From: utzoo!decvax!decwrl!sun!megatest!barnes
Newsgroups: net.religion
Title: Re: attempts to disguise school prayer
Article-I.D.: megatest.199
Posted: Mon May  9 15:33:56 1983
Received: Wed May 11 08:40:43 1983
References: ihlts.134

A few moments dedicated to optional prayer in school could get quite lively.
Imagine a class with 3 Moslems on prayer-rugs, 4 Catholics doing Hail-Marys,
5 Jews reciting Hebrew, 6 Hari Krishnas... you get the picture.  BUT, what
about *silent* prayer?  Well we can hardly discriminate against the many
religions that only pray aloud; if we have a prayer period for Christians,
we'd better cater to all faiths large enough to hire a lawyer.

Besides, where's the "optional" in public prayer?  A prayer period in public
school invites teachers or priciples so inclined to offer "a thought" for
prayer.  A breach in the wall separating Church & State is like a small hole
in a dike-- how long will it stay small?

  "Spiritual values must be taught to the child at home, since school
   prayer will not magically restore neglected home training.  Prayer
   is a private conversation between the individual and his God.  Can
   a prayer be so weak that one spoken with the family at breakfast
   does not last until class?"    Harold Klemp, ECK NEWS, Spring '83

Klemp in his article "School Prayer: the Hidden Danger" points out that the
phrase "under God" did not appear in the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954.
Our national Day of Prayer, which the President is required to announce
each year, was legislated as recently as 1952.  Even "In God We Trust" on
our coins did not appear until after the Civil War.  He states that the
authors of the constitution were not satisfied with mere religious toler-
ance, but wanted to assure true liberty.  The absolute separation of Church
and State is the key to that liberty.  I say, let's keep religious prefer-
ance OUT of the law books and all civic matters, including school.  Of
course, we can still be flexible in allowing parents to excuse their child-
ren from school on religious holidays, and even ex

and even to excuse them from taking life in Biology lab (if that is their
spriritual preferance).  And, as always, recess is an oportunity for the
devout child to find time to pray.