she can pray facing Mecca. Its part of their belief system.

As Christians, we believe that we can pray at any given time, and any given place. We don't even have to pray aloud. When I was in high school, many Christian students gathered every day to pray before school and before lunch. There is nothing which prevents this. The only thing that is not allowed is prayer that is organized and mandated by school officials.

Answer 6

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton instructed Education Secretary Richard Riley to provide every school district in the United States with a statement of principles in 1995. This statement discusses how far religious expression and activity are allowed in public schools. Some of the important aspects of this statement of concern and interest to Muslim students and their parents are: STUDENT PRAYER -It was determined that students can take part in individual and group prayer during the school day. They can also pray in a “nondisruptive manner” when they are not participating in school activities or are being taught. This goes for the Christian students as well. Additionally, many schools accommodate not only religious practices, but welcomes the diversion because it helps all of us to learn about other cultures. As a teacher, I try to ensure that all cultural groups are included in my lessons so that no one is left out. You should have seen my kids in eighth grade this past school year. When they were preparing that morning to take the TCAP tests -they asked me if they could pray. They all grabbed each other's hands and several of them led the prayer for their minds and bodies to be alert to the tests and that they would be successful. Legally, I could not make the suggestion - but I could allow them to partake of this union. I was very proud of them.

Answer 7

No one is stopping christians from praying in school, genius. As I'm sure you well know, any student can pray in a public school on their own time. However, it is ILLEGAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL for anyone to either force prayer on others or to proselytize in a school. That is regardless of the religion. Stop trying to propagate urban legends about how 'oppressed' christians are in america.

Answer 8

`Basically, because Muslims are much more agressive about fighting for their rights than Christians are.
Imagine the scenario...a young Muslim boy has graduated at the top of his high school class. He is valedictorian! He steps up to the microphone to give his commencement speech. He begins to thank Allah for his success...and WHAM...the school cuts off his microphone.
Muslims across the country sit quietly and moan about how the US discriminates against them!?!?
UMM...NO!! I think we all know that there would have been a rollicking fight! Muslims would rise up in protest!
However, when this very thing happened to a young Christian girl last year, Christians kept their mouths shut in droves.
We talk a good talk, but when it comes to facing Ceasar, we have nothing to say...

Answer 9

We were always allowed to pray in school as long as it didn't disrupt other students. We were also allowed to read whatever holy book we wanted as long as we didn't go around preaching to others. Now if someone approached us and started asking us questions - that was a different story but we weren't allowed to walk up to others and start preachin .. but I digress ...

Answer 10

I don't know about other countries but the US allows people to practice their faith anywhere regardless of what their religion is. If a christian/atheist/Hindu etc.. wanted to perform their act of praying school, no one can stop them.

Answer 11

Who says Christians can't pray? We're just asking them not to insist others pray with them.