Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Texas politicians are facing criticism for trying to inject Christianity into public schools.
Just last week, Texas moved to insert the Ten Commandments into every classroom in the state (despite legal pushback).
Now it’s time for round two. The recently-passed Senate Bill 11 goes into effect this month just as kids return to school, opening the door for prayer in the classroom or readings from religious texts during the schoolday. And it doesn't beat around the bush, calling out the Bible by name.
Unsurprisingly, secular advocates are pushing back, alleging that the law amounts to state-sponsored Christianity.
What’s in the Bill?
The new Texas bill mandates that every school board across the state vote on whether to adopt or reject the period of prayer within the next six months. Schools that adopt the policy will be required to “provide students and employees with an opportunity to participate in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text on each school day.”
Students are required to submit a parental consent form to attend these prayer meetings, which can be revoked at any time by parents or guardians.
It’s worth noting that prayer is not illegal on Texas campuses, or anywhere else for that matter. Students across the country are free to pray at school on their own time. But this bill creates a school-sponsored prayer period – a big shift from private, voluntary prayer to an officially sanctioned slot in the daily schedule.
Created With the Bible in Mind?
Although the bill is written to support any religious text, messages from state leaders indicate they have a preference for what students should be using to pray.
For example, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has some particular readings he’d like to see come up during Texas’ students campus prayer sessions. He is urging students to specifically recite the Lord’s Prayer.
“In Texas classrooms,” he wrote, “we want the Word of God opened, the Ten Commandments displayed, and prayers lifted up.”
"Twisted, radical liberals want to erase Truth, dismantle the solid foundation that America's success and strength were built upon and erode the moral fabric of our society," he continued. “Our nation was founded on the rock of Biblical Truth.”
Secular Advocates Respond
Supporters of this effort say that putting God back in schools is a great way to reinforce the Judeo-Christian values they believe America is built on.
Unsurprisingly, the has been a heated secular response to the state's latest infusion of faith into education.
“Texas students go to school to learn, not to be evangelized,” said Texas ACLU attorney Sarah Corning.
Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, added that “our Constitution’s promise of church-state separation means that students and their families – not politicians – get to decide when and how public school children engage with religion.” She says her legal team is already working on a repeal of the law.
For now, though, between Ten Commandments plaques on classroom walls and daily prayer sessions, critics say Texas schools are looking less like centers of education and more like church pews.
Secular advocates warn that Christian Nationalism isn’t knocking at the door anymore – it’s barging right in.
What is your reaction?
102 comments
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Susan Margaret Fries
If we hadn't taken prayer out originally (something this country was built on) we would not be the desperately chaotic world we are in now. If we continue to believe WE are the higher power, we will continue to have a world with too many chiefs and mass confusion.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
What pre-science contemplators once learned, by simply making things up (using their imaginations) how can science (which requires studying, learning, and using the scientific method) who can destroy that with science-based facts, observation, and common sense???
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Edwin Wilfred Mckinney
public or private, secular or non secular............................................Having your own prayer time and or a group prayer time any time, giving time to thank the Lord By grace is for the one body to be heard as we are all connected and should always pray for one another
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Edwin Wilfred Mckinney
Prayers are meant to be heard and supported for intercessory projections unto, although GOD does not need help hearing prayers. I believe prayers should be universal and respected to show the love and respect to the most High
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
The competition to attract naive little kiddies, into one silly religious tribe or another, makes those who prey on tender gullible minds, demand that they pray every day in our public schools; and as a consequence are prying open a can of worms, that when it opens, it’s akin to opening Pandora’s Box.
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Jannetje Eleanore Van Went
Unstoppable...can we use the churches then for alternative schools since you won't need them anymore...you won't open your doors to the homeless and then you are taking over taxpayers schools too, some of the tax payers that pay for schools do not follow that faith ...tell us what you will do with them when the protest...how far does this madness go, look at the murders over what your creating. The internet has brought too much awareness...to late to stop us all falling off the cliff for clinging to a sugar daddy leadership that controls with forced practices.
