Supposing that it’s a Christian prayer meeting for kids, that it’s a public school, and not endorsed by or affiliated with the school other than being on school grounds.
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Atheists, Would You Have A Problem With A Voluntary Prayer Meeting Around A School Flagpole Before School?
Posted on September 25, 2010.
No.
My friend tried to convince me to join one of those, and I respectfully declined. She and another girl were the only ones doing it. I couldn’t care less.
No, I have no problem with it whatsoever.
A legal problem, no. An issue with group stupidity, yes.
I wouldn’t have a problem with that at all.
Go right ahead, heck I would even defend the practice against those who criticized it. As long as those participating did not try to pressure other students into joining them, and did not try to disrupt other events.
Only a problem if it’s conducted by an educator.
I wouldn’t have a problem with it. I’m willing to bet if the goth kids decided to pray to Satan around the flagpole, those very same Christians heads would explode.
I am not a Atheists, but no one can stop a person or a group from praying if that is what they want to do.
Nope. If it is voluntary, meaning no one is forced to or not to partake, then I don’t have an issue with it at all.
as long as it was student led and initiated and they didnt pressure anyone to partake then no i have no problem, now does the law in the US have a problem
Now, see, we had that exact same thing at my school at least three times a year.
I have no problems with it if it’s not endorsed or affiliated by the school itself, but the events at my school -were-.
They can do that before 8:00 and after 3:00 at least in California.
No, that wouldn’t be a problem so long as it wasn’t led by any government employee on the clock.
Religion and prayer are personal issues, whereas to be put aside for the public’s time.
Children can pray before and after school, and they can pray on their own time at school (recess or lunch). Government employees are being paid to teach academics, not lead religious meetings. There are churches and parochial schools for that.
No problem at all. Wouldn’t make a difference who was leading it, either. This is one of those “What you do on your own time..” sort of things.
As long as it is strictly voluntary, the students aren’t given any incentive (or reprimand) for not attending, and no school official is involved, I could care less.
And of course, as long as they were willing to allow groups of other faiths to do the same. Sadly, in most cases like this one of those conditions is not met.
Not as long as the kids aren’t trying to convert anyone that passes near by, or as long as the school doesn’t promote it.
However, it’s probably something that should be conducted off of school property.
Would be cool if they all stuck their tongues on the flagpole,,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XlPwsmkP…
Not really, students do have the legal right to engage in activities like this in their free time so long as its not disrupting other students or classes. I am aware of the “Meet me at the flagpole” groups that encourage Christian students to make a statement about their faith by meeting up at the school flagpole. I have an issue when these Christian students after promoting themselves as standing up as the poor persecuted and ridiculed Christians used these meet ups to inflame each other about the non Christian students (generally the minority) and to write the names of those students on pieces of paper and post them on the school flagpole. Some adults in attendance of these events stated although the students stated it was to pray for these students souls the tone of the event was more hostile and persecutorial in nature.
You mean “See You At The Pole”?
No. I helped start the movement in the 1990’s when I was a fundie Christian.
Now that I think on it as I am 25 yrs older, it was a good idea. Not only for Christians, but for America as a whole. Sure, there’s no more school forced prayer, but it is certainly a sign that prayer is still alive and well in public schools.
as long as it is just students and is not led by any teachers or administrators, and as long as Satanists, Wiccans, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, etc., were also allowed to have a religious meeting led by students on school ground… and as long as no one is pressured into attending or is ostracized, bullied, called names, etc., for not attending… Hm… sounds so much easier to just keep your prayer meetings in your homes, churches, other non-government property, doesn’t it? Why is it that Christians feel such a huge need to “worship” on school property and not in malls, in parking lots, at pet stores, in movie theaters, at hair salons, in bowling alleys… Could it have something to do with trying to influence a young, impressionable captive audience? Hm?
I know I should say, “That’s okay by me,” but I wonder at the underlying pressure put on students to make public display of their faith. Isn’t that intolerance wrapped in swaddling clothes?
What about Hindu boy who isn’t a part of it, the Jewish girl who walks by, the Buddhist?
Public school is designed to erase differences between the citizens of America; they all learn the same language, the same science, the same history, they play on the same teams. It is an equalizer of American youth, a chance to feel included in society. Why allow the ultimate divider, religion, to turn high school into a bunch of snobby cliques?
Sigh. That religion is so freaking annoying!
But of course not. If it was voluntary, it would just help me know who not to associate with.
You have flagpoles at your schools?
I don’t have a problem with voluntary, non-official prayer, as long as everyone is entitled to pray (or not), regardless of their faith.
1Cor.14:34-35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
they cannot stop ppl from praying anyway…IT HAPPENS IN OUR BRAINS AND THEY arent invited…
That’s OK with me!
I hope you understand why we don’t go for any “God” idea…
“JESUS” LOVED THE ROMAN TAX COLLECTORS AND ALL KINDS OF PROSTITUTES INCLUDING GAY AND LESBIANS MORE THAN HIS OWN PEOPLE THE JEWS! The 3 or so many Star Gazers from some odd ball Persian Gulf countries came to worship (of all people) the “NEWBORN KING OF THE JEWS” (Mat 2:2) not the “SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!”
Many years after “Jesus” death the HOLY BIBLE writers made it clear that the “King of the Jews” was a friend of the ROMANS! After his initial flirting with the Jews Jesus confessed to PONTIUS PILATE that his kingdom was NOT OF HIS ROMAN WORLD (John 18:36)! The Early Church Fathers worked hard to make the Christian religion acceptable to the ROMAN authorities until the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS FULLY ESTABLISHED. 1,500 Years later, the invention of the printed media made possible all kinds of new Christian brands to pop up with copyrighted ideas on how to “interpret” the Christian religion!
