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CJ1
I'm against it because it would be too complicated with all the religions in the world...
angela
I guess I'm a bit biased since i go to Catholic School. But , I don't mind people praying in schools.
tofumonzter
It's really up to you. Because you can forced others to do it since this is a country of free religion. _smile.gif
BeyondElite
well, in my opinion ... YES! So The Big Guy (God) can help us in that days... Im Catholic, Roman Catholic
katers
I am for prayer in school. But I dont think it should be forced. If its forced, people will think less of Christians, and there for of Jesus.
angel-roh
QUOTE(krnxswat @ Mar 23 2004, 8:40 PM)
I think having a seperate time just for prayer during school hours is useless, because not everyone follows the same religion. I personally pray before I eat my lunch in school, and it's totally upto the people whether they want to pray or not.

i so agree wit seonho... it's they choice if they
wana pray or not... hey chelle dun` tell me u talk
behind someonez baq` wen they pray...do u? cus
if u do...i think thats messed up.. heh.. so if u do
that agen...y dun` u jus` say that in ur mind and
not spread it, k?^^;; and it's not bad to pray before
lunch too~ _smile.gif
illyria
QUOTE(xjjajeengx @ Mar 25 2004, 11:46 PM)
of course since do not beleive in prayer, you wouldnt understand fully . Jesus is referring this to the hypocrites who try to look all good and holy by fake praying and trying to pray loudly so that people will realize how "holy" they are. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THE SCHOOL PRAYERS HOWEVER because school prayers are for students who would like to pray at school for school and to be closer with God. not to show off and be hypocritical. and JESUS definetly was NOT against praying in school. did he ever SAY THAT?! no. and besides. desperate times call for desperate measures. like it could almost be the end of the world because it is so chaotic. christians need to pray and ask God for help daily and whenever they possibly can.

sorry if i offended you, but this really ticked me off. if you do not understand the bible, dont repeat what it says and interpret it in such a way that it might confuse fellow christians. To me, this is very insulting. 
and also:


these do not oppose prayer in schools. believe me. all the churches i went to in my life were presbyterian, untied methodiest, or chirsitan church. and believe me, i've been to MANY churches in my lifetime. also, if they opposed prayer in school, why would some of the presbyterian churches encourage prayer at schools by teaching students to do so via bible study? same with christian churches. as a matter of fact, i go to a christian church that is also a christian school. and all of them pray at school, and the church itself proposed a required bible study program for students in high school and junior high to learn how to pray for people and how to pray, period. My church is a HUGE korean christian church, known throughtout korea and many other hucrches look up to our pastor and how much our church has done for other churches, etc. Our church is also one of the largest korean churches and one of the leading in missionary funding and direct missionary sending, church building in other foreign countries, etc. within the lessons, they taought us that even if people discriminate you for praying, you should still pray. true, they said that being hypocritical is wrong and praying just for the sake of fame is being wrong, but if you truly were praying for the sake of praying, you should at school, at home, at church, everywhere and anywhere when you need God's support or you want to thank him, etc.


sorry if im being rela b!tchy and all, but this is how i feel about it sad.gif

this is chelle it's just a different name. anyways, i do believe in prayer. just not prayer in public schools. in my religion, wicca, i pray. and i was copying something that i had found off the internet because i thought it was rather interesting. actually, here are the links for you: Faith groups that support the First Ammendment and oppose government-sponored prayer in public schools. it's saying the presbyterian churches as a whole support the first amm and oppose school prayer. Bible Excerpt. i copied "jesus was against school prayer" word for word off that site. i wasn't actually saying i believed that. my bad on that specific thing. i completely agree with you when you say even if people discriminate against you for praying then you should still do it. but, by praying you are not realizing that you are discriminating against the people who do not wish to pray. you are singling them out and subjecting them to an activity that they don't believe in. praying is a 24-7 thing. it can be done whenever, wherever and by whomever. the type of school prayer that i am talking about, and the kind that many are trying to get back in the schools is where the principal comes over the announcements and prays with the students and maybe reads a bible scripture. now pro-school prayer people say that kids who do not wish to pray could go out of the room or whatever but that would single them out. that's discrimination. why even go through all of that when right now, anyone can pray by themselves. at my school currently we have a minute of silence. KEYWORD: silence. there's no verbalization of religious beliefs so that i'm okay with. people can pray within themselves. that's what i believe the bible excerpt was saying...
fiji_kid
wow i dont hav time to read that.. but i think its better to have skool prayer becoz people will not forgot their reglion..
whomps
QUOTE(fiji_kid @ Apr 24 2004, 7:42 PM)
wow i dont hav time to read that.. but i think its better to have skool prayer becoz people will not forgot their reglion..

