From: kadie@cs.uiuc.edu (Carl M. Kadie)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: HYPOCRISY of Prayer in Public Schools
Date: 9 Nov 92 22:44:46 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL

rpitts@emperor.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts) writes:

[...]
>However, as I've said before, I believe the movement wants to publically
>allow/recognized the IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER in our public institutions.
>To my understanding, the move is for a time or prayer/meditation and not
>a mandated teacher or offically or clergy led prayer.  Again, I think
>it would probably be better to have places for each faith to pray, so 
>that they could pray in groups if so desired. 
[...]

If the government is given the authority to recognize the "IMPORTANCE
OF PRAYER" by setting aside time for prayer, it would then also have
the authority to recognize the "STUPITY OF RELIGION" by setting aside
time for students to discuss this topic. This discussion would be
student led, it would not be led a teacher or official. Different
groups of students might think different things were stupid, if so
they form separate discussion groups.

I hope that I live in a nation where the government is not allowed to
opin on either the "IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER" or the "STUPITY OF
RELIGION". Such topics should be outside the government's authority.

- Carl

ANNOTATED REFERENCES

(All these documents are available on-line. Access information follows.)

=================
civil-liberty/church-and-state.aclu
=================
* Church and State -- ACLU Briefing Paper #3

Answers these questions:

Were people free to practice their religious beliefs in colonial times?
Does the phrase "separation of church and state" actually appear in
      the constitution?
Our nation was founded by religious individuals, and some
      manifestations of the religious aspects of our history and culture are
      inevitable. So what does separation mean exactly?
Is prayer in public schools constitutional if it is optional?
Can children pray in school at all?
Why can't schools be required by law to teach the biblical theory of
      the earth's origins-- "creationism"--in addition to teaching evolution?
If students can meet on school grounds in extra-curricular political
      or social groups, can't they also meet in religious groups?
Since religious day schools are educating the children of taxpayers,
      can't the government assist those schools?
Religious facilities sometimes house services like daycare and foster
      care for the general public. Is it constitutional for those programs
      to receive government funds?
Why does the ACLU oppose religious displays on public property during
      the Christmas season?
If the government cannot be involved with religion, does that mean the
      clergy cannot speak out on political issues?
Should the Catholic Church lose its tax exempt status because its
      officials are involved in lobbying against abortion and birth control?
Are members of religious "cults" also protected by the Establishment Clause?
Can individuals whose religious beliefs conflict with certain laws
      receive special consideration from government?

=================
=================

If you have gopher, you can browse the CAF archive with the command
   gopher gopher.eff.org

These document(s) are also available by anonymous ftp (the preferred
method) and by email. To get the file(s) via ftp, do an anonymous ftp
to ftp.eff.org (192.88.144.4), and get file(s):

  pub/academic/civil-liberty/church-and-state.aclu

To get the file(s) by email, send email to archive-server@eff.org.
Include the line(s) (be sure to include the space before the file
name):

send acad-freedom/civil-liberty church-and-state.aclu

-- 
Carl Kadie -- kadie@cs.uiuc.edu -- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc