Re: Forced prayers?
Submitted by Cherub30 on February 07 2000 at 03:25:51
In reply to Re: Forced prayers? Submitted by Sheesh! on February 04 2000 at 17:48:14
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You said that not everyone believes in God. That is very true. But an overwhelming majority do. Public schools had prayer for nearly 200 years before the Supreme Court ruled that state-mandated class prayers were unconstitutional (Engle, 1962). The fact that prayer was practiced for nearly 200 years establishes it by precedent as a valid and beneficial practice in our schools. I stand by what I said in an earlier post. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with a moment of quiet reflection or prayer at the beginning of each school day. Forbidding prayer in schools, which a three-quarters majority of Americans favors, is wrong. Between 1960 (Prayer in schools outlawed in '62) and 1990 there was a steady decline in numerous areas. During this period divorce doubled, teenage pregnancy went up 200%, teen suicide increased 300%, child abuse reached an all-time high, violent crime went up 500% and abortion increased 1000%. These numbers tell me that prayer in schools did make a difference. The First Amendment does not separate God and government but actually encourages religion. It reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The first clause merely declares that the federal government cannot establish one religion for all the people. It says nothing about "separation of church and state." In fact, five of the 13 states that ratified it had their own state religions at the time. The second clause insists that the government should do nothing to discourage religion. But forbidding prayer in schools discourages religion. Sheesh, I will debate this issue with you for as long as you'd like. But I think I have made my views clear. And I understand yours. I respect your opinions. Take care. Cherub |