so people won't forget their religion.. ?
what if you don't HAVE a religion?


if we had a prayer in school, it'd be ONE prayer, for ONE religion..
aka, going against the Constitution.
annchovie
my school has the moment of silence...and i go to the highschool in the mornings so i have to liten to the american pledge, the texas pledge, and the 1 minute of silence 2 times a day. some teachers at my schoool make the kids stop, but they keep walking, talking and doing other things...so much for following rules. its kind of a nuisance because no one really does anything...everyone just keeps on going or stares into space.
marshmelo
I have no religion as i am alowwed to chose my own faith. In our school we have so many realigions that it wouldnt be fair
PinoyOtaku
I go to a Catholic school so I guess prayer during school is a way of life...
rdngurl0107
i personally dont have a direct answer, but sometimes, I pray quietly in skool b4 i eat n things. I think that maybe having a little youth group/ bible study would be interesting, but probably not in skool b/c of the many religions in our skool.
illyria
QUOTE(fiji_kid @ Apr 24 2004, 9:42 PM)
wow i dont hav time to read that.. but i think its better to have skool prayer becoz people will not forgot their reglion..

that's horrible reasoning. not everybody has a religion. what about the atheists?
likeachild
huh? it says I already voted....
wait I remember...
I read this topic like one month ago!
how did it get bumped like that???
blah3868
i say no cuz theres alot of ppl who dont belive in da same thing otha ppl do
Ju_CHaN
I don't think there should exactly be time set aside for it, but just to allow students to pray in school if they choose to.
euroFUSION
If you're talking about public schools, there shouldn't be prayer. Keep the Church and State separate.
likeachild
they can't really "not allow" prayer
you can't control someone's thoughts

people can always pray silently...
whomps
QUOTE(v@por @ Apr 26 2004, 8:19 PM)
they can't really "not allow" prayer
you can't control someone's thoughts

people can always pray silently...

Of couse you would be able to pray to yourself silently.. just not have a prayer and make the whole class do it or something.
craziplaya21
ill hav 2 say no cuz im atheist. i jus dont believe in those things.
angel-roh
QUOTE(craziplaya21 @ Apr 26 2004, 10:21 PM)
ill hav 2 say no cuz im atheist. i jus dont believe in those things.

lols Eve is an atheist =)
retsmit
i dont care; people can do whatever they want to
speight89
Not everyone is the same religion
ichigofan
i dont care... ppl can do watever dey want

praise jesus
xcaitlinx
of course there shouldn't be prayer in school...because a lot of people...including myself...don't bleieve in god or have different beliefs than your typical christians.
mipadi
QUOTE(Dr3aMeR @ Mar 24 2004, 1:38 AM)
this country was made on the principles of christianity and we should always have stuck my them.  sometimes i wish i could go back in time to the Constitutional COnvention of 1787 and make the founding fathers be more specific cause i hate it that people say the constitution says its wrong.  "separation of church and state" haha. dumb people who use that as an excuse.  the people who made the constituion were christians in one denomination or another...they would have been okay with that fact that there are different types of christianity HOWEVER they would not have been okay with other religions especially taking PRAYER out of SCHOOLS.  they might have let the other religions be free to worship on their own but i hardly doubt that they would have wanted prayer out of schools.  this country needs to go back to its christian roots.. im tired of people who try to do otherwise

