Liberal Atheists are at it again.

[Cow Poke]

Is attendance in public schools compulsory?

I was arrested in the early 80's because we were homeschooling our daughter. The charge was that I violated the "compulsory attendance law".

There was no such law. The Texas School Law Bulletin (the bible on school law in Texas) specified "compulsory education".

It was sheer bullying and intimidation by the state, and outright lying.

[seer]

I was arrested in the early 80's because we were homeschooling our daughter. The charge was that I violated the "compulsory attendance law".

There was no such law. The Texas School Law Bulletin (the bible on school law in Texas) specified "compulsory education".

It was sheer bullying and intimidation by the state, and outright lying.

Yes, they hate when your kids are not indoctrinated in the government schools!

[seer]

The prayers in school were always very generic. We never prayed to Jesus for example, or said anything that was "Christian" - like the lunch prayer I said earlier: "God is great, God is Good, now we thank you for our food" - even a muslim could say that one.

At the time I was not a Christian, I didn't even believe in God. I was an agnostic, but saying the prayers never bothered me a bit. And later when my mom was studying with the Jehovah's Witnesses and they convinced me not to say the pledge or the prayers, they still didn't bother me. In fact, I felt kinda smug sitting them out, thinking I was better than the idiots who said the pledge or the prayers. I sure didn't feel ostracized.

I pretty much only remember hearing the Lord's prayer. Which I don't think would offend any theist.

[JimL]

The prayers in school were always very generic. We never prayed to Jesus for example, or said anything that was "Christian" - like the lunch prayer I said earlier: "God is great, God is Good, now we thank you for our food" - even a muslim could say that one.

At the time I was not a Christian, I didn't even believe in God. I was an agnostic, but saying the prayers never bothered me a bit. And later when my mom was studying with the Jehovah's Witnesses and they convinced me not to say the pledge or the prayers, they still didn't bother me. In fact, I felt kinda smug sitting them out, thinking I was better than the idiots who said the pledge or the prayers. I sure didn't feel ostracized.

So do you think we should make it a law then that any teacher led praying in school need be generic in nature?

[JimL]

I pretty much only remember hearing the Lord's prayer. Which I don't think would offend any theist.

So you wouldn't mind if a similar muslim prayer were said in its place?

[Mountain Man]

I'm fairly certain that if it were Allah being prayed to in school rooms, or if it were muslim religious monuments being placed in public buildings, you'd all be changing your tune. Wouldn't you?

As long as the government wasn't making laws establishing Islam as a state religion or otherwise suppressing religious expression (for instance, by forbidding Christian monuments) then, no, I wouldn't change my tune.

[JimL]

Yes, they hate when your kids are not indoctrinated in the government schools!

But you want them to be indoctrinated seer, you want them to be taught to be christian, or at least to be religious.

[Mountain Man]

So do you think we should make it a law then that any teacher led praying in school need be generic in nature?

What part of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" don't you understand?

[Sparko]

So do you think we should make it a law then that any teacher led praying in school need be generic in nature?

er what?

Hey Jim, I thought you said you were in your 50's too? Don't YOU remember what prayer in school was like?

[seer]

So you wouldn't mind if a similar muslim prayer were said in its place?

No, I want a Christian/Jewish prayer since that is our common and historical religion from the Founding. And a common religion is good for social cohesion. If I was living in Iran I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer, or in India, a Hindu prayer.

[seer]

But you want them to be indoctrinated seer, you want them to be taught to be christian, or at least to be religious.

Well I'm not sure how hearing a prayer indoctrinates anyone.

[Mountain Man]

No, I want a Christian/Jewish prayer since that is our common and historical religion from the Founding. And a common religion is good for social cohesion. If I was living in Iran I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer, or in India, a Hindu prayer.

I suspect our Founding Fathers simply never anticipated a day when Christianity wouldn't be uncontroversially accepted as the religion of America, and if they could have peered into the future and witnessed the unthinkable that they might have written the Constitution slightly differently.

[Sparko]

I think they should just allow a moment of silent prayer in schools. Or a private area where students and teachers can go to pray if they want to, like a chapel at a hospital.

What do muslim kids do now in school, since they are supposed to pray 5 times a day on prayer rugs and face Mecca? The schools can't legally stop them, and if they allow it then they have to allow other forms of prayer too.

[Cow Poke]

So do you think we should make it a law then that any teacher led praying in school need be generic in nature?

Perhaps you should look at the first five words of the 1st amendment with regards to this matter, Jimmy.....

Congress shall make no law...

[Roy]

Nonsense Roy, attendance at school is not compulsory, one could home school. Second, so what if it is - are we afraid that a child may see or hear something that they disagree with? If we use that standard then a lot of stuff would be removed from the courses. Are the JWs being damaged in some way because they have to sit through the Pledge? Your whole argument is just stupid.

That's not my argument