Prayer in School

[Ryantology]

I can't agree to it. If they feel inclined to set aside special time to pray, there is plenty of time each day a student spends outside of school. To me, the push for special prayer time, even if it is not outwardly marketed as a concession to Christianity in America, is in practice almost certainly just that.

[Ace Otana]

There is plenty of time for students in their day to talk to their imaginary friend. Why do it in such a way and in such place to cause as much embarrassment to yourself as possible?
The need for prayer in school to me is theists asking to advertise their personal beliefs!
Can't they just keep it to themselves?

[KnockEmOuttt]

Can't they just keep it to themselves?

No, of course not. Evangelism is, like, the biggest part of religion or something.

[Skepsis]

There is plenty of time for students in their day to talk to their imaginary friend. Why do it in such a way and in such place to cause as much embarrassment to yourself as possible?
The need for prayer in school to me is theists asking to advertise their personal beliefs!
Can't they just keep it to themselves?

This is the perfect sum of all my thoughts.
Also:
If we are talking about an omniscient, omnipresent God (which we are), then why the hell are people praying in the first place? They believe their God already knows what their problems are, what the solutions are, and whether or not their problem will ever see its resolution.
Just seems silly to devote time to talking to your imaginary firend in a public place, holding up others from their daily routine.
Why aren't people ashamed to do this?

[frankiej]

I couldn't be bothered reading the rest of this thread so I don't care if what I say has been said.

I was forced to pray at primary school, I never did though. I have always been an atheist and refused to pray from as young an age as 5. I would get in trouble for making up my own words for hymns aswell. I was overly annoyed that the teachers who would punish me weren't even devout Christians, it is just what everyone had to do. Only something like religion has that kind of menacing hold on people.

Children just shouldn't be exposed to shitty cults. They are too impressionable. I don't care if their parents want them to, they can do it in their own home. A school is for learning, not for practising some bronze age bollocks.

[Ace Otana]

I was forced to pray at primary school, I never did though. I have always been an atheist and refused to pray from as young an age as 5. I would get in trouble for making up my own words for hymns aswell. I was overly annoyed that the teachers who would punish me weren't even devout Christians, it is just what everyone had to do. Only something like religion has that kind of menacing hold on people.

Yeah I was. Told to sing songs, at the time I didn't see what the deal was to sing songs. It was only till later that I learnt why. Anyway, I didn't and the teachers told me off but I ignored them, much to their frustration.
They couldn't do anything, and we both knew it!

[frankiej]

Yeah I was. Told to sing songs, at the time I didn't see what the deal was to sing songs. It was only till later that I learnt why. Anyway, I didn't and the teachers told me off but I ignored them, much to their frustration.
They couldn't do anything, and we both knew it!

I would have to sit inside at break time and write lines. Or I would get letters home and stuff. Kind of harsh for not subscribing to a cult.

I was a happy atheist before all that... it is their own fault that I despise religion.

[Ace Otana]

I would have to sit inside at break time and write lines. Or I would get letters home and stuff. Kind of harsh for not subscribing to a cult.

I was a happy atheist before all that... it is their own fault that I despise religion.

Wow, much worse than what I got. All I got was unhappy faces and a little yell from a teacher saying - "sing!".
It's the whole - "believe in what we believe or else!". Fucking thought police.

If you had to write lines, write "I don't believe in gawd, it's your imaginary friend, so keep it to your bloody self". If my parents received letters about me not following religious procedures, they'd tell me to keep it up and if the school phones, they'd tell the school to fuck off.
Religion has no power here.

Challenge the bastards I say!

[Jaysyn]

How many of you would be alright (aka not try to oppose) with prayer in a public school if it was only endorsed for the students of the school who wanted to have it?

The school and teachers would in no way push for other students to join...(only the students/parents would be able to make the choice on their own) and the prayer time would only be offered during their recess or break period thereby not actually taking time away from actual education.

My high school had a prayer circle by the flag pole some mornings before school. The faculty had nothing to do with it. This sort of gathering is *already legal* in the USA. The problem arises when you have public officials leading & organizing .

[pgrimes15]

I couldn't be bothered reading the rest of this thread so I don't care if what I say has been said.

I was forced to pray at primary school, I never did though. I have always been an atheist and refused to pray from as young an age as 5. I would get in trouble for making up my own words for hymns aswell. I was overly annoyed that the teachers who would punish me weren't even devout Christians, it is just what everyone had to do. Only something like religion has that kind of menacing hold on people.

Children just shouldn't be exposed to shitty cults. They are too impressionable. I don't care if their parents want them to, they can do it in their own home. A school is for learning, not for practising some bronze age bollocks.

I had prayers and hymns at school as well. I don't remember anyone being told off for not participating, but plenty of times for general mucking about. In my country, there is an established church i.e. the head of state is automatically the head of the church, there are seats reserved for religious leaders in one of the legislative houses, and every school must BY LAW have a daily act of collective worship "of a mainly Christian nature".

Yet the UK is one of the most secular countries in the world. Religion in schools was simply another thing "they" were telling you to do. Ranks of bored teenagers chewing gum and mumbling "Oh God our help in ages past" whilst staring at the floor does not make a Christian country. Americans who want officially organised prayers in school should be careful what they wish for.

Regards

Grimesy