Christian Prayer in Schools?

Question

How can anyone believe that my tax dollars should be spent instructing my children in a faith which they and I do not believe? Are they completely unaware of our country's secular roots?

As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.-- Treaty of Tripoli, 1796

Um... because my tax dollars pay for public schools? Are you serious, Last Ent?

You did not read my question, which is about school instruction. It is not about private prayer, which of course is impossible legislate.

I don't care what your Bible tells you to do, I care about the infringement of my children's Constitutional rights to freedom of religion and a country whose government establishes no state religion. How does this constitute telling you to "cease praying"??

Answer 1

I never understood the need to pray in school. Why don't those who need want or have to pray do it before thy go to school. Or do it in silance by them self. Or is prayer so perishable it wont "hold" till the get to schoold.
But I think the true reason is to apostolize in our public school.

Answer 2

Where is there instruction on faith in public schools? I would think the ACLU would be screaming about it. I'm not a fan of spending tax dollars on anything frivolous, but I don't see the correlation in your question as to how your tax dollars are being spent.

To be more emphatic, I don't like to see anyones tax dollars used whether they support or are opposed to my personal beliefs. The Government is too free with peoples' money.

Answer 3

There is no mandated prayer in schools. Individuals may pray silently if they wish. There is a MOMENT (60 seconds) of silence each morning. Each child may pray or not, as he/she wishes. This has been the case for some time now... for YEARS.
I live in Southeast GA, the Bible Belt, and there is NO mandated prayer in schools. NO ONE instructs children in Christian or any other faith. This has been the case for at least 10 years.

Surely you do not want to take the right away from me to bow my head silently before I eat! That violates my rights.

How horrible to want to take away an individual's right just because you don't believe and are offended by seeing someone saying grace! If a small group of students wants to gather together before a class and pray, how in the heck does it hurt your child?

(You DID allude to this in your sentence about how these things cannot be legislated.)

It appears to me that you wish to remove our rights to pray.
SO you think we ought not be able to exercise our right to pray, but you ought to have the right to tell us not to. That's what it sounds to me as if you wish to make happen.

Answer 4

How is a child praying in school associated with your tax dollars?
How does a child praying next to yours at lunch time negatively impact you or your child?
And are you just as indignant toward school lessons that involve the learning about other faiths like Islam or Hindi?

The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now you want us to cease praying.

EDIT - hey path boy. They already DO THAT in public schools. New York City school district adopted new curriculum that teaches children the 5 pillars of Islam, how to pray facing Mecca, etc etc. Now what do you say?

EDIT EDIT - Ok. please show me a citation or link that proves that public schools are "instructing your children in Christianity." Please. I would love to see it.
I'm asking you how does a group of kids standing in circle praying in between classes, in the hallway, or at lunchtime damage or harm your child or you?
Oh and you should care. Because telling me to not pray in front of you is a violation of my constitutional right to freedom of religion. Ask not for whom the bell tolls, sooner or later, it will toll for thee.

EDIT again - still waiting on those links.

Answer 5

ok... i went to school in a tiny little town in the missouri ozarks. it doesn't get much more ''bible belt'' than that. we never had any prayer in school. i've read the text you posted before, but i'm not sure what your issue is here. honestly, class was never stopped so we could have christian prayer, or any other kind of prayer at my school. what's your complaint?

Answer 6

In India, we have the government run schools,
private run schools by christians, muslims and hindus.

each one do their prayer.
if you do not like to pray to christ then remove you child and put them into the religion you like
no problem
we pay for eveything
even prayer....................................lol

Answer 7

If they were saying muslim prayers in school I am sure "Ent Wife" would crap a brick

Answer 8

Damn straight.