The New School Prayer

Published on January 4, 2006 By WOM In WinCustomize Talk

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen

From watching whats on the news now a days, thought this made a lot of sense.

Comments (Page 2)

Gregory2001

on Jan 04, 2006

Whether God is or is not in schools will not determine a child's fate. Only the parents can (or should) do that. If you don't know how to raise children, don't breed.

White_Moth

on Jan 04, 2006

WOM has stated in verse what the Bible states in Truth in 1 John 2:15, 16, 17.

Adamness

on Jan 04, 2006

Funny how the majority keeps acting as if they're the ones being attacked. As an atheist, (please respect my ideas and not pray for me) I feel more and more pressure of religion, Christianity in particular.

I am a good person, and abide by the 10 Commandments, minus the religious stuff. That's more than I can say for many, many 'Christians.' Look at all the horrible politicians, and lunatic televangelists who want to assassinate world leaders.

I disagree with the idea that more religion is needed. If anything, we need less.

_02

on Jan 04, 2006

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Gregory2001, but raising a child is the responsibility of all people. The parents are first in line, but it does not end there. Our children are in school as much as at home, if not more. But, seeing that you are yet a child yourself, I do not expect you would understand this. And using the term breed is insulting to all parents.

Jafo

on Jan 04, 2006

I have NEVER equated morality with religion.

Were they akin there would be less 'religious' wars.

There weren't

So there isn't.

_02

on Jan 04, 2006

Adamness, your very statement is a contradiction. How can you seperate the 10 commandements from He who is the author of them? And have you never heard of a wolf in sheeps clothing? And let us not get God and religion confused. They are two different things.

Lantec

on Jan 04, 2006

raising a child is the responsibility of all people

Among several of the American Indian tribes, Cheyenne for example, every male child was taught to call all mature women Mother and younger women sister. It was the "responsibility" of the tribe to raise the child. The men were "responsible" for EVERY member of the tribe. Shirk your responsiblities and don't bother coming home. They had no concept of aberrent or criminal behavior until "civilized" people introduced them to it and took their children to "proper" schooling.

Sleeping Dragon

on Jan 04, 2006

I have NEVER equated morality with religion

And let us not get God and religion confused

Both well said; religion being an institution created by man with their own agendas. Their premise is to seek God, but often at the expense of others.

Personal belief (want it or not), is the Bible is the message of God through Jesus reaching a hand down to us. Not people standing on their soap boxes telling others to "be like me". It's all about Him. Not about us.

Regarding religion in school or government, I believe it needs to be seperate. We should be free to worship or not worship who or what we wish. As soon as you start creating a theocracy the free will disappears and "religious wars" flare up again.

Just sharing one believer's thoughts.

MadDeez

on Jan 04, 2006

scorpio-logic, i'm sure you meant "corporal punishment". i doubt mr holt ever killed anyone with his wooden paddle.

as for the atheist (adamness), have you folks ever noticed how many young people refuse religion in the their younger years but embrace it as they learn more? i'm not intending on slamming mr adamness. actually, if he is intent in being an atheist, that is his right. i'm only stating an observation i've seen that most younger people who claim to be atheists sooner or later embrace a religion.

_02

on Jan 04, 2006

Being of partial Native American blood and being taught by a Cherokee, I made that statement from that exact knowledge. It is a good way. A very successful way.

And very well said yourself Bill, and the thoughts of this believer as well.

rabidrobot

on Jan 04, 2006

From the Secretary of Education's explaination of Religious Freedom in US Public Schools: http://www.ed.gov/Speeches/08-1995/religion.html

Schools may not discriminate against private religious expression by students, but must instead give students the same right to engage in religious activity and discussion as they have to engage in other comparable activity. Generally, this means that students may pray in a nondisruptive manner during the school day when they are not engaged in school activities and instruction, subject to the same rules of order that apply to other student speech.

The original post gives the impression that religious expression is not tolerated in public schools. This is incorrect. You can't pray in class, just like you can't talk on the phone, or engage in chess club activities, etc. There are plenty of opportunities everyday for students alone or assembled to pray, chant, handle snakes, whatever.

The Secretary continues:

And the right of religious expression in school does not include the right to have a "captive audience" listen, or to compel other students to participate.

This is the real issue. Unfotunately, only conflict can arise when the only limitation on religious expression is the coercion of others into participating when at the same time a fundamental religious belief of many is that others must be converted, coerced or not.

The belief that "God (in particular the Potestant Chirstian God) is being removed from society, and this is responsible for society's ills" has been thoroughly debunked.

Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies, a study published in The Journal of Religion & Society, found a direct correlation of just the opposite. More religious developed democracies, such as the United States, have much higher incidence of what most would call immoral behavior--ranging from crime to drug abuse, pre-marital sex and divorce. More secular societies had corresponding lower incidences of socially detrimental behavior.

When only the population of the United States is studied, it is found that Evangelical Fundamentalists--those clamoring most vociferously against secularism--have the same frequency of immoral acts as the population as a whole. In some cases, such as domestic abuse and racial bias, Evangelicals are more likely to engage in this behavior than the population as a whole. This is discussed by Ronald J. Sider, himself an Evangelical minister, in his book, The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb202028.htm

White_Moth

on Jan 04, 2006

The cool thing about Christianity is that it's not a religion but about a man whose name is Jesus.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

Adamness

on Jan 04, 2006

First, it is no contradiction what I said. I was just using that as an example everyone can understand. I don't kill people, or steal. And I respect those around me. More than I can say for many so-called 'Christians.'

Second, I couldn't agree more rabitrobot.

And third, Christianity may not have been intended to be a religion, but it certainly is now. People nowadays seem to believe more in Christianity than Christ himself, if you know what I mean.

_02

on Jan 04, 2006

People nowadays seem to believe more in Christianity than Christ himself, if you know what I mean.

Unfortunately you are right about that. However not all "Christians" are like that, and to look at all Christians as the same is an easy way to not have to look at the truth behind the real Christianity. And once again, let us not confuse God with religion just because many do. They are two different things.

Lantec

on Jan 04, 2006

More religious developed democracies, such as the United States, have much higher incidence of what most would call immoral behavior--ranging from crime to drug abuse, pre-marital sex and divorce

This corresponds to what time frame. Currently and for the last 30+ years religion has been removed from political/public society in this Country. To say that this is a religious Democracy today is absurd. 50 years ago maybe....100 years ago yes....but today?? Not even close.

Evangelism, like anything else, has extremes. Frankly I don't give a TV minister/evangelist much chance of having his name in the book. For people who use religion as a "business" there's a special reward waiting for them. The other end/extreme would be someone for whom you have to ask "what the special hope that is within them comes from"

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