Why Force Prayer in School?
Questions on Why Christians Feel Compelled to Force Their Religion on Everyone Else
We do not want our public, government run, school system to indoctrinate our children with the religion of christianity. If you choose to brainwash your child, do so in the privacy of your own home. Why is it so important for christians to have everyone believe the way they do? It is almost a psychotic need for validation of their beliefs. Can they not be secure enough in their own belief system to allow others to disagree? Must they kill, maim, burn, torture, humiliate and pester any and every one who does not fall subject to their belief that we are all filled with sin and corruption and therefore must turn away from our most natural instincts and try to subvert our minds and turn them to love and obey some multiple-personality, childish-tempered father-figure and 'His' centuries old mandates of behavior?
At the very least, biblically speaking, what they are attempting is wrong. Prayer should not be in public (Matthew 6:5-15). Therefore, all of these people forcing those of different faiths to join them in prayer are, as Jesus referred to them, hypocrites. I can see prayer in churches, although Jesus included those who pray in the synagogues in the hypocrites category, but not in our schools. Schools are for Education, not Indoctrination. In a not quite so related verse, 'christianity' was never meant to spread to us gentiles. Jesus came only for the Jewish people (Matthew 15:21-26 or KJV, Matthew 10:5-6). It was Paul who decided to spread 'the word' further, not any doing of Jesus or Jehovah.
If they can not follow their own scripture, their own 'savior,' what can convince them to stop the violence against those of different beliefs? Looking back on history, the crusades, the inquisition, the Salem witch trials, can they not see what their fanaticism has caused? Do they not see the shame in the course of action they have undertaken?
It is, or at one point was, the responsibility of the parent to raise, teach and care for their child. Why are people trying to hoist all that responsibility off onto public education? Why try to force us all to have the exact same mindset? Are they trying to create a hive mentality? A population of drones? The christian population need to realize that not everyone wants to be a sheep. Leave your Religion at home and church.
And, by the way, my family and children have done nothing so horrible and perverse as to deserve sunday school.
Published by Graywalker
An Opinionated Pagan living in the Deep South. View profile
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16 Comments
Post a CommentTo Lennie: you are making the rather crass assumption that the writer of this article is, in fact, atheist. It is not only possible to be non-Christian and still follow a religious path, there are millions of people around the globe who do so. Secondly, the choice of the word brainwashing, while strong, is justified in this context. Perhaps you would be more comfortable with the word indoctrination? Both are applicable; what is invariably meant by those who push a school prayer agenda is a mandated Protestant Christian observance, which means that any child who is being reared as a Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox, or Oriental Orthodox, will be pressured into conforming to a variant of Christian display that is not their choice, or their parents'. Kids coming from non-Christian backgrounds such as Jewish, Buddhist, Ba'hai, Muslim, Pagan, and yes, atheist/agnostic, will be pressured into an affirmation of a creed that is not even theirs. Risked social and administrative ostracism is t
I was reading your "argument" up until you say "brainwash", after that I realized you have no respect for others' beliefs and therefore you do not deserve the same consideration.
sometimes I am not sure which is worse...conservative Christians who push their beliefs on everyone or atheists who also push their beliefs...or lack thereof on everyone.
I don't care what your opinions are, but half-quoting the bible is an is looked down upon. The rest of the parable is Matthew 15:21-28.
John, I'm not saying prayer in school is a bad thing, however, when the teacher starts class with a prayer - every student in that class is forced to participate - no matter what their beliefs. I think that is wrong. And I don't think that those teachers would allow equal time for Wiccan chants or rituals before class. LOL... And "Allowing" any kid who objects to go stand in the hall - uhm, isn't standing in the hall also Punishment??
Alyce Rocco hit the real meaning of the Establishment Clause. Government cannot favor a religion. Allowing Christian prayer in school is not a violation of the Establishment Clause. However ... If Christian prayer is allowed and a Pagan Ritual is not allowed, that is a flagrant violation of the Establishment Clause.
Jesus said "No one shall enter Heaven except by me." That means Jesus could allow anyone into Heaven. Not just Christians. Anyone. Don't believe the fanatics who judge and condemn others.
"If you don't want to pray or don't want your kids to pray then let them go sit in the hallway and worship the devil or do whatever they do, but in my opinion it's christians that get a bad rap for being christians." - What a hateful thing to say! The assumption that everyone who isn't Christian is a devil worshipper and should be put out in a hallway in public school so Christian children can have led prayers is just bigoted. How can such "Christians" reconcile their beliefs with their bigotry?
I can't believe I spelled "clause" as "cause"--twice.
You've got it all wrong. The solution is inclusion, not exclusion. The "establishment cause" does not establish a "separation of church and state" as people so easily believe. The words "separation of church and state" never appear in the U.S. Constitution. The establishment cause simply forbids the government from establishing an official state religion. If people participate in prayers in public schools, they have every right to do so, as long as they don't force anyone to particpate--which they don't. Instead of EXCLUDING any mention of religion in public classrooms, we should be INCLUDING any religion that students participate in--so yes, if a Jewish student wants to perform a Jewish ritual during Hannukah, let them. If a Wiccan student wants to share a Wiccan ritual with the class,so be it. School is all about learning, and learning about other religions than your own is a valid thing to learn. Additionally, it helps kids tolerate other religions even if they emphatically disagree
Sindy, I am in no way saying that christians should not be allowed to pray any where, any time. The only thing that I am saying is that it is not in any way fair to force others to have to participate. It is not right to force someone to have to make themselves stand out by stepping outside of the class. It is not right to force someone to endure something they don't believe in.
Think of it this way, would you enjoy just sitting there while a Wiccan Ritual was performed before or during an event you wanted to go to? Even worse if it was done during something you had no choice but to attend - like school.
Sindy: NBHS: The kids that were bringing guns and knives to school were immigrants, from countries such as El Salvador. Coming from war torn countries, they brought their street culture with them. There were constant fights between various ethnic groups at the school. With the influx of Latino immigrants, gangs sprouted in the town and drive by shootings and such began. I do not know if that has anything to do with prayer in school. I would suggest reading "Freedom Writers Diary" for some insight to answer your question about bringing guns and knives to school.