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E
IT happened in Santa Rosa County Florida at Pace High School.
This really happened. It's on CNN.
"
Frank Lay, principal of Pace High School, and Athletic Director Robert Freeman are accused of violating a consent decree banning employees of Santa Rosa County schools from endorsing religion.
They face a non-jury trial September 17 before U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers. The statute under which they are charged carries a maximum penalty of up to six months in prison, subject to sentencing guidelines."
are we allowed to link to a cnn news article?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/17/Florida.school.prayer/
This really happened. It's on CNN.
"
Frank Lay, principal of Pace High School, and Athletic Director Robert Freeman are accused of violating a consent decree banning employees of Santa Rosa County schools from endorsing religion.
They face a non-jury trial September 17 before U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers. The statute under which they are charged carries a maximum penalty of up to six months in prison, subject to sentencing guidelines."
are we allowed to link to a cnn news article?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/17/Florida.school.prayer/
S
The EEOC just forced my College to provide health insurance that pays for contraceptives and abortion. Mind you, my College is a Catholic college and the Catholic Church is against abortion/contraceptives, which is why we didn't provide it in our health care, and now the Government has said "Um, yeah, too bad what your faith says, it's gonna be our way or the high way."
Welcome to the New American Way.
Welcome to the New American Way.
1
I think this is a little more complicated than, "Teacher put in jail for praying."
To me this is the issue.
Should a government paid teacher be allowed to lead a prayer with students in a public school setting?
If you answer yes, then you have to say yes in all situations.
What do I mean?
Well if that public school teacher is Hindu, Muslim, Wiccan, should they be allowed to lead students in a prayer in a public school setting?
As a Christian I say a resounding, "No way Jose!" I don't want some Hindu, Muslim or Wiccan to be leadin no kids in no prayer!
Should I make an exception to my rule as long as the person leading the prayer agrees with my beliefs, or should I be intellectually consistent in every situation?
In a free society, if a Christian teacher who's paid by our government is allowed to lead public school students in a prayer, it follows that any teacher of any faith can do the same. That's how freedom works. No matter how much you dislike it!
So in a free society, the best option is just for paid government employees to remain neutral when it comes to 'leading' any kind of religious activity in our public schools.
I think jail is a little harsh. But rules are rules. And if I want to prevent some Hindu or Muslim from leading students in prayer in our public schools, then I have to ask that folks who agree with me remain neutral too.
Should students be allowed to pray though? Of course! Why? Because they're doing it on their own and no government paid official is being paid to lead them.
Just my two cents.
To me this is the issue.
Should a government paid teacher be allowed to lead a prayer with students in a public school setting?
If you answer yes, then you have to say yes in all situations.
What do I mean?
Well if that public school teacher is Hindu, Muslim, Wiccan, should they be allowed to lead students in a prayer in a public school setting?
As a Christian I say a resounding, "No way Jose!" I don't want some Hindu, Muslim or Wiccan to be leadin no kids in no prayer!
Should I make an exception to my rule as long as the person leading the prayer agrees with my beliefs, or should I be intellectually consistent in every situation?
In a free society, if a Christian teacher who's paid by our government is allowed to lead public school students in a prayer, it follows that any teacher of any faith can do the same. That's how freedom works. No matter how much you dislike it!
So in a free society, the best option is just for paid government employees to remain neutral when it comes to 'leading' any kind of religious activity in our public schools.
I think jail is a little harsh. But rules are rules. And if I want to prevent some Hindu or Muslim from leading students in prayer in our public schools, then I have to ask that folks who agree with me remain neutral too.
Should students be allowed to pray though? Of course! Why? Because they're doing it on their own and no government paid official is being paid to lead them.
Just my two cents.
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So what's to stop a hindu, muslim, wiccan teacher from leading our kids in a prayer to their god/goddess in public schools? Simple. A rule requiring all paid government employees to remain neutral in regards to leading prayer in public schools. Yes it prevents teachers who agree with us from leading us in prayer, but it also protects us from pagan faiths from leading us in prayer against our wills in the public school settings.
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T
I think the US as a secular nation has got to take even a secualar stand on faith in God...