ALSO WHEN they wrote separation of church and state they meant it in the point that the government couldn't stop a form of the Christian denomination.  they probably would want them to stop the weird religions that has come into this country.
*

I don't think that's an accurate depiction of our Founding Fathers at all. Keep in mind that many of the first colonists were fleeing religious persecution at home. Pennsylvania, the second state to ratify the Constitution, was created by Quakers who were fleeing religious persecution. The first Pilgrims in the Mayflower were fleeing religious persecution as well. So no, the Founding Fathers were not thinking only of Christianity when they wrote the Constitution. The fact that most of them (not all, mind you) were Christians does not mean that they were militant Christians who wished to remove every other religious order from the face of the earth. Remember, too, that this was shortly after the Enlightenment period, where people were beginning to question religion, or at least believe more in science. Not all the framers were hardcore Christians. Some were even atheists (or, at least, doubted some Christian teachings).

This country really doesn't have "Christian roots." Many things in the Constitution are based on Christian principles because that's what many of the authors were raised on, but they did not intend for everyone to be Christian. It's very noble of you to practice your religion, but there's no reason to make the whole country practice it, too.

As far as religion in school goes, it's not "banned"--it's just no longer mandatory. People are free to pray in schools. Many public schools even have (optional) religious groups operate within them. As a non-Christian, I am fine with that. I just don't think prayer should be forced anyway. I'll be quite honest: I have no interest in praying to some abstract concept that I don't really believe exists.
waitwaitwait
No. No. No.
I don't even think saying the Pledge Of Allegiance should be done in school.
sweetabandon
no way. maybe if the prayer time was like a quiet time where everyone just prays to themselves i'd be okay with it. i could use that ime to think of other things. group prayers that are verbally spoken seem wrong.

I have this strong belief that the catholic religion especially are based by routines with no meanings. they do them simply because they were told to do it. do it or else suffer the eternal flame of damnation.. No, I don't like the idea of making us believe in something we're not sure of. Why can't they let us make the decision for ourselves?
KERP1UNK
school is a place to learn, not a place to pray. if you wanted to pray, you should go to church. plus, not everyone is of the same religion!! if a child wants to pray, let them pray. but dont make everyone else have to pray!! i am totally against prayer in school... ^^ and i agree, they should have a silent time instead of a group prayer..its just not right.
sammi rules you
unless it's like a religious school, i'm totally against it. that is against the law. there's this little thing called separation between church and state..if you wanna pray in school, go to a school that's for it. that's why they're there.
b0st0ngrl
If someone is religous enough to want prayer in school then they should find time to pray silently to themselves.
smile4me
QUOTE(b0st0ngrl @ Jun 4 2005, 3:48 PM)
If someone is religous enough to want prayer in school then they should find time to pray silently to themselves.
*


yep, that's how some of my friends and i are - we pray before we eat lunch and we have Oasis (kinda like a youth group thing)
i dont think it should be required the school for everyone to pray.
DisneyPrincessKate
I go to a catholic school

every morning during convocation (assembly, announcements, whatever you may call it) we pray. Sometimes we do things like the our father, however usually whoever is leading (the principal or dean of students, whoever happens to be there that day) will make it up as they go along and we respond with "Lord Hear our prayer"

A lot of people are not catholic. In fact, only about 35% of the students are. They're not all christians either.

all the school asks is to be respectful during prayer if you don't want to participate. It's like how you can refuse to say the pledge. You're totally allowed to not say it, but you still have to be respectful.

