Prayer in School

Dear Pro, Hi. I hope you are doing well. Sorry if anything from here on seems offensive, I do not mean it to be. First of all, I do not think that supporters of public school prayer are 'racist, anti-Semitic lunatics', though they thoroughly misinterpret the beliefs and needs of children who do not share similar religious beliefs. Yes, I understand you are an atheist who supports school prayer, though this is NOT a position taken by most atheists and nonreligious people. I know quite a share of atheists, and none of them share your point of view. Furthermore, you went to a Catholic (private) school, where prayer is most certainly allowed. However, the basis of my point regards public school prayer, which has to do with a government institution that must comply with separation of church and state. Though you are OK with Christian prayer in public schools, many (including myself) are not. You are in an extreme minority of non-Christians who are OK with public Christian prayer, seemingly because you were raised in a Christian background and seem to be sympathetic with them. Furthermore, you state that all American children should be raised using Christian values. This is an extremely rude and ignorant point of view. Yes, most Americans are compliant with Christian values, but not all are. You do not have to be Christian or listen to Christian prayer to be a good person. Similarly, just because you do not participate in Christian prayer, you are not a 'savage', 'idiot', or 'troublemaker'. I, who do not participate in Christian prayer, am not a savage. My entire family, who do not participate in Christian prayer, are not savages. Albert Einstein, who was not Christian, was not a savage. How would Christians feel if Muslim, Jewish, or Satanist prayer was publicly uttered at school. This is exactly how almost all non-Christians (apparently excluding you) feel about public school prayer. It is offensive, no matter if we ignore it or not, when mature adults advocate religious beliefs to children of opposing religions, especially in places where adults are to be respected, such as in a public school. Yes, people should be able to pray together, but not in front of children of other faiths who are meant to feel like worthless trash. Yes, unfortunately, this is what I feel like. You need to understand that many people feel disrespected when their religious beliefs are thrown out of the window in a public institution in turn for those of a more popular faith. Though you may not, we do. As I stated above, Christians (and yourself) would not feel the same way about public school prayer if this prayer was Jewish, Muslim, Satanist, etc. Think about that. Think about a world where at school, teachers encourage and take part in worshiping Satan with children. You are the only one in the room who is not Satanist. Though they do not say so in front of you, the other children secretly taunt and disrespect you. Their prayer, encouraged by teachers, includes proverbs that state you will DIE AND FACE ETERNAL DAMNATION. This is EXACTLY what it feels like when I have to listen to Christian prayer right in front of my face and I am the only one not taking part. They might say that my religion is wrong and use that as an excuse to pray. That is not an excuse. Think about it. Sincerely, Con PS. I do not mean to offend you, I hope you do not take anything too personally. PS (again). I am not Satanist, I was just using that as an example. PS (for a third time). Yes, I have been in a situation in which a Christian teacher said that I, as a non-Christian, am going to Hell. :(