by KeithE » Sat May 14, 2011 8:47 am
Prayer was not banned in schools and how could it be. Just public prayer led by school authorities was banned due to the multiplicity of religious groups in the public classroom; it helps to curtail school authority figures (teachers, principals, coaches, ..) from promoting their version of God, religion, politics on their students. Private prayer (the kind Jesus advocated when He said "go to your closet...") cannot be legislated and I note that it didn't stop this author's son from praying under the table. As someone aptly said, 'as long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools'.
The authors' belief that banning public prayer in school led to Columbine (read his poem) is a misplaced, emotional appeal. "Simple prayer" was not banned and is not banned.
No the ban on public prayer led by school authorities, did not cause Columbine any more than the NRA did. My view is that violent videos games /movies, pressing materialism, and bullying have a lot more to do with violence in schools than either the NRA or the ban of public prayer. If you seek solutions via legislation I would recommend starting there. Revoking the school prayer ban placed on school authorities won't do squat except start a lot of lawsuits.
Now in face of all the issues the world faces, ensuring that no public prayer ever happens at a public school ranks low on my totem pole of concerns - no need to add prayer police. And if it occassionally happens, let it ride. But if a teacher is defiant, let him/her go.
Informed by Data.
Driven by the SPIRIT and JESUS’s Example.
Promoting the Kingdom of GOD on Earth.