After decades of public schools moving toward secularization, prayer is making its way back into classrooms around the country. How do Americans feel about that?
The question is spurred on by states like Texas, which has passed a pair of controversial education laws that require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms and designate time for students to engage in prayer or religious reading.
For many Texans, these measures are a welcome return to traditional values. For others, they represent a troubling overstep that puts minority faiths and nonreligious students at risk.
But beyond the confines of the Lone Star state, fascinating new analysis shows how deeply Americans are divided on the issue of religion in public schools – and how much that divide depends on where you live.
Geographic Divide Over Prayer in Schools
Public opinion on school prayer is sharply divided, and those divides are increasingly shaped by geography.
According to findings from Pew Research Center, just over half of Americans (52%) support allowing Christian prayers led by teachers in public classrooms, while 46% oppose it. But support varies widely by state.
In Texas, support climbs to 61%. In Mississippi, it’s an overwhelming 81%. Alabama isn’t far behind at 75%.
But head west or north and the picture flips: in Oregon, 65% oppose the idea. Vermont and California also show majority opposition, with 64% and 56% respectively.
The data also shows that support for school prayer correlates strongly with religious affiliation, frequency of worship, and whether someone identifies as evangelical, mainline Protestant, Catholic, or unaffiliated.
Texans Fight Back
Although most Texans support the new laws, not everyone does – and opponents aren’t going down without a fight.
On June 25, a group of Dallas-area families and interfaith religious leaders filed a federal lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 10. The plaintiffs include Christians, Muslims, members of the Nation of Islam, and clergy representing various traditions. They argue the law violates the First Amendment by promoting a specific religious tradition in public schools.
“The government should govern; the Church should minister,” says the lawsuit. “Anything else is a threat to the soul of both our democracy and our faith.”
Rocío Fierro-Pérez, political director of Texas Freedom Network, also opposes the new law. In a fiery statement, he said:
“No child should be pressured to perform piety to feel safe or accepted in a public school classroom. No teacher should have to referee prayer. And no family should have to fear that their beliefs will be marginalized by the institutions meant to educate their children.”
But opponents are working against strong headwinds. For his part, Texas governor Greg Abbott has vowed to fend off legal challenges, writing that “if anyone sues, we’ll win that battle.”
The outcome of this case could have national implications. If the courts strike down the Texas law, it may slow or reverse similar efforts in other prayer-supporting states. If the law is upheld, it could embolden lawmakers elsewhere to follow suit.
What This All Means
In the South, public displays of faith are common. Prayers before school board meetings, Bible verses on billboards, and religious imagery in civic spaces have long been part of the cultural landscape.
By contrast, in many parts of the Northeast and West, where secularism and religious diversity are more prominent, religion tends to be seen as a private matter.
At its core, this debate is about more than the Ten Commandments and school prayer. It’s about who gets to shape the public moral landscape – and how public institutions reflect the values of a religiously diverse country.
This tension isn’t new, but it’s become more visible – and more politicized – in recent years. And as more states test the limits of religious expression in public schools, the courts will likely be asked again and again to weigh in.
How do you think public schools should approach faith in the classroom?
119 comments
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Clay Serenbetz
They cannot rightfully support prayer in public schools if they have any respect for the Constitution or any patriotic zeal for all that makes America Great, which includes the 1st Amendment guarantee of Freedom of Religion.
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Alexander Clarke
Freedom FROM religion is as important, if not more important than freedom OF religion. Everyone who wishes to should be free to practice their religion as long as it does not infringe upon others right to practice their religion or, I believe, more importantly infringe upon a persons right to NOT practice a religion. FFRF, the Freedom From Religion Foundation purports to be the largest atheists' organization and It well may be but to me, and I am a member, it is not about atheism but about freedom from religion. I consider myself a Christian but I don't go around trying to convert someone to my beliefs nor do I browbeat people who believe or practice differently than I do.
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Bryant C. Seymour
They are not forcing anyone to pray or except religion. They are not establishing a government religion nor are they saying you don't have the right to not participate. A little to much political correctness and SJW in these post on here. America was founded on Christian morals( which are sorely lacking) and the ten commandments.
Here is the major difference in people. If I don't like a movie I don't watch it, a singer the same thing. However there are way to many people that seem to think because they do not like it that you shouldn't be able to do it. Which makes that person nothing more than a narcissistic ,controlling, SJW, or a dictator wanna be. Which category are you in?
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Clay Serenbetz
In my opinion, America was founded on Freedoms, including freedom NOT to believe in Christian morals and the Constitution makes absolutely no reference to the 10 Commandments or any other outdated theological beliefs. The Founding Fathers had a range of religious beliefs (e.g. Deism) and they in no way intended the Nation to espouse a particular religious doctrine. Please stop with this misinformation that the U.S. is a "Christian" nation. It appears that you were apparently brainwashed into any association between the 10 Commandments from the Old Testament and our Constitution. Furthermore, we are not the People of Israel, so the covenant outlined in the Old Testament and applicable to the People of Israel has absolutely no binding effect to Americans in this age or under our Constitution. We have our own laws today, which reflect contemporary society and today's societal values. We do not need to rely on outdated 2000 year old texts which addressed cultural norms and medical abilities existent then. Again, we have our own laws relevant for contemporary societal issues. We also have modern medicine, which has revolutionized health practices far beyond what was known and practiced 2000 years ago.
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Michael Howard Schrader
Whose ten commandments? The Catholic or the Protestant? Whose Bible? The Catholic or the Protestant? Given that the Protestant faiths are offshoots of Catholicism, then the original, Catholic versions should be used. Kind of squirrelly, isn't it?