God IS mentioned both in the pledge of allegiance and on every single dollar we spend (its interesting to note how quickly credit cards took this out)...but the US as a nation has got to believe in GOD--perhaps not go into specifics about a Christian God, so leave wiggle room so that people have 'a choice' in this free nation...but I believe for the sake of decency, the US has got to take a stand and say that it does believe in GOD (and leave what exactly this means up to individual interpretation) or else completely take even the word God out of everything...
I also find it interesting the idea that is talked on and discussed in almost all colleges I believe...that for the US to endorse 'no religion' is for the US to adopt a religion of 'no religion'...meaning, in life no institution can stand unbiased on matters of faith--and to sit forever on the wall is to endorse an idealogy of wall sitting...or as the US takes to band all religion from school is to endorse a complete rejection of all religions from the education and learning of children in school which is pivotal to what they will see the world like...
So, what is the alternative? I have already stated it; the US needs to take an unbiased approach that supports God...and leaves it to the citizens to decide what or who that God is...and as much as atheists might loathe this idea...they see the truth of it in our contitution, in our laws, in the pledge of allegiance, everywhere in our government is a call to believe in God...and to leave open the idea of who that God is...
SO, I think prayers in school should be encouraged to the Creator God--and leave it open to interpretation who exactly that Creator is...and to be taught to bless also, but always in ways that leave interpretation as to who...
God bless
tony
God IS mentioned both in the pledge of allegiance and on every single dollar we spend (its interesting to note how quickly credit cards took this out)...but the US as a nation has got to believe in GOD--perhaps not go into specifics about a Christian God, so leave wiggle room so that people have 'a choice' in this free nation...but I believe for the sake of decency, the US has got to take a stand and say that it does believe in GOD (and leave what exactly this means up to individual interpretation) or else completely take even the word God out of everything...
I also find it interesting the idea that is talked on and discussed in almost all colleges I believe...that for the US to endorse 'no religion' is for the US to adopt a religion of 'no religion'...meaning, in life no institution can stand unbiased on matters of faith--and to sit forever on the wall is to endorse an idealogy of wall sitting...or as the US takes to band all religion from school is to endorse a complete rejection of all religions from the education and learning of children in school which is pivotal to what they will see the world like...
So, what is the alternative? I have already stated it; the US needs to take an unbiased approach that supports God...and leaves it to the citizens to decide what or who that God is...and as much as atheists might loathe this idea...they see the truth of it in our contitution, in our laws, in the pledge of allegiance, everywhere in our government is a call to believe in God...and to leave open the idea of who that God is...
SO, I think prayers in school should be encouraged to the Creator God--and leave it open to interpretation who exactly that Creator is...and to be taught to bless also, but always in ways that leave interpretation as to who...
God bless
tony
I think Christian Americans might have to realise that they can't uphold and be devoted 100% to both American patriotism and the Christian faith. Simply because the US is a secular nation and as far as I recall has never claimed to be anything but.
You have to check the motives of your hearts on this issue..would you be as concerned or outraged if this was two muslims arrested for praying?
You have to check the motives of your hearts on this issue..would you be as concerned or outraged if this was two muslims arrested for praying?
B
The US was not founded as a secular nation. History has been perverted to asist an agenda. Many settlers to the New World came for religious freedom and to flee persecution. I'm amazed that christians buy into the lies. I can understand my european brothers as US history isn't much of a concern to them.
We need to pray for the folks who are being charged. This will set precedence. We actually may see real persecution of the church in america (not just insults) in my lifetime. We need to pray for these people.
We need to pray for the folks who are being charged. This will set precedence. We actually may see real persecution of the church in america (not just insults) in my lifetime. We need to pray for these people.
No, that's silly! They'll never outlaw "Happy Birthday"............unless, of course, the word "God" is found somewhere in the lyrics. It's funny how Christians, in certain environments, are not allowed to share their beliefs with anyone else, but athiests, humanists,etc. are allowed to push their beliefs onto Christians and others that don't believe as they do. This country only tolerates those that comply with their atheistic belief systems. So much for 'tolerance'.
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