No one at my school has any serious issues with it, no one is offended by it, and it doesn't hurt anyone. I dont understand why they would be offended. Maybe it's me?
sadolakced acid
QUOTE(DisneyPrincessKate @ Jun 5 2005, 9:17 PM)
I go to a catholic school

every morning during convocation (assembly, announcements, whatever you may call it) we pray.  Sometimes we do things like the our father, however usually whoever is leading (the principal or dean of students, whoever happens to be there that day) will make it up as they go along and we respond with "Lord Hear our prayer"

A lot of people are not catholic.  In fact, only about 35% of the students are.  They're not all christians either.

all the school asks is to be respectful during prayer if you don't want to participate.  It's like how you can refuse to say the pledge.  You're totally allowed to not say it, but you still have to be respectful.

No one at my school has any serious issues with it, no one is offended by it, and it doesn't hurt anyone.  I dont understand why they would be offended.  Maybe it's me?
*


i would be quite offended if that were to happen in my school.

and here's why:

i utterly despise jesus. To me, jesus was a fake person who pretended to be god. therefore, everytime i hear someone pray to jesus for help, or pray to 'the lord' (not god, the lord; who is jesus), it is akin to someone praying to osama bin laden (to me).

if i were to go to school and have to listen to a christian prayer, and only a christian pray; it's a message. it's a message that "we're all christian, and we're the right ones, so you should pray with us and become christian."

i feel that if some christians refuse to tolerate other religions, i can refuse to tolerate some christians. namely those who ask me to pray, or pray for me, or ask jesus to save my soul, or those that tell me jesus loves me, or those who believe they are correct and everyone else is wrong.

a christian prayer in a public school is as offensive to me as a satanic rite in a christian school would be offensive to a christian.
sammi rules you
well, miss kate, if i went to a catholic school there wouldn't be much i could do, now would there? however, i would be offended if that happened in a public school..there should be no preferred religions of the school if it's not specified.
fameONE
If teaching evolution is banned in school, prayer, the pledge and any other state mandate with a religious reference should be too.
sammi rules you
^ but teaching evolution isn't banned...blink.gif
yycleo
u know wt?
i hv 2 go to chapel on EVERY SUNDAY morning and this is a school rule
need 2 wear school uniform 7 days a week =.=|||
sadolakced acid
QUOTE(touch my monkey @ Jun 6 2005, 10:29 AM)
^ but teaching evolution isn't banned...blink.gif
*


it is in kansas now, i think.
not_your_average
NO FORCED PRAYER IN SCHOOL!

At least not forced prayer. It's safe to say that I am an agnostic, already unsure of my beliefs as of this moment. Although my school is largely Christian, it is a public school. If they were to say, "Let's pray to Jesus for..." whatever reason, I would be personally offended. Jesus is not my God. I don't even know if I want to believe in God (if there is one.) mellow.gif

If students wish to pray among themselves, they can knock themselves out. But the school praying together? That should not be allowed.
sammi rules you
QUOTE(sadolakced acid @ Jun 6 2005, 11:03 AM)
it is in kansas now, i think.
*


well that's freaking stupid.
xcaitlinx
QUOTE(touch my monkey @ Jun 6 2005, 5:46 PM)
well that's freaking stupid.
*


definitely. Teaching kids the scientific theory on how we were created? NEVER! we cannot allow kids these days to have an open mind and intake theories that are a gainst some of their religions...something that is a hellofa lot more logical than theories taught in christian schools. heh....please. and yet, teaching (sometimes even brainswashing) kids that a holy God above is looking down on us, deciding our fate, who we can't see nor prove exists is allowed? what is WRONG with our government? _dry.gif
sadolakced acid
QUOTE(caytexo @ Jun 6 2005, 6:18 PM)
definitely. Teaching kids the scientific theory on how we were created? NEVER! we cannot allow kids these days to have an open mind and intake theories that are a gainst some of their religions...something that is a hellofa lot more logical than theories taught in christian schools. heh....please. and yet, teaching (sometimes even brainswashing) kids that a holy God above is looking down on us, deciding our fate, who we can't see nor prove exists is allowed? what is WRONG with our government?  _dry.gif
*


that's it's run by someone who only 51% of the country approves of, yet he runs it as if everyone loves him.