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Breanna Stephens
Religion does not belong in schools. Schools are for education. Churches, temples, etc are for faith, period. Are pretty sure those of the Christian faith would loose it if pagan prayers were to be taught or the pagan faith was to be shared in Schools. So what makes them think that pagan parents wants their children having to deal with that in a place were they are supposed to be learning.
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Steven Michael Lanham
Had prayer in school when I was in grade school and the pledge of allegiance to the flag, can't see why they were removed, it never physically hurt anyone by doing those things, an now I'm a Minister an would like to see it back in schools to re-establish moral values that this country has thrown by the wayside
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
You know, these christians / catholics, or whatever these MAGAts are calling themselves these days shriek about religion being forced down people's throats and "No Shariah Law!" and throw massive temper tantrums of people trying to teach their own kids Islam, and having an Islamic church or town be built...
But then want to absolutely ERASE all other people's freedoms by ramming their MAGAt version of "religion" down everyone's throats.
They shriek how teaching kids ACTUAL American History is "indoctrination"....
And then want to RAM their bibles down kids' throats instead.
The 1st amendment even states, strictly, that there is a separation of Church and State. If they demand the Christian bible be read, then they MUST allow for the Koran, the Witches' Bible, the Satanic Bible, the Torah, the Buddhist religious doctrines, etc.
Simply put, yet again, Texas is trying to ram THEIR religion down people's throats. If they want to teach Religion in schools, then they should start their own schools that specifically FOR those religions.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
No one, under the age of 21, should be allowed to be indoctrinated (brainwashed) into any religion, until they reach the arbitrary age of 21; and, if that were the case, all religions would “wither on the vine, and die” because science can logically explain everything that religious mythology formerly monopolized. Remember what the Jesuit once told those listening to him, “Give e a child’s mind before they reach the age of six, and their mind will be mine, forever.”
Brainwashing of little kiddies, should be a serious type of child abuse — which is easiest to identify— when it’s being done to a child who’s being indoctrinated into a religion, other than yours.
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ServantOfJudgement
Including evolution right? Produce a self spawning life form from funky mud outside of a lab. If you can not then you are forcing a belief on a child.
By the way, nobody can or ever will without a laboratory, hence, life requires external intelligence.
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Tom
Please educate yourself on the science that supports the theory of evolution. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6428117/
There is no such science for intelligent design or divine rule.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Talk about agendas and indoctrination. This is a direct violation of the First Amendment. Public schools are for all children, not just Christian ones. If religion belongs in the classroom, it should be in the form of a comparative religion course that teaches all faiths fairly.
Implementing this at the beginning of the semester appears to be a deliberate attempt to prevent parents from challenging it in court before the semester starts. This isn’t about morals or values — it’s about conversion, about forcing one religion on every student.
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Cameron Lewis
Oh holy hell no...there is a seperation of church and state and it shall remain. ..period! What is with these heathen elected Texas fools dictating against the founding fathers?
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ServantOfJudgement
I guess I'm confused with this. To my knowledge, there's only one religion that demands time allocated to physical prayer and it's not Christianity. A christian can pray anywhere they are anywhen they want in the USA. We don't need specific times or a designated area.
I noticed the Royal Mail in England gave a designated area and breaks for Muslims to pray while the rest of the sorting facility busily did their jobs. We don't want that sort of nonsense here.
My heart goes out to atheists over certain rights given to religious people that aren't afforded to them. Really any religious group exempt from laws or favored by laws is in violation of THE Law.
Let a person pray in their mind on their dime. Don't hinder a child from carrying a bible yet don't give that student a special time or place for personal things unrelated to education.
Already in Dearborn MI, Islamic students are afforded the very same thing Texas is trying. Let's hear your opposition to this my left thinking peers.
Will I hear defense instead like usual?
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Tom Herman
Out of line.
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Rosalyn Eliana Moreno
In the 70s, we touched upon the ten commandments. We talked about everyone rights to freedom of religion. Very basic stuff. There where also celebrations of Christmas and Valentines along with Halloween. I'm not sure if we are just getting tripped up on words or what. My kids where taught and they made own decisions as far as what they adopted to be true. Scriptures where not taught in public school but parents did have the options to send there kids to after school bible study or even scouts. Are we raising kids who will think for themselves or follow the crowd? Just my thoughts...