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Stuart ball
Well it’s about time it was brought back in to school college university libraries and every where else the Bible is a book that should be taught and read as soon as someone can read and write it’s foundational for education and a advantage for life in general it’s the blueprint for civilisation and to get to know god who created everything and being thankful to god because he loves you and as you read and learn some scripture my sound different but that’s because it was more than 6 thousand years ago since the beginning and when you learn and find out about what happened from the start genesis to revelation your be in awe may Jesus in the name of the father and the Holy Spirit make this happen all over the world hallelujah and Jesus came first as the word and second as a man of flesh who was persecuted for his beliefs and was crucified for his transgressions in which he did nothing wrong he was the messiah god in living flesh and spirit god was her in the beginning and he sent his only son to be crucified and to take on the world’s sins it was unbearable what he had to endure but he also built a new covenant and the disciples and apostles to go out and spread the gospel and baptising in his name to all nations gentile or Jew or any other religion love your neighbour and love your enemies and pray for those who do you wrong
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Stuart ball
Well it’s about time it was brought back in to school college university libraries and every where else the Bible is a book that should be taught and read as soon as someone can read and write it’s foundational for education and a advantage for life in general it’s the blueprint for civilisation and to get to know god who created everything and being thankful to god because he loves you and as you read and learn some scripture my sound different but that’s because it was more than 6 thousand years ago since the beginning and when you learn and find out about what happened from the start genesis to revelation your be in awe may Jesus in the name of the father and the Holy Spirit make this happen all over the world hallelujah and Jesus came first as the word and second as a man of flesh who was persecuted for his beliefs and was crucified for his transgressions in which he did nothing wrong he was the messiah god in living flesh and spirit god was her in the beginning and he sent his only son to be crucified and to take on the world’s sins it was unbearable what he had to endure but he also built a new covenant and the disciples and apostles to go out and spread the gospel and baptising in his name to all nations gentile or Jew or any other religion love your neighbour and love your enemies and pray for those who do you wrong
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Scott Smith
Didn't the Founding Fathers and many of the original immigrants come to the New World for religious freedom?
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Bryant C. Seymour
The establishment clause prohibits the government from establishing a state religion. Simply put the government cannot tell you , you have to be Jewish, Catholic, or Muslim. It is very simply worded . This bs of interpreting the Constitution is ridiculous. It says exactly what it means. As does Blacks law dictionary which every judge and lawyer is supposed to use and go by.
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Echo
Prayer can stay out of public schools.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Echo — it’s impossible to keep prayers out of anywhere — and, anywhere includes public schools. Kids, whose parents want them to pray, in order to help them win a multimillion dollar lottery— can begin praying upon entry to their schools, and cease praying as soon as they leave — and as football coaches tell their team, “prayers work best, when your players are big.” However, organized prayers, led by a teacher, should be categorized as child abuse, because praying instead of studying, is just another of the bad habits one can catch by attending school.
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Keith Ramsey
Yes, but it should be lead by a teacher or other employee of the school.
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Echo
I do happen to wonder how an atheist and member of Freedom From Religion can take the stance you are William. But proof is better than debating.
https://ffrf.org/news/releases/atheist-former-boy-scouts-say-shame-on-bsa/
Hopefully that clears up hypocrisy.
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Katelynne Shouse
N O P E!!!
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Robert Hauck, MD, FAAP
If I taught in Texas and was compelled to display the ten commandments in my classroom, I would unhesitatingly also display the creeds of other major religions and non-religion. That would certainly be the end of my teaching career in Texas!
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James Riggle-Johnson
But it would open a great lawsuit for you to get your job back.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
As a chemistry and physics teacher it is quite easy to work ‘the scientific method’ into almost any, or all, lessons. And I did so quite frequently. It would be exceedingly easy to word those portions of a lecture such that it seemed that the comments were directed at the stupidity of religion, or almost directly stated as such. And the thing is with my degree and my experience I could get another job without even waiting for the next school year as long as I’m willing to move. Simply move to another state that isn’t predominantly populated by willfully, ignorant, poorly educated, religiously, indoctrinated, homophobic, racist, conservatives. Teach their while the lawsuit rages on in the previous State. When that lawsuit is finalized, regardless of outcome, quit my current position and move to another redneck State. Rinse and repeat.
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Bryant C. Seymour
Why are you even here? Since you do not believe in God or religion ? What is your reason.
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Dori Mondon
If I were forced to do that I would just put it up in a corner where no one actually looks and direct all classroom activity in the opposite direction. Parents can teach their children how to behave at home. My job is to teach them history (or whatever).
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Reverend Paula Copp
It’s Texas… nothing else needs to be said.
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Keith Ramsey
Very true. Texas is considered "Bible belt"... they want to force their religious beliefs on everyone.
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Keith David Harry
It is my responsibility to educate my children on the topic of religion. It is the school’s responsibility to teach them to read, write, calculate and think in a cogent and critical manner. And I’m from Texas, so stuff it Paula.
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Keith Ramsey
Paula isn't wrong. I grew up in Texas, and they have a long history of forcing religious beliefs on everyone. If you are old enough, you remember the BLUE LAWS... that said stores had to close one day a week. Or how you can't buy hard alcohol on Sundays.
I remember, we moved when I was about 11 years old, and the new community refused to accept us, because we were new to the town. Most shops closed up by 8pm on weekdays and 5pm on Sundays.
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Keith David Harry
Comment removed by user.
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James Riggle-Johnson
What happened to teaching kids that prayer is personal—something you do when you wake up, before bed, or in moments of quiet reflection? Do we really want public school teachers, who aren’t trained in theology and come from a wide mix of beliefs (or none), leading our kids in prayer?
I started school in the mid-60s, and I don’t remember being led in prayer. We said the Pledge of Allegiance—yes, with “One Nation Under God”—but that wasn’t a prayer, and no one mistook it for one. If prayer becomes part of the school day again, what pressure will fall on students who don’t want to participate? Will they feel they have to fake it just to avoid being singled out, bullied, or judged?
This feels like yet another attempt by certain state governments to push Christianity into public education under the guise of “freedom.” But true religious freedom includes the right not to practice any religion at all. The First Amendment wasn’t designed to privilege one faith—it was written to prevent exactly this kind of government endorsement of religion.
This is a calculated political move. The map in the article makes that crystal clear. The push for prayer in schools isn’t coming from a place of faith; it’s coming from lawmakers in conservative states looking to score points by inserting religion—specifically Christianity—into public education. It’s not about honoring God broadly. It’s about enforcing one narrow version of Him.