that's what's wrong with the government- lack of a strong middle.
baller30
QUOTE(krnxswat @ Mar 23 2004, 10:40 PM)
I think having a seperate time just for prayer during school hours is useless, because not everyone follows the same religion. I personally pray before I eat my lunch in school, and it's totally upto the people whether they want to pray or not.
*


I agree whole heartedly. It is a person's choice to pray. You can't force anyone to pray and it would be really pointless to force them. Forcing a person to pray would be totally against what God created us with(i.e. freedom of choice). Of course, people are different religions so to force them to pray to one specific God or gods would be violating their right as a citizen of the US to practice their own religion.

And on the issue of science, and Evolution vs. Creationism, I think that each person should be allowed to chose their view. Both views should be presented to students. To have a school system that is biaised towards one side is unfair and very un-American. Many people believe in Creationism, but do not believe in the God of Chritianity. Some people are Diest and believe God created the world and then let it to be. And even some scientists believe that there is Intelligent Design, but are not "religious."
sadolakced acid
QUOTE(baller30 @ Jun 13 2005, 7:02 PM)
And on the issue of science, and Evolution vs. Creationism, I think that each person should be allowed to chose their view. Both views should be presented to students. To have a school system that is biaised towards one side is unfair and very un-American. Many people believe in Creationism, but do not believe in the God of Chritianity. Some people are Diest and believe God created the world and then let it to be. And even some scientists believe that there is Intelligent Design, but are not "religious."
*



it is not unfair nor unamerican that only evolution is presented in the classroom. evolution has been proven via scientific study, while creationism has not.
baller30
actually both theories cannot be really proven unless there are time machines... that is the man reason of the debate... theories unlike scientfic facts cannot be proven
each theory has holes that require a person to believe that in something without full proof the evidence is basically cirumstatial for both

trust me on this i have studied both so in depth through out my life

each theory is really just left for you to believe because no matter how much "scientific fact" there is there will never be enough to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that either theory is true or false
mipadi
QUOTE(baller30 @ Jun 13 2005, 8:10 PM)
actually both theories cannot be really proven unless there are time machines... that is the man reason of the debate... theories unlike scientfic facts cannot be proven
each theory has holes that require a person to believe that in something without full proof the evidence is basically cirumstatial for both

trust me on this i have studied both so in depth through out my life

each theory is really just left for you to believe because no matter how much "scientific fact" there is there will never be enough to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that either theory is true or false
*

The difference between a scientific theory and a religious belief, however, is that a scientific theory is testable, and has been tested using the scientific method.
baller30
theory i repeat is not testable, the evidence can not be seen in current nature, right? so it is a theory. if it cannot be tested at this point in time it cannot be proven, it is a theory. evry single science teacher and science expert i have talked to is forced to admit that no matter which theory they support, neither can be tested.

also some people believe in evolution as a religious belief... then does that disqualify it as a theory of course not, what makes that an different than creationism?
XoJennaoX
^ so no theory can ever been proven true or false? don't think so. Any theory (if it is in fact a theory) is testable and while it may not be PROVEN right now, it has the possibility in the future. This fact does not hold true for creationism.

Evolution is not a belief so i don't know why you say some people think it is. Unless you are referring to the belief that God created evolution, but that does not change what evolution is. Science is never based on a belief, you can believe that God created evolution, but evolution does not hold its truth because i believe that's the way it happened.

About prayer in school, No - you pray in your heart, you pray because you want to, not because you are forced to at this exact moment. You pray when the time and the place suites you and your mind is clear and spiritually ready. Above all it is a personal connection. Thats means NOT a group effort, and not everyday at a specific time and place, that is completely unnecessary. Having prayer in school takes away the value that is suppose to be special and sincere about praying. Any school that says it is best for students are simply using prayer as a "tool", that is NOT what it is meant for.
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