Imagine this?

Question

Imagine sending your children off to their public school. You think they are learning about math, history, spelling, etc.

Only later in the year do you accidently learn that each and every morning the teacher takes her Holy book from her desk and teaches the class a prayer. As they begin to learn it, they are required to recite it with her on a daily basis.

Through the year your child learns more prayers and can recite many by heart. This is the normal beginning of their school day. Say the Pledge, recite whicever prayer the teacher (holding the Holy book) picks for the day.

Would you be OK with that? It was done in the US for many, many years. It was done without regard for the beliefs of the students or their parents.

It was then (rightly) stopped and ever since Christians by the thousands have been claiming discrimination or that their god is being "removed" from the schools.

Yet how many of them would have stood by in encouragement if some OTHER Holy book had been used. It was, of course the Bible in each classroom. Would they have been offended in any way if it had been the Q'uran?

We all know the anser to that one. So how can they possibly be "persecuted" by having an unfair, illegal practice stopped in the schools?

Answer 1

It is simply human nature. Whenever any group (ethnic, political, religious, whatever) has had special privileges that have been taken away or extended to all in order to promote a more fair and just society, there have been cries of persecution.

*** Note: as for those who say that "taking God out of the schools" has been the *cause* of greater violence in schools, you cannot claim a causative relationship between these two things unless you have been able to isolate *that* particular variable and only test for THAT. And that's not possible.

If you're going to cite the behavior of kids in the 50s vs today (for example) you could just as easily tie that to the economic status of the average American family as to prayer in schools, or to changes in music and art, or to technological developments, or to the effects of just emerging victorious from a war. Or, really, any definable far-reaching change between now and then.

But the fact is, that we cannot test for any of these variables in isolation, so any attempt to prove a causative relationship is going to be a big fat failure, except in the minds of people who dismiss actual methods of proof and prefer to adopt an agenda that supports their prejudices.



IMO, piety, good ethics, upright behavior - these are things one learns at HOME, by examples from one's parents. If children do not get those lessons at home, it is NOT up to the schools to make up for that lack.

And from conversations I've had with teachers, there is a bizarre and unjustified expectation on the part of many parents for the schools to do the job that they, the parents, fail to do.THAT seems to be the real origin of the objection to "taking god out of schools".

Answer 2

I understand your frustration. I am a Christian and I would be happy to find out that they teach my child to pray. I rather did my child's teaching myself, because little children are so trusting and innocent. They are like an empty chalk boards and person starting to fill the space should be trusted person.

I wish there would be more schools for the atheists' children so this prayer thing would not be such a big problem. The Bible prayers are not bad, but I understand your anger. We have voted Jesus out from schools, and look what kind of horrible crimes have been happening since then.

But what is a great thing that God protects all the children until the age of accountability. So parents should not trust the school to do the right thing, teaching should start at home. : )

Answer 3

Hello t_rex_is... :)

I understand how many feel about the Bible in schools..I was raised as an Atheist..so "I" was the outcast in school during the 50's.. :(

But if everyone that says that the Bible hurts your children..then before you make any harsh decisions..

Please do your homework..LOL..check the school systems back then, to see if or how it hurt a child..

You can give me thumbs down..that is to be expected.. :)

But if you are really against discrimination, then your heart and mind will be open to look at others view points (as I do).. :)

I did not have to worry about bomb scares..nor did I have to worry about being shot by another student..

We speak of without any regards, for the beliefs of other students..but why are not "ALL Childen" allowed the same.. :(

Children wanted to spend time with their parents..brothers and sisters would help one another (not call each other names).. :(

We watch shows that make fun of Loving and caring familes..Rosanne..South Park..The Simpson's and I could go on and on.. :(

I can see, where we have gone wrong..can you.. :(

This is not to condemn or criticize anyone..because it is not within me to do so..it is just a different side to the story.. :)



In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With ~Love~ In Christ.. :)

Answer 4

Most of the rational Christians I know don't have a problem with the removal of mandatory teacher-led prayer in public school. There are a number of problems with it outside of the constitutionality, such as how do I know my kids Geography teacher is qualified to be a moral example to my kid.

