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From: amigo2@ihuxq.UUCP (John Hobson)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: prayer in schools
Message-ID: <753@ihuxq.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 7-Mar-84 17:44:21 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxq.753
Posted: Wed Mar  7 17:44:21 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 8-Mar-84 08:55:57 EST
References: <1911@cbscc.UUCP> <7528@mgweed.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 29

Steve Collins says:
>>	It stated that this government was formed by Christian
>>	principles. The statement of separation between Church and
>>	State was to prevent the State from interfering with these
>>	principles. That schools should be allowed to have an oral
>>	prayer. Not one selected by the government , but by the
>>	people. Its time that this nation makes a Christian stand. 

Steve, this, believe it or not, is not a Christian country.  Nor
should it be.  There are a lot of non-Christian (and Christian)
people out there who cringe every time that someone makes a
statement like the one you are making here.  

Let me ask you something.  If this is supposedly a Christian
country, then who is to decide what form of Christianity this
country is to profess?  I certainly don't want it to be someone like
Jerry Falwell, and I don't suppose he would particularly like it if
it were to be the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (the same
people who recently put out a position paper condemning the nuclear
arms race)--and remember that, according to the last census, there
are more Catholics than Baptists in the US.

I cannot agree that it's time this country took a Christian stand. 
It's time this country stood up and declared once and for all that
official religious practices are not going to be foisted on the
unwilling public.
				John Hobson
				AT&T Bell Labs--Naperville, IL
				ihnp4!ihuxq!amigo2