That's wonderful.

The thing people don't realize is how much the separation of church and state protects their religion. They like to keep their statements vague, "They should have prayer in school" "Things went to hell when the took God out of the classroom." and the like. You know the rhetoric.

But they never say WHICH. They want THEIR religion in schools. And that's a problem for everyone. Sure we're assuming the Christian God since this is the U.S. But still, which? Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, yada yada. These groups have conflicting beliefs just as as a whole Christians disagree with Muslims who disagree with Jews while everyone disagrees with Scientology. We can't try to work all these belief systems into our children's education nor should we. These things can be taught at home, in church, etc.

And children are free to practice their own religion as they see fit in schools. That's the truth. They just aren't allowed to force religion on all the children, it can't be government (school) sponsored. Why is this a problem? Why must there not only be prayer but why must all the children be forced to pray to your God?

Keeping government out of religion keeps religion safe. Rather than railing against it they should praise the wisdom of our founders, bunch of slave owning deists that they were.

The only problem with the article is that someone needs to let the good Rev. Linklater know that there's no such thing as atheist prayers...

The only problem with the article is that someone needs to let the good Rev. Linklater know that there's no such thing as atheist prayers...

Haha I saw that too!

An Atheist Prayer:

Dear no one,

Whatever.

I am opposed to religion being taught in public schools and group prayer in public schools. Whose religion would get taught? Are we going to be sure all teachers are well versed in all religions? I certainly don't want a non- Catholic teacher educating my child on our faith. If parents want their children to learn religion in school, send them to a private school. If they can't afford that, churches offer free religious educations on the weekends.

Children can pray in public schools - in their heads.

I think if the school is funded by a church then a certain amount of religious activity, other than education per se, is to be expected. In the UK a lot of schools only exist because of religious intervention in previous centuries, and that tradition has carried on.

In these days of the multi-cultural populace however, structured practice of religion in schools should be minimal and liberal giving pupils of other faiths the ability to pray to their own God, or abstain where there is no faith being observed - regardless of who paid for the buildings. Many schools take this route some, particularly private schools, are still rather backward in this approach.

Schools are there to inform, not promote any particular belief system.

For me personally, growing up in the 60's, religion was never a dominant activity even though the primary school I attended was Church of England funded. Ironically though the scout movement, an out of school past time, was extremely religious by comparison with regular church parades, prayer, duty to God and the Queen, etc. Presumably this has also changed now, but I remember really resenting that aspect of being a Cub Scout - I was there for the communal activity, not to worship the God that Baden-Powell happened to follow.

I am opposed to religion being taught in public schools and group prayer in public schools. Whose religion would get taught? Are we going to be sure all teachers are well versed in all religions? I certainly don't want a non- Catholic teacher educating my child on our faith. If parents want their children to learn religion in school, send them to a private school. If they can't afford that, churches offer free religious educations on the weekends.

Children can pray in public schools - in their heads.

Just for the sake of argument, as we discuss this are we limiting this to grades K - 12? How would you feel about a non-Catholic teaching religion, including Catholosism (sp!), to a college student (obviously the teacher would have the educational requirements to do so). Should colleges advise students that they can practice religion on thier own time but it cannnot be associated with the school (i.e. a religious fraternity) or is it okay in college but not in high school?

Just for the sake of argument, as we discuss this are we limiting this to grades K - 12? How would you feel about a non-Catholic teaching religion, including Catholosism (sp!), to a college student (obviously the teacher would have the educational requirements to do so).

I think it's okay for a college professor to teach ABOUT Catholicism if it's in a World Religions type course. I would assume a university teaching a class specifically on Catholicism would hire a Catholic. It also depends on what type of university it is.

Should colleges advise students that they can practice religion on thier own time but it cannnot be associated with the school (i.e. a religious fraternity) or is it okay in college but not in high school?

I don't see why students cannot form clubs or fraternities specific to religion or race.

IMHO, when they're under 18, no teacher ought to be involved in religious teaching unless they are selected by the parents. Once they're in college, they are free-thinking adults and ought to be treated as such. If a college professor wants to lead a prayer group, I think that's swell. If a teacher at a public high school wants to do the same, I don't think that's fine. It's not so much (in my mind) about who is "paying for the buildings", etc. but more about the student's ability to learn without being influenced.

If students want to conduct a prayer group on their own, or read their scriptures or whatever, they ought to be able to do so as long as it doesn't intyerfere with the regular running of the school day. Susie bowing her head before she eats bothers nobody, and she ought to be able to.

From my perspective, as a teacher,
I never have discussions about religion or politics with any student I am teaching who is under 18. However, now that I work with young adults, I feel more comfortable having those kinds of topics come up with them. At this age they are more capable of hearing an opinion without immediately adopting it. Younger students can sometimes idolize teachers so much that if their teacher said it, it's gospel! (pun-sort-of? LOL)

IMHO, when they're under 18, no teacher ought to be involved in religious teaching unless they are selected by the parents. Once they're in college, they are free-thinking adults and ought to be treated as such. If a college professor wants to lead a prayer group, I think that's swell. If a teacher at a public high school wants to do the same, I don't think that's fine. It's not so much (in my mind) about who is "paying for the buildings", etc. but more about the student's ability to learn without being influenced.

If students want to conduct a prayer group on their own, or read their scriptures or whatever, they ought to be able to do so as long as it doesn't intyerfere with the regular running of the school day. Susie bowing her head before she eats bothers nobody, and she ought to be able to.

From my perspective, as a teacher,
I never have discussions about religion or politics with any student I am teaching who is under 18. However, now that I work with young adults, I feel more comfortable having those kinds of topics come up with them. At this age they are more capable of hearing an opinion without immediately adopting it. Younger students can sometimes idolize teachers so much that if their teacher said it, it's gospel! (pun-sort-of? LOL)

I agree with all of this, and I like the pun! Because I work at a Catholic school, I have discussions on religion, politics, morality, social justice, etc with students all the time. We have non-Christian students at our school, and I learn from them as well. However, if I worked at a public school, there is no way I would have such discussions with students. As a parent, I do not want my son who is at a public school to have these discussions with his teachers, either.

Conversely, I taught at a Catholic high school myself. While we had discussions on those topics all the time as well, at no time would I push an opinion, doctrine, etc, that was contrary to Church teachings--(although I didn't speak out in favor of them either if I disagreed). Wasn't the appropriate time or place. To me public/private is a pretty easy distinction to make and it supports religious and non-religious believers alike.

Given religious history in America, it is no surprise that Catholics as a whole are pretty supportive of the separation of church and state. They have been on the butt end of religious discrimination more than a few times themselves.