The people that I see raising a fuss about it fall into two broad categories. There are many who just aren't thinking about the remifications of having a random person teach your kid matters of faith. They are noisy, but there is really no danger that they are going to get very far. The other group, though, is upset because students should be allowed free exercise of religion like any other citizen, and if they want to have their own, non-disruptive devotional or meditational time outside of class they ought to be able to do so.

The fact is, though, that you can't even remove Britney Spears from the schools, much less God. You can tell kids that they can't listen to the music, carry the lunch box, or wear the clothes, but they will still talk about her at lunch and between classes.

Answer 5

I will start by saying that I am a Christian; I am not in favor of prayer in schools in that manner or the teaching of any religion including Christianity in schools in that manner. I know that there are religious based groups that meet after school and what not which I think is awesome. They are not forcing anyone to come or anything of the sort. Forcing people to read from the Bible isn't going to make them believe it and it is wrong to try and force them to.
As for taking God out of schools...just because there isn't a time set aside for the entire school to pray doesn't mean that God isn't there. I never understand when people say that God has been taken out of school- to me that is limiting God and God has no limitations.

Times are different and there are different ways to teach people and to reach them

Also I think that people who are against religion need to calm the heck down- I will get my lawyer...yeah breath for a minute and grow up; honestly I think people sometimes make it a bigger deal then it is. Children do and know from what they get at home; if you don't have a religious tone in your lives as parents then you might have to deal with some questions from your kids about religion but I am sure you can handle it; they will find out one day; besides shouldn't you want them to know about all religions so they can make their own choices about it what since atheists claim to be so open minded and all....

We let a daycare to take up residency in our church for three months- they got kicked out of the YMCA and are in the process of building a new facility- parents came in and wanted us to cover up the crosses on our walls... yeah you take religion out of schools and have a good day- don't come into the church- the Bride of Christ and say take down the crosses and scriptures....really some people need to grow up and quite being babies.

Answer 6

I would be ok with it.

I'm a Christian, though, so of course its not surprising.

If a teacher were teaching lessons from Buddha or from another religion, as long as they taught goodness and kindness, it wouldn't bother me for my child to hear it, because at home I would still raise my child as a Christian who would also understand that there are others with different religions.

BUT, I agree with an earlier statement >

"Since they have taken prayer out of school and corporal punishment look at the way kids act today. Compared to 50, 60, yrs. ago."

You can tell your child not to be a Christian, but why shelter them from learning lessons that will teach them to be good people? Besides, if parents are aware of what's going on in their children's lives, they could complain to the teacher or principal or move the child to another class.

Answer 7

That's why I wouldn't send my children to "public" school.
It's unconstitutional.

I don't want the Bible taught to my children by someone else, or philosophy taught to my children by someone else, or politics, or science, or sociology, or history.

I don't trust anyone else's agenda. If I can't choose a private school that I agree with, that I am willing to pay for the education, then I will home-school my children. The government has no business indoctrinating my children.

And, as usual, I see no one else gets what the real problem is.

Answer 8

First, the US is NOT a christian state! The audacity of some...amazing.

I have no problems with my child being exposed to religion, but being forced to practice any specifics I do. I don't mind my child patiently waiting while others pray, but being forced to pray I do.

And I don't believe for a minute that some of you are so naive that you think the problems arose when religion no longer was mandatory. That's ignorance at best.

Answer 9

OMG imagine a prayer in a school! what has the world come to! get out quickly! ya ok, if only there should be more prayers maybe kids will think twice about their behavoirs towards others. Maybe.

Answer 10

My children's school had a mandatory reading assignment that was a Christian book. It didn't take long to have it removed when I threatened a lawsuit. This happened in 2005 so don't think it doesn't still happen. You would be surprised what they try to slip past parents these days. I now insist that my kids bring home any mandatory reading materials.