From: rpitts@emperor.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Prayer in Public Schools
Date: 12 Nov 92 15:00:58 GMT
Organization: CERL-EE, Georgia Institue of Technology

In article <1992Nov11.175406.23478@wolves.uucp> wolfe@wolves.uucp (G. Wolfe Woodbury) writes:
|In <74181@hydra.gatech.EDU> rpitts@emperor.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts) writes:
|>
|>No you quibble - I don't advocate goverment-run prayers in the sense that
|>others on the net seem to think.  I think government can and should allow
|>for a time of organized prayer - not mandated officals leading in prayer.
|>There is a difference.
|
|Organized prayer is an official recognition of religious activity.  This
|action implies that the government is "establishing religion" as a
|preferred activity -- and that is exactly what they are prohibited from
|doing in the Constitution of the USA.

Has the government established A religion or allowed for ALL religions.
I personally, if I had my druthers, would like all to come to Christ
and for us all to follow him.  We cannot institute this as a government
action - I realize this.  However, allowing for all to participate is
not the same thing.  It is not active recruitment.  If the school said
that the Christian faith or any other specific faith was the only 
one allowed to pray, then that's different, but that is not what is 
requested.

|It is a classic question of the "slippery slope."  Allowing ANY religion
|access to a governmental activity can lead to denying other religions
|the same or equal access to that activity.  The only way I can see to
|prevent granting a particular religion approval is to not allow any
|religion access or approval.
|
|Religious education is a matter for the parents to provide, not for the
|government to support.  They should do so at home, and not foist their
|lack of responsibility off on the public school systems.

Agreed.  Freedom of religion was one of the big foundational blocks.
Now it seems people want freedom FROM religion.  They don't want to 
have to explain to someone why these other people believe or act the
why they do - maybe it has some impact on this RIGHT to do what one
wants (i.e., people want to do what they want and don't want any reminder
that there is a God or for the sake of the argument there are people
who believe in God and that God has a set of guidelines for morality
and treatment of others.)  The law that we have keeps us to some
extent from hurting others too bad.  People keep finding ways to 
hurt others and new laws keep springing up.  Gods way is to love,
for love fulfills the law.  We aren't to liven on the edge of the
law and so slip over it occasionaly, but live above it.  The law doesn't 
make us love and have mercy - for these are unrestricted.  Do good to 
our fellow man.

|G. Wolfe Woodbury @ The Wolves Den, Durham NC	[This site is NOT affiliated  ]
|wolfe@wolves.durham.nc.us			[with Duke University! Idiots!]
|UUCP: ...!duke!wolves!wolfe      <Standard Disclaimers apply>
|    Above All, we celebrate!  --Celebrate the Circle, Statement of Purpose.

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Richard Pitts
-- 
rpitts@cerl.gatech.edu       |    
Atlanta, GA                --|-- 
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Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc