Prayer

Theresa · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:36 am Prayer**

Should students, if they so choose, be allowed to pray at school? How about setting up a special room for them, so that they don't "offend" anyone, and make others have to, *gasp*, witness a bowed head now and then. I mean, it's only fair. And the seperation of church and state doesn't really show up here. Or if you choose to insist it does, it's also a double sided coin. The state is forbidding a student a constitutional right, one of the main reasons this country exists today. If some want to smoke in school, why aren't others allowed to pray?

Josi Rockholt · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 10:45 am**

I think they should. I mean, it's not affecting anyone's health, like smoking is and yet, smoking does happen. It is taking away a constitutional right by not letting students pray in school.

Jeremy · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 12:56 pm**

I think that people should be allowed to. It's not doing any harm to others, and it's not exactly forcing their views on people. If it wasn't allowed then I would say that is taking Political Correctness to the extreme, as it isn't affecting others (unless the praying does).

Oliver · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 1:21 pm**

Well, if you're in a private school, the school can choose whether or not the children are allowed to pray. How the school deals with it, is their business.

In public schools, I believe praying or even showing any kind of religion, should not be allowed. No more wearing crosses to school, no Jewish caps, no praying whatsoever, and so on.

Also, smoking should not be allowed, not in any public place: schools, libraries,...

IntrepidIsMe · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 3:19 pm**

What does smoking have to do with prayer,

But anywho, I really don't see a problem with a student praying in class (public, private, or perochial), as long as they aren't forcing it on others. However, I don't think teachers should (in non-perochial schools).

jonathan95 · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 3:23 pm**

yes I think they should I think if a person wants to beleave/ and do religious stuff like praying they should be allowed to as long as you have a choice to do it.

Melodramatic · Rear Admiral Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 4577

Mikado · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:57 pm**

I honestly, think a person shouldn't have to go into a room to pray. And when I was in public schools, and I felt like praying, at I wasn't you know, meant to be listening to the teacher, I did it.

Then again, I don't follow a religion. However, the idea of having a room does seem nice. I don't think a person should have to, and I don't think the pledge of alliance should have been taken out. I think children should have gotten the choice to do it or not. Because deny it, is deny a right.

Back on topic. A room would keep them out of the view of people who would make fun to them. So I guess over all, I think it would be a good idea.

Puck · The Texan Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 5596

I think silent prayer should be allowed. I will pray if I damn well please to in school and no one will stop me, and I would refuse to go into another room. If I was ever confronted with this, I would keep on praying as long as I wanted, and if they did not like it, they would have to get our school police officer to come drag me out of the room. I am dead serious. If anyone even considered banning prayer I would be more angry than I have ever been in my life.

Sam Kenobi · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 5:52 pm**

Sure they should be allowed to. Sometimes it's cool that a bunch of kids can get together on that common basis. I think it only becomes a problem when kids just to it to flaunt their religion. like... before every preformance of our musical, they've had a prayer circle. What I find interesting is that the only kids who don't participate (me and my brother included) are the strongly based Christain family kids. So it feels like most people are just doing it because everyone else is and they think they're cool. Once a year they have that See You At the Pole where everyone is free to come in the morning and pray around the flag pole. thats cool, but when it comes to flaunting it every chance you get, its not. There a verse somewhere... I'll have to get back to you on which one, but it says something about how the man who preaches on the street corner is a fool. Prayer should mostly be a private thing, whether its just you and your god, or a close friend or two. If kids really want to pray in a group, they'll make the time to come early in the morning that once a year to school or find their own little prayer group. hope I made sense...

Paul Marshall · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:02 pm**

No, I don't think that people should be separated from others for ANY reason. If someone wants to start praying out loud (I'm just making a hypothetical situation.) in the middle of a speech that I am making I would go right along with the speech, not to ignore the person, but to acknowledge the person's right to pray is just as strong as my right to speak. I would treat the situation like an everyday situation, some would stare and laugh.

Starbuck · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:04 pm**

Okay, this could very well be the longest post I've ever made.

On one hand I think that they should set aside space for children to pray. It is only fair that they have some place to pray. When you think about it, the entire school is sectioned off for athiest people. On the other hand. If they sectioned off space for lets say Christianity, they would be obligated to section off space for other religions, because Christianity offends some religions, and some Christians don't get along with other religions, example, Wicca and Christianity don't mix. While most Wiccans have no problem with Christians ((part of wicca is excepting ALL religions)), but Christians seem to have a problem with Wiccans. So you would have to build a seperate area for all religions, and on top of that, I know under Wicca there are many different cults and gods and goddesses to pray to, and most Wiccans never pray to a god or goddess other than their elements. So there would be at least 6 different worship areas. Then you have to think, that there are Jewish people, Satanic people, Buddhists, Islamic people................ there are many different Religions, and it could be concidered offensive to someone if their religion was left out. Get my drift?

Sam Kenobi · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:08 pm**

^^Yeah, but when you pray by yourself its usually in your head.

^ sectioning off someplace to pray is putting religious people in the same category and priority as smokers, though. So what, now at the airport or schools right next to the smoking room, we'll have the "christian room" and the "buhdist room"? Thats sectionalism... also like back in the days when they had the "white only" drinking fountains

Paul Marshall · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:11 pm**

Sam Kenobi · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:15 pm**

sure. that would be kind of awkward. But I'm just saying when people pray in groups at school. you know, stand in a circle and hold hands. the popcorn prayer.

ILoveHarry · Admiral Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 7909 Location: Houston

I think all people have a right to pray whenever, whereever they want to whatever diety they choose as long as is does not effect the safety or rights of others.

Republican_Man · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:46 pm**

Kids should be allowed to...And ORGANIZED prayer should occur too, as long as it's non-discriminatory, meaning that ALL different religions can lead in prayer...It could be to Jesus, Allah, God, Mary...whomever....
And a religion is NOT BEING ESTABISHED if this is done...It takes away NO ONE's rights...

Borg771 · Commodore Joined: 08 Aug 2002 Posts: 1706

You should pray if you want but there's a time and place for everything. :p

Republican_Man · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:51 pm**

Oh, and students should NOT be forced to do religious prayers, however.
Or rather--say them, that is.

Borg771 · Commodore Joined: 08 Aug 2002 Posts: 1706

yeah.. thats all great and stuff but it should be kept extra curricular. school is for learning, its not a church.

Starbuck · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:58 pm**

as long as there are tests in public schools, there will be prayer.

Theresa · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 10:53 pm**

Arellia · **Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:40 pm**

I think that *not* allowing prayer in school is idiotic. What's that saying to kids? "We don't want you to have a religion, it's offensive, get it out of the school?"

What is praying really hurting?

I don't see it. Of course praying should be allowed.

Oliver · **Fri Apr 23, 2004 2:54 am**

Puck · The Texan Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 5596

All of those things are much different then silently praying to yourself or wearing a religious symbol as jewlery or something. Prayer is not a distraction, like running around nude, or walking on your hands, nor is it dangerous like walking on your hands.