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Deborah Jane Vogel
If a school of any ilk accepts even a penny of public funding, then reading, writing, arithmetic, the law, history, social studies, sports, the arts, and community service are all appropriate topics for teaching and learning.
If a school accepts one penny of public funding, prayer, then the Ten Commandments, Any denominational prayer, and religious teaching are totally inappropriate. If that is what you want your children to be taught daily and you refuse to take advantage of the public education supported by everyone’s tax dollars, then, by all means transfer your children to a parochial school and pay for it out of your own pocket.
Why should the expense for private of religious schools be out of the parental pocket and not the public’s? Two reasons: 1. In my state of NY, I have always and willingly continue to pay school taxes to my school district despite never having any children in the public school system. Why? Because as a member of my community, this state, and a citizen of this nation, I have a responsibility to support a full but secular education of our children. The children of the U.S. are our future. We have a responsibility to invest in them. As a community and a nation, we have a moral responsibility to provide our children with a good apolitical, secular education that prepares them to go out into the world and be good citizens themselves.
- I have no more right to impose my religious beliefs and traditions on my neighbors and community than they have to impose theirs on me. Most religions around the world promote law similar to the Ten Commandments, including respect for others and for the earth, its resources, and creatures.
If Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi walked into a bar, would they start a fistfight over their theological differences? I think not. So why do we feel we have the right or the obligation to drag people of a faith different from ours into our religious arena?
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
You're 100% correct. The 1st amendment even states, strictly, that there is a separation of Church and State. If they demand the Christian bible be read, then they MUST allow for the Koran, the Witches' Bible, the Satanic Bible, the Torah, the Buddhist religious doctrines, etc.
Simply put, yet again, Texas is trying to ram THEIR religion down people's throats. If they want to teach Religion in schools, then they should start their own schools that specifically FOR those religions.
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ServantOfJudgement
Deborah,
If Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi walked into a bar, they would not fight in the presence of Jesus the Creator. Only after Jesus was refused and departed would the remaining fight.
Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
In Dearborn Michigan, several schools already afford Islamic students prayer time and space. I wonder why that isn't brought up. Perhaps people know better suppose.
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Martha S Giddings
It should be up to the schools to provide education, and the parents to provide spiritual learning. There are millions of children across the US that are not of Christian households, they may be Hindo, Muslim, Buddists, Jewish, or a myriad of other religions. How is it fair and "Christian" to force children to be educated in the Christian faith and not in the other religions. It is NOT. So leave it up to the family and then to their church to teach the children. There is no place in schools for religion except in a religions class to study all types.
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Cameron Lewis
Excellent, you hit the concept right on
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Penny Prentice-Best
Back in olden times (the late 50's and the 60's) we had 20 minutes of interfaith readings from students to start the day in our public school. I found it interesting to hear what Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, and Jewish books had to offer. It would have been more interesting to have had an actual class where we could compare and discuss the world's religions with respect and tolerance. Understanding and discussion of religious views is a worthy aim in our schools. Done properly it develops tolerance and reveals common ground. Religious indoctrination is Not appropriate in secular schools and does not foster tolerance or understanding.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Comparative Religion, as a class, would be fine. But to force in every classroom is unconstitutional.
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Roy S. Thorpe
The hard line thumpers just don't get it! Forcing anything upon someone almost always gets a negative reaction! Any belief forced on someone almost never works! The "do-gooders" need to knock it off! It just shows the ignorance of the so called "righteous" leaders!
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Rosalyn Eliana Moreno
As long as you give notice that you do not consent, then I would think that you do not acquest any of your rights.
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Harold Thomas Meyers
Yes,it needs to be back to the beginning that truly worked wonder's from society,not drug's, gun's and violence,and no direction are out of control
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Keith Ramsey
It needs to be removed from schools. If a student wants to say a prayer to themselves, fine. But the school shouldn't be giving Bible classes. It never worked.
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Terry Edward Wieland
Take trans out of girls restrooms and sports and maybe we can discuss this ,
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Susan Lynn Carr
I wonder what it's like to be totally emasculated by little girls?
