Atheists; what would happen if suddenly prayer and creationism were made compulsory in the school curriculum?

Question

What would be the short and long term effects of this?

Answer 1

Dark Ages II: The sequel.

Answer 2

I would simply instruct my children to take part in prayer if they wanted to, and if they didn't not to worry and just don't do it. Same with the creationism, I'd explain the situation and what it is about and my children could decide for themselves.

I'd hope most parents would feel this way. But as another person has said, in real life it would be lawsuits all the way....

Answer 3

Prayer should never be a communal part of school activities. THe beliefs of others should never be forced onto others. Prayer is a conversation that should often be private, anyway. A person is always allowed to pray quietly, in his own way.

Creationism SHOULD be taught along with other theories, as a cultural topic. However, Creationism is such a broad topic--there are so many theories of "creationism," that if you taught the Biblical one, you would also have to touch on the Native AMerican theory, the Hindu theory, ect.

I am a Christian, who loves GOd, but I am not stupid enough to know that people should choose to be religious or not to be religious. No one should be forced to believe.

Answer 4

Funny you mention that.. when I lived in Suffolk Virginia, my children were in the public school system. Two of my children came home one day telling me they both got in trouble with their teachers for "believing in evolution".. their SCIENCE teachers were telling the children that evolution is "just a theory" and that creationism was just as (if not moreso) valid. In that same week, my son was accosted and publicly humiliated by two teachers for not saying the pledge of allegiance (even though he respectfully stood while others did). The next week, after the principal begged me not to go to the ACLU and to the press.. I found that they were teaching more "christian values" in school, and I pulled all five of them out to homeschool. I've never regretted it for a second. My three oldest children are on the dean's list in college, and the other two are still homeschooled (both will start college within the next three years).
I'd say this would be a trend if it couldn't be reversed legally.

Answer 5

Short term effect: Lawsuits.

Long term effect: Everyone in the decision making process that started it would be out of a job, and the federal governemnt would take over administration of the schools.

Why? Because it's illegal.

Answer 6

An increase in narrow-mindedness and a decrease in children being able to think logically and apply logic to their lives. It would also end up causing children to have a lot of screwy religious ideas because the government would be changing the way that it taught its religious concepts to them every time a new president was elected.

There would also be a much greater number of religious hypocrites created. The children would probably automatically see their teacher as a religious authority and compare the actions of their teachers against the religious beliefs that were being forced on them. When teachers did not act in a manner in accordance with the stated religious beliefs, children would realize that the religious beliefs were merely meant to be something one says, not something that one actually believes.

There would probably also be a rise in harassment of children in minority religions and an increase in hate crimes based on religious affiliations.

Answer 7

That is why I have my underground hideout in Idaho stocked with 20 M-16s 20,000 rounds of ammo, canned food for two years, enough gas to power my generators, a high speed Internet connection and a lifetime membership to playboy.com.

Answer 8

I'd be right back where I was when it was legal to say "one nation under God" in school...let me guess...you don't think it should be compulsory to pledge allegiance to your country either do you???...

Let's look at the long term effects since prayer and creationism was outlawed in schools...Columbine...Virginia Tech...Red Lake high school...Bath elementary school...Cleveland elementary...the Bloods...the Crips...MS13...

Let's not forget...parents have been relieved of their duties to raise there children in a manner that is acceptable to society in general regardless of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, and last but not least...RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE...

Answer 9

All the scientists would leave for other countries.

Additionally, the legislation of those things could potentially lead to a legislation of other aspects of Christian morality, which would essentially force a set of cultural standards on a populace that has a different culture.

Basically, we'd see the U.S. revert to the Dark Ages, when scientific advancement slowed to a crawl.

EDIT: You know, I think James might be right. "When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another..."

Answer 10

The immediate effect would be the damage done to our Constitution by forcing everyone, even non-believers, to pray.
The long term effects are difficult to see, but it seems to me that whenever you weaken the Constitution you make it that much easier to weaken it again when the next issue comes up that you want to force upon the people.

Answer 11

Most would probably at least mouth the words, and get on with their day. A few would examine the issues more closely on their own, and the number of atheists would grow.