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Daniel Todd Kamm
Another mess, and everyone assumes it applies only to those of christian faiths... I believe that the christians' messiah very directly discouraged public worship and encouraged followers to keep to faith and expressions of devotion at home and privately... the public realm is not the place unless we want to go back to egyptian pharaohs, or sacrificing animals on the temple mount as some crazy people want to do.
Thankfully there are other people... lots of other people... a panacea of hopes, fears and faiths... I love that DIVERSITY, I respect that all faiths are EQUAL, and I welcome engagement with others, to INCLUDE them personally, and to be INCLUDED by them.
Anything else is falsehoods and agendas.
The kids are better off with Dr. Seuss on the walls of their classrooms... not NAZI propaganda disguised as religious guidance...
A blessed and positive Shabbos to Ya'll!
Reb tk
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Robert Gagnon
Just call it a few moments of silent reflection or personal quiet time that each student may use without a digital devise. calling it prayer time is encroaching on individuals rights. Does this mean that Muslim students can bust out the prayer rug and chant to Allah? Everybody prays differently right?
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Alexander Clarke
All religious activity of any kind should not be allowed in schools! The idea of "silent reflection or personal quiet time" is excellent! More damage has been done to children in the name of religion than anything else.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Sure, do that. Then I propose the mediation of whistling. My religion abhors silence during ‘meditation’. I must whistle. And there is no one tune to whistle. So there are two rules. You must whistle and nobody can whistle the same tune.
This ‘moment of silence’ is the inch that gave the religiously delusional ‘the mile’ to get to this point.
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Michael Howard Schrader
I am in trouble then, because I don't know how to whistle.
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John W
I am not a fan of secular prayer in the classroom as being made to be mandatory for students. We are a nation of many religions and beliefs some of which are accepted and others are shunned. I speak tongue in cheek when I state the oft said saying that "so long as teachers/instructors give tests and quizzes, there will always be some form of prayer in the classrooms". As to whom or what the students are praying to is a private matter between them and whom or what they choose to believe in. Now, as was the case when I attended primary schools a moment of silence was observed and that is acceptable as it is nonsecular in its very design that allows students to briefly pray if they so desire.
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David Dorrycott
I went through this in the 50's-60's, a worse ten minutes every day never happened (except, well, Quiz's.) Some yanked up dude from the local two bit church 'led a prayer' over the intercom then everyone had to spend a 'moment of silence' praying. We had one girl in forth grade who was led out of class and never returned because she started glorifying Satan in that 'moment of silence.'.
When I walked out of the Southern Baptist Church I never looked back, I've been ULC ordained since '89 and Temple of Dude since '24. Can you imagine the massive mess if EVERY Religion was allowed their own 'Ten Minute Prayer?' We'd never have time for classes.
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Colleen McAllister
When I was in Elementary School we began each day with a 1 or 2 sentence prayer. We had different faiths, even Buddhist. None of the parents objected. None of the children seemed uncomfortable. I have no objection. The prayer was always to the almighty God. No mention of Jesus, Mohamed, or any specific deity. Muslims pull out the rug at specific times so at the start of the class day should be no problem.
People need to stop being so sensitive.
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Barbara Harris
Colleen, most of the time I really like your comments. They are thought provoking from a Christian standpoint without being overbearing.
Unfortunately, any prayer that mentions "almighty God" is an infringement on those who don't recognize an "almighty God". Buddhism is a spiritual way of living and they do not worship one god. Buddha was a person, that through enlightenment, ascended.
I am a Pagan, and although I may honor a Goddess, I don't necessarily worship her, rather I honor the path that is associated with her and attempt to follow that path. Nature is more of what I feel the most attuned to.
Right now, with the general mood in this country I have had to retreat from sharing my religious affiliations due to being threatened and harassed. I live in a very progressive state, but unfortunately I reside in a small segment of that state that supports the current regime with a vengeance. So, to have a prayer session in schools in my area, would be uncomfortable, to say the least, for those who aren't "Christian".
Thank you though, for your insights and thoughts.
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Bryant C. Seymour
Now there's the rub, you're saying you're being threatened for not being Christian , but you haven't mentioned those have been threatened for not being Muslim? Or those that are being assaulted for being Jewish This is where we can point out the zealot behavior of any religion. Now I do not approve of any Christian attacking anyone for their choice in religion, that goes against being a believer . My question is why are you on this sight?
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Michael Hunt
The almighty God is the specific deity you were praying to. Jesus and Mohammed were Abrahamic prophets of God, not deities themselves.
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ServantOfJudgement
Michael,
According to the Quran Jesus is a prophet. According to the Bible he's equates to God.
The two documents, the Bible and the Quran are in full opposition of one another where both say the other isn't valid.
That mathematic exercise is reduced to this: The God of the Bible and the god of the Quran are not the same entity.
One or both are wrong but both aren't right.
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Keith Graham Ainsworth
Muslims don't regard the bible as opposition to the Quran, they say it is an earlier chapter of the great book, the umm al kitab. and the god of the bible is the same entity as in the Quran, the god of Abraham. I lived in the middle east and took time to learn about it
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Michael Hunt
Thank you for the correction. You are correct that Christians view Jesus as God, not just as the Son of God and a prophet as I was thinking. I apologize for that mistake.
While the Bible and Quran do view the other book as false, they are both written about the same entity: the Abrahamic God/Allah/Déu/Duw/Dio/etc. Because they use different stories about this deity to compile their religious text, they do at times have differences in the depiction of the deity, but they are still referring the same one.
https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/is-the-quranic-god-the-same-god-as-the-biblical-god/
They could both be right about some things and wrong about others, or just simply be wrong all together, while still talking about the same deity.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
You should not be praying to any God in a public school. Separation from church and state. Parents are forced to send their children to school. They can get out of that if they can afford a private school, but otherwise they are forced to send their children to school. There are parents that do not want their children exposed to this male, bovine fecal matter called religion. there should be a separation between church and State. Fairytale shouldn’t be taught as fact.