In a RADICAL DEPARTURE from the earliest Bible writers idea of, “Thou shalt have NO other GOD before me,” the later ones have the “Jesus” character TEACHING TO PAY TAXES FIRST TO THE ROMAN CAESAR GOD land whatever is left over give it to the Bible God (Mat 22:21, Mar 12:17, Luk 20:25)! In the Roman Empire Caesar was worshiped as a God so the transition to worship the Bible God through a Roman Pontiff was a smooth one! SAINT PAUL ORDERS THE CHRISTIANS IN ROME TO OBEY THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES!
Romans 13:6 For this cause PAY YE TRIBUTE* (*first to Caesar God, like Jesus said!) also: for they are God’s ministers* (*the Roman government works for “GOD!”), attending CONTINUALLY UPON THIS VERY THING* (*Some stubborn Christians were fed to the lions at the Roman Circus for not getting the message!)
Jesus never made it easier for any Jew to “enter Heaven” except for the PROSTITUTES and ALL the Jewish ROMAN tax collectors. He has them entering Heaven ahead of ANY STRAIGHT JEW! Christianity was obviously put together by some smart Roman Jews like Saint Paul. The Bible writers NEVER favored any other decent trade among the Jews as much as PROSTITUTION, TAX COLLECTION, and SODOMY. Sodomy is not really a trade except for some “MALE SHRINE PROSTITUTES” that King Solomon instituted in the Holy Temple of God that he built. They were servicing the laity’s sexual needs like at any Heathen Temple until King Josiah (if he ever existed) came up with a reform. Saint Paul also reformed the sexual activities conducted WITH PRIDE in the Christian Church at Corinth. Today, because of SECULAR MORALITY STANDARDS leading Christians in general do it ONLY in their “closet” until they get caught like Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Ted Habbard, and so on!”
2 Kings 23:7 He* (*King Josiah) also tore down the quarters of the MALE SHRINE PROSTITUTES* (*they were servicing all worshipers for over 300 Bible years!), which were in the temple of the LORD…
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is actually reported* (*public knowledge) that THERE IS SEXUAL IMMORALITY AMONG YOU* (*In Church!), and of a kind that does not occur EVEN AMONG PAGANS: A man has his father’s wife* (*a teenager kid having sex with his own mother!). And YOU ARE PROUD!* (*Saint Paul reprimands ONLY the kid, NOT HIS HORNY MOM, or anybody else LIKE THE CHURCH PASTOR FOR ALLOWING SEX IN CHURCH!)
Matthew 21:31 Jesus said to them, “I TELL YOU THE TRUTH* (*no more BULL CRAP!), the tax collectors* (*the Jewish ROMAN TAX COLLECTORS) and the PROSTITUTES* (*not ex-prostitutes, but ACTIVE JEWISH PROSTITUTES of all sorts including gay and lesbian prostitutes that Jesus must have known personally!) ARE ENTERING* (*that in NOW! before Jesus was even crucified for anybody!) THE KINGDOM OF GOD ahead of you* (*THE STRAIGHT JEWS! When JESUS IS SPEAKING THE TRUTH all Christians listen!).
Matthew 11:24 (KJV) But I say unto you* (*again, NO BULL CRAP!), that it shall be more tolerable for the land of SODOM in the Day of Judgment, than for thee* (*STRAIGHT JEWS!)
Jesus imposed all sorts of sarcastic rules for the Jews in ANY OTHER DECENT TRADE to enter Heaven, from HATING THEIR OWN PARENTS (Luk 14:26), to chopping off body organs and limbs (Mat 18:8), including CASTRATION for the “KINGDOM SAKE” (Mat 19:12), to give away ALL THAT THEY OWN (Luk 14:33) and so on! No Christian today ever believes “in Jesus” like that!
Nevertheless, Rahab was a hot PROSTITUTE! She is in “Heaven” now! The MALE ANGELS don’t have to come to Earth anymore ISO girls for sex like in the days of Noah (Gen 6:4). 1,500 Bible years after her death Saint Paul and Saint James are still promoting her services as a RIGHTEOUS PROSTITUTE. In their Bible stories she is an EXAMPLE to follow (Rom 15:4)! Saint Paul was upset at some other prostitutes, but not at her! He listed her in the “BIBLE FAITHFULL SAINTS HALL OF FAME!” The NT Bible writers toned down any anti prostitution rhetoric because they were highly respected in the Roman Empire. Members of the nobility were known to conduct all sorts of popular orgies… The movie “Caligula” hardly shows how it was then…
Hebrews 11:31 (KJV) By faith the PROSTITUTE* (*not ex-prostitute, but RIGHTEOUS PALESTINIAN PROSTITUTE!) Rahab, BECAUSE she welcomed the spies* (*any hot Bible prostitute would welcome even a HORSE for the right money -Eze 23:20-21), was not killed with those who were disobedient* (*God had the rest of the Palestinian residents in Jericho including innocent children and pregnant women totally slaughtered, as usual).
James 2:25 (KJV) In the same way, was not even Rahab the PROSTITUTE* (*not the ex-prostitute, but THE PROSTITUTE!) considered RIGHTEOUS for what she did when she gave lodging* (*Rahab owned the brothel) to the spies and sent them off in a different direction.
Rahab LIED! The Bible writers STILL REMEMBER her with great devotion and respect. Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land wouldn’t have been possible without her help -Joshua 2:1-3, 6:17-25. Some Preachers claim that school kids in Israel read the Bible as their HISTORY book. I wonder how they honor a RIGHTEOUS PROSTITUTE of the Rahab class…