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Lionheart
I’m okay with that, Lady Susan, as long as those little girls are not little boys in disguise, pretending to be girls. 🤭
🦁❤️
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Susan Lynn Carr
Oh sure. I can just see a little boy pretending to be a little girl so he can open himself to misogyny, harassment, sexual and physical abuse and death by LGBTQ+ bashing.
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Keith Ramsey
ROFL... so.. the what 8 trans in sports out of 300,000,000 people in the USA scare you? Are you afraid of them? They are in your restrooms also.
Those are just scare tactics, and you are showing you are scared, so we can discuss this now while you are still living in fear.
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ServantOfJudgement
Keith,
I think Terry might have the same concerns I do. It doesn't feel very nice to see a girl get her face broke by a dude in lipstick.
Stuff like that. Boys and men in the locker rooms with chicks, ya know basic no brainer stuff. It's not fear, it's empathy and compassion tempered with pure logic and reason. Humanity 101 stuff.
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Michael Hunt
Head injuries are the second most common injury in volleyball. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10333631/
As far as I have read, one person has sustained a head injury from a trans-woman. This injury could have just as likely been caused by a cis-woman because these are common injuries in volleyball.
Recent studies have found there may be limited performance differences between trans- and cis-gender women, although it must be said that this particular study was only published in May of 2025 and has yet to be peer reviewed so there may be corrections to come.
"This systematic review and meta-analysis shows that, while [Trans Women} exhibited higher absolute lean mass compared to [Cisgender Women], no significant differences in physical fitness metrics (i.e., upper-body strength, lower-body strength and VO□peak) were observed after 1–3 years of therapy." https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.05.25326994v1.full-text
This study from 2023 did come to a similar conclusion: "Existing studies in nonathletic trans men have shown that increases in muscle mass and strength occur with testosterone therapy, and physical performance appears to be no different to cisgender men by 1 to 3 years after GAHT (gender-affirming hormone therapy).
"Studies in nonathletic trans women after GAHT demonstrates no change in height, but have shown decreases in hemoglobin, bone density compromise, and decrease in muscle mass and strength, which continue to decline beyond 2 years. While absolute muscle mass is higher, their relative muscle and fat mass percentages and muscle strength corrected for lean mass are no different to cisgender women. Cross-sectional studies of trans women on GAHT for over 4 years show that relative percentages of muscle mass and fat mass as well as fitness as measured by VO2 peak corrected for lean mass are no different to cisgender women and lower than that of cisgender men. Steady decrements are seen in physical performance of nonathletic trans women in the military, with no significant difference with cisgender women for running times by 2 years and sit-ups by 4 years after GAHT. An advantage in push-ups or upper body strength over cisgender women may remain at 4 years." https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/109/2/e455/7223439
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Ari Joseph Bertine
They are blatantly stomping all over the First Amendment and the very spirit of the Constitution. Absolutely disgusting, unAmerican behavior. They should be immediately removed from office just for suggesting it, they've proven themselves unfit to represent American people. Impeach them for misconduct.
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Rosalyn Eliana Moreno
The Constitution is a contract, it does not afford us our rights. However there is The Bill of Rights and the Deceleration of Independence, that clearly outlines rights.
UN- American? I do not see "America" on any government sites Just the U.S. I do believe that Administrative Law is what governments our courts, medical systems, and education systems. There are many issues at hand in this world.. evil.
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
You're 100% correct. The 1st amendment even states, strictly, that there is a separation of Church and State. If they demand the Christian bible be read, then they MUST allow for the Koran, the Witches' Bible, the Satanic Bible, the Torah, the Buddhist religious doctrines, etc.
Simply put, yet again, Texas is trying to ram THEIR religion down people's throats. If they want to teach Religion in schools, then they should start their own schools that specifically FOR those religions.
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Patricia A. Ferguson
This is FORCING Christianity on the students. There are a lot of people who are not Christians. Isn't this the same thing our government did to the natives?
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Michele Marie Miles
Religion does not belong in schools. If this were to happen, what about those who do not participate in organized religion? Also, what about the arts? What about music? This isn't fair to those who chose a different path.
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Steven Ferrell
I say AMEN! If schools can push secular things like socialism, alphabet lifestyle, then they can promote prayer and Bible.