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Keith Graham Ainsworth
I found that teaching in Muslim countries didn't create any problems, the days were scheduled around prayer times. The schools I taught in had mosques, and breaks coincided with prayer times. I don't like religion in schools, the subject of any religious beliefs should be taught as comprehensive philosophies and should include facets from all religions about the peaceful functioning of society. For example, the ten commandments were written by Moses to ensure that the control of his society could be displayed in classrooms without the religious language or attribution
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JT Sunrise
Rev. JTSUNRISE | Celestial Nexus Church (comment on: “Do Americans Support Prayer in School?”)
The question of “prayer in public education” is often presented as a matter of religious freedom—but beneath it lies a conflation: the entanglement of civic identity with theological authority.
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- The Misuse of Prayer as Civic Performance
Prayer—biblically understood—is not ritual compliance, but radical communion. The prophets did not seek governmental approval for lamentation. Jesus prayed alone in the wilderness, not under fluorescent lighting with an attendance sheet.
“When you pray, go into your inner room, shut the door and pray to your Father who is unseen…” (Matthew 6:6)
When prayer becomes performative or state-mandated, it ceases to be sacred and becomes sacrilege. It is no longer directed toward God, but toward the gaze of public consensus. We risk turning our sanctuaries into stages and our students into actors in a pageant of false piety.
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- Pluralism and the Problem of Hegemony
If a Christian-led prayer is normalized in a classroom, what happens when a Wiccan invokes the Goddess? When a Sikh offers a gurbani? When a child of no faith declines to participate?
Will we call all these expressions sacred, or will we mask exclusion under the guise of “tradition”? True religious liberty demands that no single creed is given preference in spaces of public formation. Otherwise, “freedom of religion” becomes its inverse: freedom from all others except the dominant one.
“God is no respecter of persons…” (Acts 10:34)
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- The False Equivalence of Nationalism and Theism
In many arguments for school prayer, there is an implicit fusion of American civic values with Christian doctrine. But the God of the prophets is not a nationalist. The Sermon on the Mount is not a founding document of empire.
“My kingdom is not of this world…” (John 18:36)
To align divine worship with state infrastructure is to regress into a Constantinian theology—one that Christ himself refused. School-led prayer is not a return to God but a reenactment of empire in theological costume.
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- Educational Space as Sacred Ground Without Coercion
There is no opposition between spirituality and education—but the former must not be imposed by the latter. If we seek ethical formation in our schools, let it be through moral reasoning, compassion, justice, and awe. Let voluntary moments of silence invite reflection, not conformity.
The classroom can be a sacred space precisely because it makes room for mystery—not because it legislates orthodoxy.
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- Concluding Invocation
If prayer is to re-enter our schools, let it come not by mandate but by mystery. Let it be student-led, inclusive, and untethered from political utility. Let it weep with the marginalized and stand against systemic deceit. Let it resemble the Christ who prayed in gardens, not courtrooms.
Anything less is idolatry.
— Rev. JTSUNRISE
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Rev Ned
Christofascist followers of the AntiChrist, yes, djt meets all the Biblical rules for the AntiChrist, are wanting us to be ruled by them, kinda like the Taliban with SLIGHTLY different rules. There’s a meme out there that lists all the Bible verses concerning the AntiChrist. djt satisfies all of them. His followers wear his sign on their foreheads, MAGA red hats. The more evil he does, kicking millions off of health care, the more his minions love him. Mandatory prayer in public schools to any of the thousands of “gods” is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!
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Christine Janet Tweddle
Those who are demanding Christian prayer in public are the same who threw tantrums when Muslims asked to say their prayers in private.
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Roy S. Thorpe
We had prayer in school when I was a kid. I have noticed no ill effects at all! When young minds are taught a vast amount of knowledge they can have many life choices! That's why God gave us free will!
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Ari Joseph Bertine
I mean...these people were kids around the same time or just a few years before I was, had prayer in schools, and are the ones now trying to eradicate religious freedom, so I'm definitely seeing ill effects.
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Carly Danyel Cramblit
Prayers belong in the closet where they were instructed to pray not in public for display and not in schools for indoctrination.
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Dori Mondon
This is not "freedom." People are free to pray in classrooms if they feel the personal need to do so quietly and on their own time, but I nor my children should be forced to or even feel compelled to participate if they don't want to.
I mean the thing is, they're still leaving us an out on this. These people love charter schools, so I think we're going to actually see a lot of people take advantage of that and start forming their own where kids aren't forced to have to deal with this crap.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Everyone's prayers, or no one's.
That aside, I find it ironic that these particular Christians are not satisfied with silent, personal prayers having been allowed in schools all this time, when the Bible specifically discourages loud public displays of prayer. These people are rejecting the Bible's rules in favor of their own vanity.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
Nothing prevents SILENT prayer anywhere. I guarantee many SILENT prayers are going on during test days, on the playground, in the bathrooms, cafeterias, hallways, in classrooms, etc. The key word is SILENT. Other than that, prayers do not belong in our public schools. Send your kids to religious schools or home school them if you want them to pray in school.
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Jon E Dare
I do not support prayer or the 10 Commandments in public schools. Freedom of, for, and from Religion is important. We must keep religion out of schools to protect the rights of other religions not represented.
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Stacey Owens
If any man does God's will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether its mandated by the system of men. It shoudn't be done openly. Prayer should be in secret; because its personal.
Did Jesus pray because the rulers said so? Or did he pray because he knew the Father personally? As it has been written, "do not your alms before men to be seen of them." Because God knows what you need before you ask Him. This is why we pray in Christ Jesus name; Its personal.
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Minister-Brian Tuck
I feel they should allow prayer back in school. If that what they believe in then let them have it. It could be the very thing that keep them out of trouble.I know when I was in school we had pray and it seem to go smoothly everyday.
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Keith Ramsey
Prayer is allowed in school, and has been.
What shouldn't be allowed is for an employee of the school leading that prayer. The argument that prayer will keep them out of trouble is just smoke and mirrors. -
Rev. Mike Eggleston
Fair enough, if they're permitted to pray to whatever god they wish to pray too. Hail Odin! Hail Zeus! Hail Jove! ...
