Prayer in School

[Polaris]

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.

[Taqiyya Mockingbird]

No. Fucking. Way.

Praying openly (which your Jeebus supposedly forbade anyway) is exerting peer pressure and proselytizing.

Fuck that.

[Anomalocaris]

Religions like Christianity is so calculated as to except pressure upon nonadherents in every outward expression of itself. So the only acceptable public expression of Christianity is no discernible expression whatsoever.

You make it look like you believe in Christian god in public, you've crossed the line.

[Polaris]

Religions like Christianity can not exist without excreting pressure for others to conform it itself. So the only acceptable public expression of Christianity is no discernible expression whatsoever.

So by that logic, homosexuals cannot kiss each other in public.

[Anomalocaris]

Homosexuals don't say there is a hell reserved for non homosexuals.

When Christians universally declare there is no consequence for anyone anywhere, in any form, here or in the here after, for rejecting Jesus, and those who refuse jesus are good enough without saving, and generally no worse than those who claim to have been saved by jesus, then they may pray in public.

Otherwise they need to retire to a cesspool and stay there.

[Polaris]

Homosexuals don't say there is a hell reserved for non homosexuals.

When Christians universally declare there is no consequence for anyone anywhere, in a y form, here or in the here after, for rejecting Jesus, then they may pray in public.

With a view that extreme, then no group in the world would be able to do anything in public because each group has views that have consequences within their community for not being upheld.

[Anomalocaris]

Nothing so extreme as eternal punishment in lake of fire and total worthlessness owned original sin, and that garbage.

No secular oppression can even be theoretically be as extreme as the sort of oppression Christianity by its very nature aspire to impose upon others.

[Annik]

I don't care if someone prays in public, as long as they are forcing anyone to pray with them. However, if they school sets aside any time specifically for prayer during school hours, a line has been crossed. If they want to do that, they can do it before school, after school or privately.

[Simon Moon]

Students can already pray in school during non-instructional time.

The following is current law in the US. This is from the American Center for Law and Justice -

Prayer in School - Prayer During Non-instructional Time
Students may pray when not engaged in school activities or instruction, subject to the same rules designed to prevent material disruption of the educational program that are applied to other privately initiated expressive activities. Among other things, students may read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, and pray or study religious materials with fellow students during recess, the lunch hour, or other non-instructional time to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious activities. While school authorities may impose rules of order and pedagogical restrictions on student activities, they may not discriminate against student prayer or religious speech in applying such rules and restrictions.

Prayer in School - Organized Prayer Groups and Activities
Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and "see you at the pole" gatherings before school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other non-curricular student activities groups. Such groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other non-curricular groups, without discrimination because of the religious content of their expression. School authorities possess substantial discretion concerning whether to permit the use of school media for student advertising or announcements regarding non-curricular activities. However, where student groups that meet for nonreligious activities are permitted to advertise or announce their meetings-for example, by advertising in a student newspaper, making announcements on a student activities bulletin board or public address system, or handing out leaflets-school authorities may not discriminate against groups who meet to pray. School authorities may disclaim sponsorship of non-curricular groups and events, provided they administer such disclaimers in a manner that neither favors nor disfavors groups that meet to engage in prayer or religious speech.

[Shell B]

Kids can already pray during lunch or recess if they want to. That's entirely up to them. They can't pray in the classroom. That is disruptive.

Ah, you just beat me.