Should there structured prayer time in school? {moved from prayer requests]

BrentJustice

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I don't see why its such a problem personally. Schools don't have to call it prayer time. They could set aside a short period for "quiet time" and then any religion can pray however they want to.

Though, I believe you don't really need a quiet time or moment to pray anyway, I believe you can pray all the time, I talk to Jesus on a daily basis, constantly praying to him in my head throughout the day, so it isn't really necessary in a school setting, cause you can pray in your head, no one can stop you from that. And if you want quiet time you can of course set aside time at your home to do it daily.

I still think there should be a quiet time in school though, a time to reflect, a time to relax, a time to catch up, a time to pray if you want. They don't have to call it prayer time, but it can be used for that if so chosen by the individual.
 
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grasping the after wind

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Hey there,

I'm new here and was wondering if you guys think that schools should offer structured prayer time to those who want it.

God Bless,

Jonah
:preach::preach::preach::preach::preach:
:liturgy::liturgy::liturgy::liturgy::liturgy::liturgy:
:amen::amen::amen::amen::amen::amen::amen::amen:
I personally dislike structured prayer. I believe prayer should be ad lib.
 
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Hey there,

I'm new here and was wondering if you guys think that schools should offer structured prayer time to those who want it.

God Bless,

Jonah
:preach::preach::preach::preach::preach:
:liturgy::liturgy::liturgy::liturgy::liturgy::liturgy:
:amen::amen::amen::amen::amen::amen::amen::amen:

For Public Schools - If students want to pray let them pray if they have free time to do so.
For Christian Schools - If they want to structure prayer then let them.
 
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Cute Tink

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Not in public schools. Then again, I don't know why, with the failing educational system in the US, that so many people want religious instruction in schools. Do you really think they would do even a decent job nation wide?

I think we need to reserve our school time for what needs to be covered. We already have enough trouble making worthwhile use of it as it is.
 
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OldWiseGuy

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Not in public schools. Then again, I don't know why, with the failing educational system in the US, that so many people want religious instruction in schools. Do you really think they would do even a decent job nation wide?

I think we need to reserve our school time for what needs to be covered. We already have enough trouble making worthwhile use of it as it is.

I agree. Praying that God would guide one through the day and protect one from the evil that will take place there can be done without a designated time period. Identifying one's self as a Christian in a school setting is asking for the swine to chew on you. Young Christians should be 'wise as serpents' in this regard.
 
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Mr Dave

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Without drifting too far from the OP, would you guys take issue if it has already existed as it does in some British State Schools (in practice it's only limited to CofE primary schools I think, despite the law obliging it in all. If you go to one of these, parents usually choose them in full knowledge that this is the case, although they may choose the school in spite of it)?
 
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TheReasoner

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We always had - and still have - the freedom to organize prayer groups if we so wanted. When we were in the missions field and attended a missionary school it was organized, but the non-religious students in school were of course allowed to be exempt. (Yes, the school offered lessons to children of other people, not just MKs)

All the way through my education I have had this freedom. I think it should be allowed, but not organized by the school beyond offering rooms in which the students can have it. In fact I would go so far as to say that it is important to let them have it due to religious freedom.

If the school is Christian, let them organize it! But I do not think it should ever be compulsory.
 
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Mr Dave

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Somehow I think religious minorities might take issue with this... hmm.....

You'd be surprised. In my experience, it was accepted as the way things happened (although this is where it had already existed and wasn't being implemented later on). I moved home whilst in primary years and although my main primary school was CofE, the other wasn't. We still said the Lord's Prayer every day and sang Christian Hymns every day. The Sikhs in the school joined in just as much as everyone else, and never complained.
I'll admit this is an isolated case and may not be representative, but I've found that the non-religious take more offence than other religions do.
 
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Kalevalatar

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Our school days start with a brief 5 to 10 minutes morning assembly, which can be, and often are, Christ-centered -- devotional, prayer & hymn -- although it can also be something more generic, such as an uplifting story accompanied by music. On Fridays, the local parish pastors traditionally visit schools in their area to lead these devotionals, thus the Friday morning assembly especially is and has always been markedly Christian.

Finland also excels in the best-of-the-world education, so clearly, the "structured" daily "prayer time" of 5-10 minutes at the start of school work is not away from the quality education time itself. One might even argue that it gives pupils an opportunity to "calm down," collect their thoughts and focus on the day's work ahead.
 
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Mr Dave

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Our school days start with a brief 5 to 10 minutes morning assembly, which can be, and often are, Christ-centered -- devotional, prayer & hymn -- although it can also be something more generic, such as an uplifting story accompanied by music. On Fridays, the local parish pastors traditionally visit schools in their area to lead these devotionals, thus the Friday morning assembly especially is and has always been markedly Christian.

Finland also excels in the best-of-the-world education, so clearly, the "structured" daily "prayer time" of 5-10 minutes at the start of school work is not away from the quality education time itself. One might even argue that it gives pupils an opportunity to "calm down," collect their thoughts and focus on the day's work ahead.

Sounds fairly similar to GB :thumbsup:
 
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Mr Dave

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That's completely speculative.

That was how it was in the state (public) school that I went to where there was a regular and structured Christian prayer time. Most complaints in Great Britain about the laws that govern these things come from non-religious groups (National Secular Society, British Humanist Association) than come from other religions, who if they do have any qualms, stay much quieter. Not speculative, just telling everyone of my experience in the matter (members of another religion happily joined in). I'm not saying that this attitude would be repeated elsewhere in other countries (the USA for example), but that this is how I have found it.
 
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William_0

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That was how it was in the state (public) school that I went to where there was a regular and structured Christian prayer time. Most complaints in Great Britain about the laws that govern these things come from non-religious groups (National Secular Society, British Humanist Association) than come from other religions, who if they do have any qualms, stay much quieter. Not speculative, just telling everyone of my experience in the matter (members of another religion happily joined in). I'm not saying that this attitude would be repeated elsewhere in other countries (the USA for example), but that this is how I have found it.

But why bring it up if it's only applicable to one isolated situation?
 
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Mr Dave

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But why bring it up if it's only applicable to one isolated situation?

To show that your suggestion that "religious minorities might take issue with [structured Christian prayer time]" was not necessarily the case. The example from my school was one case, but the fact that religious minorities (in Britain at least) don't take much issue with this is more widespread and not isolated. Any complaints that [British] people hear often come from non-religious groups and not from religious minorities.

Within the context of the whole thread, I thought people might be interested to hear of an occasion when a religious minority has not taken offence but has happily welcomed the time for prayer.
 
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