If people don’t want that, then remove all the secular stuff like alphabet lifestyle, socialism, etc. and only teach reading, math, English, etc.-
John Robert Peters
The US is not a Christian Nation. Aside from Shakers and Quakers and a few other small groups, every Christian assertion in State or Federal guise has been viciously misogynistic, xenophobic, and anti-semetic. From the torture of Quakers in MA (driving them to move to MD which was founded on religious freedom) to the Great Meadow Massacre in UT, Christian assertion has remained elitist and exclusive. The Bible has been used to support Slavery and atrocities beyond belief particlularly against indigenous people. In WW2 Hitler considered an alliance w the US as he saw it as very receptive to the anti-semetic message of the Reich. Nazi groups in the US were very active. In recent times there have been KKK marches terrorizing people in the name of their Christian belief, my wife wass subjected to them and burning crosses on her lawn as a child, and my Palestian Christian friends were terrorized by Christian right wingers who considered them to be Moslem because of their appearance as Arab. My point is that in US education necessary skills for thinking wo bias and evaluation of data to arrive at a decision require the broad learning wo insertion of mythical, magical, or religious dogmas that cannot be questioned. The US response in recent years, operating on opinion like you offer, has led to deterioration in the ability of children and young adults to think. This has been documented in the decrease in reading and math skills and low college performance. If you wish to share your beliefs with your children fine, do so. But for your dogma to dictate the curriculum needed to raise an educated and intelligent, self-confident child is very wrong.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Public schools do not teach alphabet anything. However, teaching history, socialism is brought up with regard to Russia and China, and other socialist countries. You are preaching propaganda.
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
The 1st amendment even states, strictly, that there is a separation of Church and State. If they demand the Christian bible be read, then they MUST allow for the Koran, the Witches' Bible, the Satanic Bible, the Torah, the Buddhist religious doctrines, etc.
Simply put, yet again, Texas is trying to ram THEIR religion down people's throats. If they want to teach Religion in schools, then they should start their own schools that specifically FOR those religions.
And, btw? What is "socialist" hm? What do you claim is "socialism" that they're teaching? Being kind to others and sharing when you have enough to share. Accepting others as they are instead of trying to crush them under heel? Helping people who are in need? Hmmm. Here I thought those were edicts of basic human decency.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Bridget, I was simply replying to John Robert Peters' claim that socialism is being taught in school. I was pointing out that we do not teach socialism in school unless it’s in reference to socialist countries. I would also add that those countries are not true socialism, in my opinion. It’s just a ruse their leaders use to get rich. Hmm… not unlike our capitalism.
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Keith Ramsey
This religious stuff is the secular stuff you should be opposing.
Socialism is a form of government, and should be taught and how it has failed every time. Or do you want us to repeat history again? They are not teaching the things you are claiming they are... you were told that to scare you and you believed it. -
Cameron Lewis
Oh Steven Steven Steven how misguided can you be? Keep your Jesus or other faith out of the classroom, that's for the others in the institution to do behind the closed doors of a church not in a state funded classroom
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Rev. Carol M Anaski-Figurski
Yes Bring religion into schools That's an amen. Blest be.
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Keith Ramsey
Keep religion out of schools, there is no place for it to be in the classroom.
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Keith David Harry
Whose bike is this? Ned’s. Where’s Ned? Ned’s dead baby. Ned’s dead; from the neck up
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Jacqueline Ellis
WAY out of line. Not all of us are Christian, nor want our kids learning Christianity (In schools). I teach WORLD religions at home and believe everyone should find their OWN path (IF it is meant to be). I myself am a Priest of Kemetic (Ancient Egyptian) Faith. And yes, we are still "Out there" from ancient times. I do NOT want my child to be SPOON FED other religions and FORCED to kow-tow to it. The Pledge of Allegiance is ONE thing. You LIVE in America. But religion? Has NO Place in schools unless it is a PRIVATE, Religious campus only!!!!!
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Cameron Lewis
You hit it on the head! Good job
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Walter Abington
Out of line! The Ten Commandments dont belong in schools. No religion should be taught in schools. I don’t want someone else’s doctrine taught to my children in school. Save it for your own Sunday school.