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Yanel Jay Laroche Jr.
The Holy Bible says in a verse that we are supposed to love LORD God with our whole heart and soul. If we truly love LORD God, we must generally pray to him daily because God is love.
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Lionheart
God is love? Is he the one that is supposed to have drowned nearly everyone on earth apart from that drunkard and his family? Sounds like a genocidal maniac to me. 🤷
🦁❤️
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John P Maher
AMEN AGAIN TO " LIONHEART "
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David Cox
A man of no understanding about how God works has spoken. He thinks he knows more than God.
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Lionheart
Well, of course I know more than mythological man made constructs that obviously don’t exist. I bet even you know more than fairies, elves, gnomes, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy….right? Unless of course you think these are real as well. Some people actually do so you wouldn’t be in your own.
Thank you for replying.
🦁❤️
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James Trenton Smith
The flood actually saved humanity from the Fallen Angels and their offspring the Nephilim (we call them Giants in the King James). They set themselves before man as Gods and required all to serve them. They took wives of all they wanted. They required the sacrifice of our children and feasted on the blood of babies. Bahl and Molek et.al. They attempted to corrupt the entire bloodline of man so that there would be no Messiah. The world was saved by flood...and it is because of the flood that we yet exist. All things work to the good brother....
Genesis 6:1-5 2 Peter 2:4 Jude 6:7 there is more brother...
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Lionheart
I somehow knew my comment would find a few apologists for their god. 🤭
It’s quite clear that your omniscient god didn’t actually know everything after all like it is claimed. He made a big boo boo with not knowing what was going to happen, so he was left with no choice but to drown everyone. That would have included babies, infants, toddlers, children, and pregnant mothers. I personally don’t rate his back-up Plan B if things didn’t go as he wanted it to go. His plan B hasn’t had a lot of success either, has it over the millennia of time? Not to worry, he possibly has a Plan C in the works from what I’ve read in that book, and possibly a Plan D if his plan C doesn’t work out. I’m actually beginning to think he’s possibly a Democrat. Their plans don’t work out very well either, if California, and other sanctuary states are anything to go by. 🤭
Thank you for trying to save your god by attempting to explain his poor judgement. He’s been around for a while so it could be dementia setting in. It happens to a lot of people. Take a look at Biden, bless his heart. I’m sure he meant well. I wonder if god had someone working his auto pen trying to skirt the process to get things done their way. 🤔
🦁❤️
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Bryant C. Seymour
You are the proverbial Pharisee and hypocrite. You are on a page that is supposed to be a Christian page and you talk like a typical Atheist. Extremely pathetic.
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Lionheart
I have possibly missed the clause indicating that the monastery.org was purely Christian. If your claim is true, isn’t it weird how the monastery.org occasionally post blogs on other faiths, including Wicca?
Please don’t forget the guidelines here to be respectful and constructive, with no derogatory comments. Many Christians here forget those guidelines.🤗
I personally see myself as a secular humanist, but thank you for responding to my post, Sir Bryant.
🦁❤️
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Timothy C Stone
Answer to the question, NO. "... But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 All I want to say on this topic.
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Lionheart
Thank you for adding some humor to this thread. It’s amazing what some people believe to be true, isn’t it?
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John P Maher
OH DADDY DEAR DADDY, SOME HUMOR W/ A DASH of IRONY and PIOSON TONGUE MAKES A GOODNIGHT PRAYER
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Kiltedbiker
Prayers belong everywhere.
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Gary Michael Steele
Keep prayer in religious institutions. If parents want to force their kids to pray, lock them in church with their priests. Or send them to religious schools.
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Cameron Lewis
No prayer period in public schools, public venues or events. The forcing of "a faith " on students or public is morally wrong as well against our founding principals. Remember one nation under "gawd" was forced into the pledge of allegiance by a wealthy bribing industrialist, not our constitution.
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Donald G Magel
The Christian right talk about righteousness and following Christ but thye gave us a user of prostitutes, a 34 charge convicted felon and a man who takes food and health care from needy families. This is the new face of the United States christian right. WWJD?
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Garry Allan Soderlund
I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state. This is another step towards theocracy based on one type of religion, this breeds extremists and divides us and goes against everything that makes our country great.
Our country was founded on freedom of religion, so people could practice their faith without persecution, this also means freedom from religion for those people who don’t believe in a god.
Religious morality causes the majority of strife between us as a people; abortion, the anti-LBGTQ sentiment and scientific research to name a few examples. As a country we have stagnated and it will be our undoing.
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Timothy C Stone
"...Texas, which has passed a pair of controversial education laws that require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms and designate time for students to engage in prayer or religious reading." Does this mean Muslim students can have time to read the Koran and a space to do their daily prayers? Will Jewish students be able to pray and read the Torah? Will Hindus be able to read and contemplate the lessons in the Bhagavad Gita? etc etc etc PRAYER BELONGS IN YOU PLACE OF WORSHIP AND HOME
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Steven Ferrell
If schools can have drag queens in the schools with their evil, or push LBGXYZ crap in schools, then they should also be allowed to have prayer in the school.
Both should be optional and parents have the right to opt their children out of both.
It’s amazing the amount of people who are comfortable with sin being taught in schools, but don’t want any prayer, God or Bible or good in schools.-
Keith Ramsey
Who says sin is being taught in school?
Prayer is allowed in school, but the school doesn't lead it. No one is stopping the children from saying a prayer before class, or between classes, or before lunch.
No "LBGXYZ crap" is not being pushed in school. That is a lie being told to you, to make you favor them forcing religion back into school.Your argument here is based on your own beliefs, that what you don't agree with, and that you assume is happening, is evil or some sort of sin.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Never once heard of a drag queen reading hour taking place on any school grounds whatsoever, those are done in bookstores. Never once heard of LGBTQ+ anything being pushed in schools, only struggling to not be banned when its necessary to address (like just mentioning someone's same-sex parents). Whoever has been telling you this stuff has been lying to you, or is passing along a lie someone else told them.
