I'm writting- or trying- to write a report on whether or not prayer in school is covered under the 1st admendment of our constitution. I already have the answer to that question, but what I want are comments from people for my paper. Do you support prayer in school or are you against it? I invite anyone to comment- Buddhists, Hindus,Muslims,Jews,Atheists, Christians, whoever and whatever.
2007-09-21 11:11:49 · 30 answers · asked by bacon lettuce and tomato 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
WOW! These are great comments, and I thank everyone that has taken the time to answer. However, I do have one complaint. When you answer would you please start telling me what religion you are or are not.
2007-09-21 11:46:31 · update #1
Organized prayer? Absolutely not. It is a violation of the separation of Church and State because it endorses religion, usually Christianity in particular. If a student wants to pray during the "moment of silence" - I'm not sure if all schools have this, but mine did - that's perfectly fine.
2007-09-21 11:16:06 · answer #1 · answered by khard 6 · 8⤊ 2⤋
Seriously speaking why is there such a need to do public prayer at all ? Somebody should tell little Johnny's parents to wake him up five minutes earlier so little Johnny has time to pray to his god before he leaves home or he can pray on the bus on the way to school.He doesn't have to do the public prayer thing .
By the way , prayer happens in public schools all the time , just look at some of your classmates that didn't study for a test.
Edit
Atheist
2007-09-21 18:29:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The link below is a very good resource on this topic from the Department of Education. It details the federal guidelines regarding school prayer, and how these guidelines apply to specific situations.
I think they represent the best interpretation of the constitutional principles in question. Citizens are allowed to practice their religion in any way they see fit. In order to protect that right, the government may not favor any particular belief on the basis of religion.
These guidelines express those intentions clearly. Students retain the right to practice their religion and may pray in any manner they wish so long as they do not disrupt the learning environment. School faculty, as representatives of the government, may not pray with students or show preference for particular beliefs while acting in their roles as government employees. I believe that this is the best way to ensure religious freedom for everyone.
EDIT:
I am agnostic.
2007-09-21 18:21:37 · answer #3 · answered by marbledog 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just a comment to all of those who are SO against prayer in schools, are you also against prayer anywhere else? now that your'e saying God has no place in schools, are you one of those people that are the also first to blame God when disaster happens?, the old "we don't want you, get out of our lives, but where were you when something bad happens"
You can't have it both ways!!!!
I think prayer is so necessary in schools, because that is the only place some unfortunate kids get to know that God loves them......
2007-09-21 18:22:42 · answer #4 · answered by maggie rose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forcing people to participate is breaking several amendments, allowing prayer groups is supporting amendments.
I think any group that wants to create prayer groups is fine, so long as it is done on a time where all other students are allowed the same freedom
making prayer mandatory for all students is wrong, i dont believe in any god, and there are to many religions to force one upon the mass. Forcing a particular belief upon other people, is also an infringement on our rights, thus wrong.
free speech
freedom of religion
seperation of church and state
2007-09-21 18:18:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian, and I do not think that there should be prayer in public schools led by school officials or students. On the other hand there is an old joke that says: As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools.
2007-09-21 18:22:22 · answer #6 · answered by Ace Librarian 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
offocurse prayer should alive, religion teaches the human how to live in life. it also teaches the individual the values of life. It is part of school. Statstics also show that religious muslim, jewish, and christian societies tend to have a very safe standards if compared to non religious communites or countries like china (no offense to chinese) but some countries like most gulf states and many rural european comunities are extremly safe.
2007-09-21 18:25:41 · answer #7 · answered by Pet Expert 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not in favor of prayer in the public schools. There is a time and a place for prayer, school isn't a church.
That said, in Indiana, where I work as a public school teacher, we have a mandatory 30 seconds of silence at the start of each school day.
2007-09-21 18:16:45 · answer #8 · answered by atheist 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Students themselves are free to do whatever the hell they want as long as they aren't distracting the class or taking up classtime. Teachers, however, cannot require prayer, they cannot allow students to lead a prayer in a classroom or auditorium, and cannot advocate any religion publicly, as they are the position as a representative of the state.
2007-09-21 18:21:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes I support it. I believe if it's OK to open congress in prayer (both now and when Jefferson was pres.), should be OK for school....:-)
Of course we could always miss interpret a leter to some Baptists in VA and make it law.
2007-09-21 18:20:06 · answer #10 · answered by heismanu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