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Susan Lynn Carr
And why should not readings from the Torah or the Quran or the Satanic bible also be read in classrooms? It's best that religion remain at home and in places of worship and not in public government institutions. The Founders were wise in insisting on the separation of church and state. Let's honor that, please.
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James Riggle-Johnson
They will say those are the wrong types of religion. They really don’t care about freedom of religion. They only believe in the freedom of the Christian religion. The freedom to covert the country and then the world.
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Rev Ned
🤬 Texicans!! (Rooster Cogburn’s word, not mine)
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Pastor George Day
Rev. Ned,
From where does all this anti-Judeo-Christian sentiment arise? Has the spirit of Amalek established a stronghold within you?
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
Georgie, there's no "Anti-Judeo-Christian" sentiments here at all. It's called FREEDOM OF RELIGION, or in this case FREEDOM FROM RELIGION. You are aware of the 1st amendment and the separation of Church and State, right? And you ARE aware that not everyone has the same religion.
The 1st amendment even states, strictly, that there is a separation of Church and State. If they demand the Christian bible be read, then they MUST allow for the Koran, the Witches' Bible, the Satanic Bible, the Torah, the Buddhist religious doctrines, etc.
Simply put, yet again, Texas is trying to ram THEIR religion down people's throats. If they want to teach Religion in schools, then they should start their own schools that specifically FOR those religions.
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Lionheart
Amalek? Have you been reading that Hebrew book again, Sir George? Try not to believe everything you read. 😜.
🦁❤️
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Pastor George Day
BINGO to you both!
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Robert Gagnon
A few minutes of silence was what they called it in the sixties and seventies. But there wasn't no bible verses being verbalized in schools. Sounds like Texas wants actual bible studies to dominate the class atmosphere. I would consider that disruptive.
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Rosalyn Eliana Moreno
I grew up in the 70s and we did talk about the ten commandments...
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Thomas Foster Mohnkern
Maybe the school incidents would decrease if we would put prayer back in schools. I think students/staff should have the right to pray if they want to. They never should have taken the Lord's Prayer out of the schools in the first place. I realize this is not making the LP mandatory, but it's a move in the right direction. God bless America!
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James Riggle-Johnson
The Lord’s Prayer was never part of public school. And these incidents you’re talking about obviously continue regardless of prayer. The last school shooting occurred while the children were actually praying. Take your children to church if you want them to pray in a group setting.
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ServantOfJudgement
James,
As you know, the left loves assassination, applauds it and does indeed call for the death of Christians. Even here on this very board members do so openly.
Again and again children are shot and killed in religious schools. It's not enough that they pray in their own place. It's only enough when the prayers have gone silent as so many do.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Calls for assassinations? What? I have never read one line calling for anything like that—Christian or otherwise.
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Patricia Ann Gross
I've been in school since the early 1960's, and we never prayed in school. The only school where prayer was acceptable was the Catholic (or other parochial) schools. We never prayed before sports events either, an I lived in a very conservative state. I never saw a prayer at any school event until I moved to Texas, and not only Baylor (which was Southern Baptist), but the local public high schools had prayer before sporting events. It made me very uncomfortable, not because I didn't believe in God or wasn't a Christian, but because I didn't believe that everybody believed the same way. I have never grown out of that, even with a 3 year master's program and a 1 year residiency, and now enrolled again in theology in a PhD program. It defies the constitution, the edict by Jesus to leave Caesar's things to Caesar, and basic human dignity and respect ofro others who may believe differently.
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Cameron Lewis
Prayer in schools would effect school shootings like Trump driving past a mcdonalds...won't happen, school shootings are the outcome of continued behavioral reinforcement of the values in video games.
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
Hate to tell ya, but videogames don't cause shootings. Hate, bigotry, and often religious zealotry is what's causing shooting. The vast majority of individuals who committed these atrocities were, white, male, RELIGIOUS, adults.
Now, I'm saying "a vast number" not "all" because there have been those of other groups who have done this as well. I'm merely talking the majority of incidents.
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ServantOfJudgement
I agree Cameron. Video games are a form of violence conditioning and combat training.
If video games and animations are harmless, then why can't they produce cartoon child pornography?
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
A vast number of people who shot up schools were religious.