Politicians make up false enemies so they can pretend to fight someone to look like they're useful. Biggest scam in government for decades, probably centuries. Citizens just want to live in peace; politicians want people to be upset. If you hear about something like this that makes no sense in that it only would make everyone involved miserable, look to the politicians for the lie.
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obere mchugh
Christian prayer time has no place in school, as it should remain in the church or at home, either being led by a christian priest or the parents of children as this is a nation of many religions/spiritualities and has no place for public displays of religion in a modern secular world. plain and simple, as some one who has never been raised nor ever been christian, i would oppose ever doing so within a school as i am a Witch, polytheist and live accordingly to ancient pre-christian ideals and beliefs and practices. school is not for prayer, if there must be and the will of the people have spoken for it, then it must be something very vauge and something that is broad and incompassing of many worded carefully to speak to all. i wonder does this mean that they will not argue when muslim's in there classes need to pray 5 times a day to there divine being? what of the Jew's, buddists atheist ? who know's leave it to texas and there backwards thinking and indoctrination and brainwashing.
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Lion on the Beach
Would much prefer a silent prayer time in schools than a billboard promoting abortion.
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Christina Dunn
No we shouldn't have open prayer in public schools but the pledge of allegiance needs to be put back because no matter what we are one nation under God and always have been, our constitution was built to support it and if there are immigrants in these schools and if they are trying to become a united states citizen they should be learning it as well because no matter what God people worship it's still the same god but called something else in different languages and if people want to become a citizen they should be learning it because that's what it is to be an American and have the rights in our constitution and I'm not arguing with anyone but as an American born citizen I have a right to freedom of religion and freedom of speech and if people don't like it then oh well, I was raised by a marine and I stand on the constitution and fight for my rights as a citizen of our great nation, like it says one nation under God and that's where I stand
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James Edward Couch
There in lies the problem with the world today. Prayer should be put back in the schools no matter what. Jesus said you deny me in front of others I will deny you infront of my Father. God Bless you all and have a safe 4th of July
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Frederick Goslin
Personally, I believe we can all agree this nation profoundly needs to return to the Lord. As ministers, that's central to our calling. However, when it comes to prayer in the classroom, I'm convinced it needs to remain an individual, personal choice. Mandating it for everyone doesn't foster genuine faith; instead, it tends to inflame an already controversial issue, potentially hindering the very spiritual openness we hope to cultivate. Let's focus on encouraging personal devotion rather than legislating it."
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Michael Howard Schrader
I am a humanist minister, so I don't agree about returning to the Lord, because there is no such thing.
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Frederick Goslin
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I'm not really sure what a humanist is but I do understand that here in this country and in the sight of my supreme being, God, everyone has the right and privilege to decide for themselves and not have outside influences decide for them.
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Drake Wolf
I would ask you which lord? There is over 4000 recognized religions around the world, so why force children into one? That is what this nation was built on, freedom of religion....which means any religion as long as you are not violating someone else's rights. Contrary to what so many believe the founding fathers were not all Christians. Good majority of them were atheist or diest.
So sure, bring prayer into school....but all prayers should be allowed then
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Walter J. Holbrook
I think it would be good. But should not be mandatory or infringe on others
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Jack Anthony Wilson
While I don’t 100% support mandatory prayer in schools, I see no problem with displaying the Ten Commandments. It’s a list of morals that need to be acknowledged. Especially, thou shall not kill, honor your parents, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie and don’t covet what is not yours. Perhaps, with such moral guidance, we will revert back to a time with less crime, respect towards others and no more school shootings. Call me naive if you wish but things need to change and doing something rather than doing nothing is at least giving our morally bankrupt society a chance.
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Michael Kinman
I Stand With the LORD JESUS and What he instructed us to Do. Luke 24:44:53 Matthew28:19 Acts 19:1-5 John indeed baptized with water believe on him who Comes after me he Baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And they were Baptized in the Name of LORD JESUS!
Come LORD JESUS Revelation 22:12-21
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Jayne Marilyn Francis
Ok, do you obey your lord jesus in his command to do and observe whatsoever the scribes and Pharisees teach (matt 23:1-3), even in their sins? Of course you don't or you'd be Jewish. Your zeal exceeds your knowledge.
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Michael Walker McFarland
Good lord, put the jug of Kool Aid away already! Do yoi know anything about your Bible? Are you even aware that it wasn’t even written until 75-160 years AFTER the mythological person named Jesus was to have lived?
Just because something is repeated over and over and over again does not make it any more true and honest.
If you want your children to be indoctrinated into your religion, fine. Leave MY children out of it. You have no business there. All the “shouting” in the world by your use of all capital letters doesn’t change this.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Do prayers belong in school? I don't have a problem with kids praying in school, in fact I think it is healthy in supporting their spiritual health, however, I do not believe that prayer should be mandated in school or as part of any event or curriculum. When my kids were in school in the 80s and 90s, (in Texas) there was a major force in our community to push anything religious out of the schools. My daugther was told she had to leave he Bible in her locker in middle school, and she fought back. They finally allowed her to take it to classes and read during down/quiet time, so long as she didn't read it aloud or try to make any other child read it. That worked, because pushing it down other's throats wasn't her style. She just liked to have it handy for reference and it brougt her comfort. It was no different than another student carrying around a book of poetry that inspired them, except that student was allowed to read it aloud if they wanted to.
Every religion and even different factions within single religions have different methods and ways to pray. Catholics and many protestants will pray memorized prayers, and evangelicals will pray as the "spirit moves them" to pray. There is no such thing as "one size fits all" prayer, as you can tell by the 100 or so different interpretations of The Lord's Prayer, from "thee/thy/thou" and "debts/debtors vs. trespasses/trespass against us" to whether the "kingdom" is included and it is "forever" or "forever and ever" and all the permutations of them.
Communal prayers in a secular environment should never include a named G-d, or end in Amen, as not all faiths follow those traditions, so the "watering down" of the prayer serves no purpose, and provides no comfort for those hearing it.
