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Talk:Opposition to classroom prayer (view source)
Revision as of 17:46, April 1, 2008
, 17:46, April 1, 2008Adding response I missed earlier about private vs public prayer.
::::: Indeed, spoken prayer in instructional settings is not allowed in schools but does take place in some governmental bodies (in the US). The difference here is that children are impressionable, more prone to peer and teacher influence, and ultimately are the responsibility of the parents. I know of no parents that would want their children to be led in prayer by someone of another religion. Adults on the other hand, are mature and able to make their own decisions and understand the formal setting. Children, being guided by teachers in prayer, would logically feel comfortable enough to ask them questions about religion and think of what a slippery slope that would be. I know people well, and from the same family, that have heartfelt, but contradictory views about their beliefs -- so much so that they split, one branch of the family going to the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church (a conservative branch) and the other to the Wisconsin Synod (even more conservative). Believe me, they would not want their children to be subjected to the religious influence (in prayer or in discussions) of people from another synod within the Lutheran Church. And lastly, Jesus admonished followers to pray privately. Many believe that it is best for families and churches to have complete control. Children have have always had the right (sometimes wrongly challenged, to be sure) to pray on their own outside of instructional settings. If so moved, any child can say a silent prayer before (hopefully not during) any class. --[[User:CPlantin|CPlantin]] 8:06, 1 April 2008 (CDT)
::::: Indeed, spoken prayer in instructional settings is not allowed in schools but does take place in some governmental bodies (in the US). The difference here is that children are impressionable, more prone to peer and teacher influence, and ultimately are the responsibility of the parents. I know of no parents that would want their children to be led in prayer by someone of another religion. Adults on the other hand, are mature and able to make their own decisions and understand the formal setting. Children, being guided by teachers in prayer, would logically feel comfortable enough to ask them questions about religion and think of what a slippery slope that would be. I know people well, and from the same family, that have heartfelt, but contradictory views about their beliefs -- so much so that they split, one branch of the family going to the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church (a conservative branch) and the other to the Wisconsin Synod (even more conservative). Believe me, they would not want their children to be subjected to the religious influence (in prayer or in discussions) of people from another synod within the Lutheran Church. And lastly, Jesus admonished followers to pray privately. Many believe that it is best for families and churches to have complete control. Children have have always had the right (sometimes wrongly challenged, to be sure) to pray on their own outside of instructional settings. If so moved, any child can say a silent prayer before (hopefully not during) any class. --[[User:CPlantin|CPlantin]] 8:06, 1 April 2008 (CDT)
:::::: Jesus was admonishing those who prayed publicly as a display of how pious they were. He wasn't speaking against praying in public ''per se''. [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 09:36, 1 April 2008 (EDT)
:::::: Jesus was admonishing those who prayed publicly as a display of how pious they were. He wasn't speaking against praying in public ''per se''. [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 09:36, 1 April 2008 (EDT)
::::::: What is the usual purpose of classroom prayer? If not to communicate personally through Jesus (which can easily be done alone at any time -- and more personally), then why? To encourage communal belief? To subtely or not-so-subtely bring others to Christ? To demonstrate publicly that one is a Christian? What does group prayer do that individual prayer doesn't do? If the purpose is primarily for public display or for encouraging others to become Christian, then I would say that it is worthy of Jesus's admonition. If it is for confirming or re-validating the perceived beliefs of students in the class, then I would say that it is unnecessary and would be better done at home or at church. Those arguing the hardest for prayer in public classrooms seem to me to be attempting to validate their beliefs in a public way (displaying piety), to be attempting to convert, or to be using group, authority-led pressure to make students do what many wouldn't otherwise do in school.--[[User:CPlantin|CPlantin]] 12:43, 1 April 2008 (CDT)
:::: Are you happy for your child to be forced to sit through an islamic prayer led by a Muslim teacher every day? --[[User:JBuscombe|JBuscombe]] 14:35, 1 January 2008 (EST)
:::: Are you happy for your child to be forced to sit through an islamic prayer led by a Muslim teacher every day? --[[User:JBuscombe|JBuscombe]] 14:35, 1 January 2008 (EST)
:::: 5 times a day, actually. [[User:SSchultz|SSchultz]] 14:39, 1 January 2008 (EST)
:::: 5 times a day, actually. [[User:SSchultz|SSchultz]] 14:39, 1 January 2008 (EST)