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Keith Ramsey
Prayer should never have been in schools in the first place. It is a move in the wrong direction.
The only way it could be called right direction is if you hate the Constitution and the First Amendment.
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Patricia Ann Gross
The problem with the Lord's Prayer isn't the content it's which version do you use?
Forgiving debts as we forgive our debtors? - or -
Forgiving trespassers as we forgive those who trespass against us?
Then there's the end:
For thine is the Kingdom, power, and Glory
For Ever
And Ever -or-
none of the above?
Amen.
That's a war that would make the fights over which songs to choose on Sunday by the Worship Committee look like child's play. (My "funny" for the day.)
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
The 1st amendment even states, strictly, that there is a separation of Church and State. If they demand the Christian bible be read, then they MUST allow for the Koran, the Witches' Bible, the Satanic Bible, the Torah, the Buddhist religious doctrines, etc.
Simply put, yet again, Texas is trying to ram THEIR religion down people's throats. If they want to teach Religion in schools, then they should start their own schools that specifically FOR those religions.
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Pastor George Day
Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
The blood of Jesus offers free salvation, but if you choose a different path, that decision is yours.
Avoid promoting devil worship publicly; ensure you take responsibility for your own spiritual consequences.
Remember, eternity with Satan is an immeasurable expanse of time!
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Patricia Ann Gross
Respectfully, the 1st ammendment only offers respect for all religions when making laws , thus it denies a state church. It was interpreted by Jefferson that it means separation of Church and State. That has been the law of the land interpretation since the founding fathers even though it isn't specifically stated that way in the constitution, and every SCOTUS has upheld it that way.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Religion doesn’t belong in school. That’s it; that’s all. This country is NOT a christian nation! The separation of church and state is fundamental to our democracy.
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
You're 100% correct. The 1st amendment even states, strictly, that there is a separation of Church and State. If they demand the Christian bible be read, then they MUST allow for the Koran, the Witches' Bible, the Satanic Bible, the Torah, the Buddhist religious doctrines, etc.
Simply put, yet again, Texas is trying to ram THEIR religion down people's throats. If they want to teach Religion in schools, then they should start their own schools that specifically FOR those religions.
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Cameron Lewis
You hit it on the head.
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Pastor George Day
Reverend Paula Copp,
Please express only your own perspective.
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Bond Wright
Pastor George Day: Our Constitution states a separation of church and state. Period. You should read it. Please stop telling people to stop being American citizens who uphold the Constitution under the slick manipulative guise of "please express your own perspective". Example: It was a Nazi "perspective" that all Jews should be eliminated. That was their perspective. That is against the Law. Further, and, it is my perspective, that males should avoid giving orders to women about anything. This also goes for white people telling African Americans what, when and how to say anything. This also goes for any non-American Indians telling them what to say and straight people telling Lesbian and Gay folks what to say and so on. You get the point, I am sure. So Christianity is your thing. Go ahead. Enjoy it. And, stop trying to violate the Constitution by shoving it down the throats of our kids. As the song said "Leave those kids alone!" Have the courage to draw people to your religion by your own integrity and faith--and NOT by manipulative force. From what I know about Jesus--he would not approve of your attitude. Rev. Bond Wright
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Pastor George Day
Bond Wright,
Your statements lack coherence.
The First Amendment does not prohibit public prayer.
The Lord's Prayer is interfaith, derived from the Amidah by Jesus, and adaptable to all mainstream faiths. It has been utilized historically.
I am, in fact, a Messianic Jew.
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Cameron Lewis
Good job
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Michael Hunt
Why can't she express factual statements?
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Anthony Mark Perry
It’s not being forced on anyone it’s just there and available if and when the kids wish to use it. Amen to providing the freedom we were guaranteed in the constitution ad it should be as long as it isn’t forcing it upon those who do not feel the same way. It is our duty to spread the word and bring people to God and faith but not to force them on any unwilling people. It wouldn’t work that way anyway because you have to come to the lord in your own way in your own time between only you and God. Once the pledge is made you can join in the fellowship and the spreading of the word.
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Mark
I wish the UK would adopt such a thing as prayers and bible study.