My biggest question is what is the purpose? Giving homage to those that are religious with moments of silence or free times when the kids can work through their spiritual practices (or not) should suffice. Religious education needs to be limited to the religious institutions and parochial schools, and not forced down the throats in public schools supported by the tax dollars of people of all faiths and no faith.
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Brett Ritchey
Yes to the pledge of allegiance and yes to 10 minutes of private meditation/prayer each day. One Nation Under the God of Our Choice. AMEN.
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Brett Ritchey
There is no concept of weekends anymore.
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Nicole Danielle Biebl
If the student wants to pray, let them. Don't force it in schools. Some parents don't feel comfortable with it. Personally, I would encourage my child to pray if they want to. And there should not be any ramifications for that child. We as a Church Family should encourage our kids to pray or not. Depending on the child's feelings about it.
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Leslie A. Hulberg Née Tomasura
I believe in separation of church and state in all forms. Not everyone prays and not everyone prays the same way. I believe that faith is a personal choice and to put the Ten Commandments in a public place regardless of whether that is a school or a public building is pushing a certain religion upon others and violating their rights. What if instead of the Ten Commandments, they posted the Mabinogion, or a Buddhist, Jainist or Muslim or Indigenous creeds. For that matter what if they posted the AA creed. Would a Christian feel that 1. The government’s preferred faith will be the guiding principles of justice within the country? 2. Have we become a theocracy that is different from my religion? 3. Why are they pushing their religious preferences onto me and my children? 4. Why is the government pushing a religious ideology on my child that differs from the religious doctrine of their parents and grandparents and great grandparents and so on? 5. Why do Christians feel the need to try to convert everyone to their beliefs? Didn’t they learn anything from history? 6. Atrocities committed in the name of god has been numerous and many peoples throughout history have lost the teachings of their culture. Is my culture any less important than someone else’s?
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Kevin Venteicher
when i was in school we had to pledge allegiants to our flag everyday so why not try a prayer to beings so many kids are not attending church or religious beliefs anymore would with the religious strong beliefs are parents bestowed into us prayers to you all have a nice day and year
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Matthew W Meister
This is a great line of demarcation. The pledge of allegiance is a vow to our flag, the republic for which it stands. It is a perfect thing for a public school to ask students to do, since the government is paying for the school. If you want to try Christian prayer in a private school paid for by Christians, I see nothing wrong with that. If you want to have Muslim prayer in a private school paid for by Islam, I see nothing wrong with that, either. To cross the line is not a good idea. By the way, if you were to have prayer in school, which tradition would you want to control that prayer?
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Michael Howard Schrader
It was a vow to our country, but it isn't anymore, thanks to the "Under God" part added in the 1950s. As a humanist, I don't worship flags or imaginary beings.
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Reverend Bobbie
Absolutely Not!
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Matthew W Meister
I have often contended that the best way to get people to quit trying to push prayer into schools is to give it to them. On Monday, we have a Christian prayer. On Tuesday, we have a Jewish prayer. On Wednesday, we have a Muslim prayer. On Thursday, we won't need to worry about representing any others because by then, the Christian parents will have stormed the school to get prayer out of public schools where it doesn't belong in the first place.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Any student can pray for the entire time they’re in their public school, as long as they’re praying silently. Kids should be taught how to work to get the things they want — not to pray to get things without having to work for them. Reminding the Christian God that he needs to do something he might have forgotten he should have done, should only anger the Christian God, because no God wants to be told he made a mistake— which is what a prayer does.
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Rev. Carol M Anaski-Figurski
Great article. prayer in school is necessary & faith based for the greater good. Thanks to Texas the ten commandments are a moral compass for all youths & all schools should follow in faith values. Multiculture can break off into diversity to groups for faith prayer are well. God is needed in the class room & respect to all faiths will bridge the gap on religious discriminations.
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George Soria
A Shared Invitation to Prayer
The Bible encourages every person to seek God with a sincere heart, regardless of background or status. Prayer is not about display, but about connection:
“When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen…” — Matthew 6:6
For parents raising children in any setting, the message is: • Teach children to listen for God’s voice in love, not fear. • Encourage prayer that expresses gratitude, seeks wisdom, and shows kindness to others. • Model humility and integrity—values upheld in every biblical version.
The Bible reminds us that God looks at the heart:
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7
So whether in the home or in school, the most important message is: Let prayer be a bridge, not a barrier—an act of peace,
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Michael Dwayne Cooper
We as ministers of God and Christ should overwhelmingly support prayer anywhere. The most important place is to pray in our hearts. To impart this to our children starts by teaching it in our schools.
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Michael Walker McFarland
As Universal Life ministers, a nondenominational church, we are absolutely NOT ministers of “God and Christ”. Public tax dollars should not be used to promote or force one religion over another. Regrettably, President Eisenhower violated the First Amendment by adding “In God We Trust” to our currency and “One nation under God” to our pledge of allegiance. Neither were present before that. Unfortunately, Christians have wormed their way into our government to the point where that may never be repaired.
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Amber Fry
Frankly I don't care if people wish to pray, even in school. What I don't want to see is mandatory religious studies and teacher lead prayer. Leave that to the private religious schools paid for by private sources, not through tax paid public schools.
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Craig Alan Norman
facts, however, tax funded schools should not be preaching lgbtq ideologies either, start our own private school,
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Michael Walker McFarland
Where do you see the requirement for Universal Life Church ministers to be ministers of “God and Christ”? As an ordained minister myself, I absolutely refuse to shove MY beliefs down someone else’s throat. To do so is just plain wrong. Morally and ethically. Schools are meant for one thing: education of reading, writing, arithmetic, social studies, history and the like. NOT for religious indoctrination.
If you want YOUR God and Christ beliefs taught in school, fine. Send your children to parochial schools, NOT public schools. It’s called separation of church and state for a reason, or had you forgotten that?
Texas Senate Bill 10 is a direct violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. Period.
