How many of you agree - with atheists - that there shouldn't be prayer in public schools?

Answer 1

I agree 100%. Public school is not the place for organized prayer.

Answer 2

I actually agree, and I'm a Christian.

But let's change your statement slightly in order for me to agree: There should not be COMPULSORY, administration-led prayer in schools. It should be voluntary, and individual.

However, I also believe that if the majority of students want a prayer read at their graduation, there is no reason why their valedictorian can't lead a prayer.

In addition to that, I believe that if a high school football team wishes to pray before their game, there should be no law preventing them from doing so, as long as it's STUDENT-led.

Students have freedom of religion too, and if they wish to express it, I don't think they should be stopped. That is, as long as it's not disrupting a class or anything like that.

Answer 3

Having prayer is public schools would accomplish nothing and could be a very divisive issue among students and staff. If you want to participate in public prayer, go to church

Answer 4

It is not the place of a public school to dictate prayer. We have the freedom to pray where ever and whenever. I would be concerned about a government backed prayer anyways.

Answer 5

Unless there's prayer for all religions anyone ever cooked up:
prayer in public school = state religion(s)

Thus, a nation that professes to secularity should not have prayer in public schools, as this falsifies the claim.

Answer 6

As an atheist I actually have no objection to prayer or religious ceremony in schools as long as it's entirely optional with no pressure from the school to participate or not and no interference with normal schooling and education.

Part of education is learning tolerance, respect for others and the fact that not all people are identical. If atheists are permitted to be atheists without being harrangued by religionists then the reverse should also be permitted. But the moment that religionists try to impose their beliefs on others, whether by attempting to convert, evangelising or teaching biblical faith as fact then all religion should be excluded.

Answer 7

I'm atheist and I think that schools shouldn't have sanctioned prayer, or anything religious for that matter. I'm a Senior in High School ('08 baby! ^_^) and they have a Christian club, I hate it, since there's no Muslim club, atheist club, etc. Maybe we just don't need to congregate, but still, fairness. Anyway, we usually have a moment of silence, and in that time anyone who wants to pray can, or just meditate, etc. So that's the most we should allow it to go. For the faith schools, I don't think they're a good idea because that just gives everyone an "us-vs.them" attitude, my dad went to one of them and he hated it, he said that most of the time it wasn't education, but just Bible preaching, not learning anything and the teachers saying that everyone that's not like "us" is of the Devil, etc. It's sad really...anyway, hope this helps! ^_^

Answer 8

There shouldn't be prayer in any schools. Here in the UK a large proportion of schools are run by the Church of England, and there are many Jewish, Muslim and Hindu schools which get funding from the government. I think it's ridiculous. It gives children an 'us-and-them' mindset before they've even learnt to read. Religion should be kept in the home.

Answer 9

I sometimes pray in my mind at school, but otherwise, I agree that there should be no forced prayers in public schools.

Answer 10

I think that people should have a choice, they should not stop prayer in the schools just because a few people don't want it. They should have the children take home a permission slip, for the parents who want it. And have the children who are not allowed to pray stand in the hall outside of the classroom until the other children say a prayer before school. Just as it is not fair for the children's parents who do not want them to pray in school if they don't want too, it is not fair to stop the children's parents who want them to pray in school to not be able to.