Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site umcp-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!harpo!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!speaker From: speaker@umcp-cs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: prayer in schools Message-ID: <5821@umcp-cs.UUCP> Date: Fri, 9-Mar-84 14:40:11 EST Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.5821 Posted: Fri Mar 9 14:40:11 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 10-Mar-84 14:17:49 EST References: <1911@cbscc.UUCP> <7528@mgweed.UUCP>, <753@ihuxq.UUCP> Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept. Lines: 28 This is ridiculous! Next, the government will require 30 seconds of private meditation in libraries, at all public meetings and in all houses of worship. Since we're talking about the instruction and molding of our young people, it has become an important issue. Many people want certain values instilled in their childern. Others simply want their heavy-handed beliefs forced on everyone (but that's a different issue altogether). The purpose of the public schools is to prepare young people for participation in our (so called) civilised society. That's why we have math, reading, and science courses. Effective participation in a democratic societey DOES NOT require what might be viewed as a meeningless ritual. Should we instill a sense of spiritual values in them as well as these other day-to-day skills? Not through prayer, no. Prayer assumes that the (unwilling) participants WANT or NEED to communicate with an unnamed, undefined deity or deitys. It does not instill beliefs... this task has been left to the parents... which is where personal experiences, like prayer, should be left. -- Debbie does Daleks - Speaker