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Craig Alan Norman
facts, however school is not the forum to push sexual preference either, this includes ideologies of lgbtq, those subjects need not be in school either, i am sorry, we havve fought for years for gay rights, and won the freedom to marry whom we choose, however, sexual preference is not a math, it is not a science, it is not a scoial studies other than the true history of the lgbtq cause as well as others, including the christian invasion on the governing body, these should stick to the facts of our evolving democracy and the parents have a right to know what their child is doing in school, including sexual preference.
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Craig Alan Norman
Dear brothers and sisters of the universe, our ministry here is made up of multi-religions, a simple message of coexsistence. I implore that each of us stand to our spiritual convictions, school should be a place of learning, politics and religion neither should influence the learning environment. School should focus on science,math, language, trade related education for all k-12, the political and personal choices of parents should be left alone by the government for sure. The 1st amendment not only bars federal and state governments from establishing a religion, it prevents them from interfereing with one as well, so long as said religion causes no physical,finacial or emotional harm. The children are our future, regardless of nationality or religion. The church(all of us, and others elsewhere) is soverign just like a state is soverign. The schools should not promote ideology or religion, rather if it is to be taught it needs to cover the basics without over playing anything on topic, if it is not math, science, language, physical education(only involving the need for activity) the psychological and religious state of the child resides with the parents not the school(which is a mandated paren loco), the schools should hae to report to the parents anything and evverything involving their child in school. The choice for the child resides with the parents this is natural law. schools educate basic knowledge, schools of higher knowledge or focused knowledge then teaches at the discretion of the student when they are adults. Natural fact we are born with certain sexual organs that determine our natural gender, like it or not, that is your gender, gender stratification this is behaviour for male, this is behaviour for female should not exsist. If you are a boy and you are sexually attracted to boys you are a male who is gay, if you are a female and are attracted to females you are a lesbian, if you are either and are sexually attracted to both, you are bi-sexual, the need for transgender surgery i believe stems from gender stratification. if you are boy and you like to wear dresses and make up have at it, it is your choice, you are still male.In a democracy we face what our founding fathers coined as tyranny by majority. If the majority of citizens beliee a certain way, their way is dominent in our society, if that oppresses the individual right, especially if done so by codified law, civil remedy is sought. look at 42 usc 1983. I do not agree with parents not having a choice of what their child is exposed too, nor do i agree that the government should censor what the child is exposed to. Parentys choice in my opinion is absolute, until the child is of age, since we have varying ages of consent and majority, that age is determined by what state you live in. are you age of consent and majority at 16? at 18? or at 21? at what age does the parents absolute control end and the person is empowered for themselves, so i think we first look at a federal law mandating that at age 18 a person is an adult citizen, capable of makeing their own decisions, with or without parental or state consent. this would include ncotine and alchol use. then we mandate our schools to not promote in grades k=12 religious or sexual ideologies keep it simple. if a parent does not like what is being taught, that parent can change schools, or theit child is exempt. if noone ideoologies are preached in our schools, the problem is mute.
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Daniel Robert Paluscsak
The seperation of Church and State was designed to keep church control out of government affairs, and to keep governmental control out of the affairs of the Church. The idea being the further apart they are, the purer their motives and functions remain. Matters of the Spirit should be under the priview of the home, that why schools hire teachers and not preachers.
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Rev. Russ Macomber
We need to have the separation of church and state. If parents want their children to pray in school, they should send them to a religious school where religion is part of the curriculum. Otherwise children can learn about religion and God on Sundays or whatever day, they observe by attending church like I did as a child.
Schools should support, and teach, Critical Thinking skills. The efficacy of prayer has been studied since at least 1872, generally through experiments to determine whether prayer, or intercessory prayer, has a measurable effect on the health of the person for whom prayer is offered and has proved to be non-effective.
A study in 2006 indicates that intercessory prayer in cardiac bypass patients had no discernible effects.
Clearly, if prayer was effective, children's cancer hospitals would have been emptied by now. 🤷🏼
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NICE INFO LIONHEART ! THANK YOU !
LH, while I agree with most of what you post, and I also agree that prayer in schools is a problematic policy with more downsides than up, there have been significant studies that have also seen improvement in patients when engaged in prayer, and intercessory prayer. From all of the studies I have seen, what I discern (with my critical thinking skills) is that the power is from within the person and the positive energy more than the prayer itself. In working as a hospice chaplain, I have discovered (through experience) that the individual has more control over the final exit than anyone or anything else. I have watched people wait in agony for a family member to arrive and pass minutes after they show up. I have also seen them hang on until everyone leaves the room so they can exit privately. My conclusion on the end-result of studies on the topic, is that they have a bias or a motive for their conclusions, and prayer was only one component.
That is a well thought out reply, Lady Patricia. Thank you.
I am personally of the opinion that we each have the capacity and strength to personally hang on at those very critical times. Meditation can play a big part in helping us all to deal with trauma. Some people might see that as a form of prayer. I personally don’t, but if people want to see it that way, I’m okay with it.
Again, thank you for your well meaning reply using logic, reason, and critical thought.
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LH, if you are going to insist on using a title, I prefer Dr. Just thought I'd let you know. I am not from royalty or aristocracy, but I do have a doctorate.
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Maybe you should go read the Dutch study done in 2023. J Relig Health 2023 Feb 4;62(3):1731. doi:
If you do not believe in prayer why are you here? Are you here just to make money off of weddings? Because anyone that is Christian and speaks against prayer, would not much of a believer now would they? Would that not make them a hypocrite?
One can follow the philosophy of Jesus without having to believe in prayer.
I don’t need to read any studies. What I would like is actual demonstrable evidence with a whole host of people speaking to all of their gods to heal children from cancer to empty children’s hospitals in the hope that at least one of those gods is the real one. Sadly, we all know that’s not going to happen don’t we.
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My understanding of this site was that anyone can sign on to officiate a wedding, not that one had to believe in any one specific way. Isn't this site supposed to accept any and all belief systems, including whether or not to pray, and who or what to pray to, if at all? Nobody has to believe anyone else's way but respecting differences shouldn't be an issue here as plenty members are not even Christian. Granted, for some it might be and we do see arguments here on those differences but understanding there are differences should be understood either way, shouldn't it?