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Rev. Mike Eggleston
In England it is a legal requirement for state schools to hold daily "broadly christian" religious assemblies and provide "religious education" (often "christian indoctrination") lessons. Parents have an absolute right to remove their children form either of both of those things for any or no reason.
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Pastor George Day
Rev. Mike Eggleston
We are grateful to have a Christian established church in each constituent country of the United Kingdom, as well as in the overseas territories.
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
The 1st amendment even states, strictly, that there is a separation of Church and State. If they demand the Christian bible be read, then they MUST allow for the Koran, the Witches' Bible, the Satanic Bible, the Torah, the Buddhist religious doctrines, etc.
Simply put, yet again, Texas is trying to ram THEIR religion down people's throats. If they want to teach Religion in schools, then they should start their own schools that specifically FOR those religions. And, btw, in the UK, prayers and bible studies ARE done, at home, in churches, and PRIVATE SCHOOLS, not public ones.
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Najah P Tamargo
Najah Tamargo-USA
If a child goes to a parochial school, that's fine. But forcing religion in public schools is wrong. Parents should teach their fath-based religions at home. Public schools are for education, not indoctrination.
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Anthony Mark Perry
Nobody is forced. Read the bill. It merely allows the faithful the opportunity to freely express their appreciation for their Heavenly Father. Those who do not practice faith or religion are free not to engage in it at all so how can there be any harm? The school isn’t promoting it so there is the separation of church and state being in tact, so no problem there because that applies to the school not the individual citizens like the students that attend those schools who are guaranteed constitutionally the right to freedom of religion as long as it doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s right not to practice religion.
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shiningwolf9
You, and others with your misunderstanding are not reading, or interpreting right. Christianisms Right (followers) are insisting that their Bible (German for book) be read aloud, and likewise praying a specific prayer aloud. This is not a students quiet prayer/book time. This is forced religion.
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B/W Clerg. Clive Orlando Hessing
Fixing the face not a term of frustration
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
Prayer was NOT taken out of public school. That is fact. Students, teachers, staff are praying EVERYDAY in school. Especially on testing days.
Prayer has not been removed from public schools; rather, the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that school-sponsored, mandatory, or coercive prayer is unconstitutional. Students and teachers retain the right to voluntary, individual, or group prayer, as long as it is student-initiated and does not disrupt the educational environment or endorse a particular religion.
So pray all you want and STOP LYINGG!
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
The 1st amendment even states, strictly, that there is a separation of Church and State. If they demand the Christian bible be read, then they MUST allow for the Koran, the Witches' Bible, the Satanic Bible, the Torah, the Buddhist religious doctrines, etc.
Simply put, yet again, Texas is trying to ram THEIR religion down people's throats. If they want to teach Religion in schools, then they should start their own schools that specifically FOR those religions.
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Anthony Mark Perry
They are not demanding anything read the bill. The separation of church and state is in tact and only pertains to the school itself and state not the individual students who as citizens are granted the right to freedom of religion. The bill allows them to do so freely and those who don’t wish to don’t have too and can go about their day any way they choose or curriculum dictates. Nobody is being forced to do anything.
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Cameron Lewis
Individual prayer to pass a test isnt the same as jointly saying a specific prayer in unison. Sorry keep.religion where it belongs behind closed church doors, not in schools.
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Lionheart
Nope, can’t do that.
🦁❤️
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Pastor George Day
Lionheart,
Why not indeed?
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Lionheart
Because it goes against our policies regarding separation of church and state which is covered in the first amendment to the US Constitution. While the exact phrase isn’t in the original document it’s enshrined in the Establishment Clause, which states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion”. The First Amendment is a cornerstone of American democracy, protecting fundamental rights and liberties.
Thanks for the question, Sir George.
🦁❤️
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Pastor George Day
Lionheart
Understood!
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Religion, belongs in the public school, only if it’s in conjunction with a “comparative religions course” that uses “The Savvy Convert’s Guide To Choosing a Religion”. Such a course would broaden any students intelligence, and spread ecumenicalism in the process. And, the Thomas Jefferson Bible should be used, if any Bible is forced into any public school — anywhere, because Thomas Jefferson knew that Nature and the only provable ( therefore real) God, there is.