Missouri legislators in Jefferson City considered a bill that would name Christianity the state's official "majority" religion.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I don't buy into the latter being protected practice of religion as your right to practice your religion ends where it interferes with my right to do the same or with my right to chose not to practice any religion at all.

I agree. But I do think we've gone too far in placing restrictions on religious practice. For example, as non-Christian, I not in the least bit threatened by the sound of a Christian praying. It may warrant a snicker, but that's about it And yet, we have rules in schools around this country that say Christian children, should they choose to pray on their own initiative, must do so silently. That is not right.

If Christian children were singled out, it may not be right (I still believe that the school is not a place of worship). But wherever such rule exists, it applies to all children of all faiths, does it not?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If Christian children were singled out, it may not be right (I still believe that the school is not a place of worship). But wherever such rule exists, it applies to all children of all faiths, does it not?

Applying equally restrictive rules on people of all faiths, where such restrictions serve no valuable purpose, is just as stupid.

If a child wishes to pray out loud on his/her own time in a place other than the classroom, I don't see the problem with that. No matter what his/her faith.

[Fuzzness 2]

Maybe I'm just weird but I always thought a silent prayer was just as good as a spoken one. The schools can't read minds, can they?

I agree with you that they are. But we're not talking about your or my opinion. We're talking about the opinions and liberties of those who practice their religion differently than you or I do. Some of them claim they need to speak it out loud. What is the harm in letting them do so? I certainly would not feel threatened by this.

I, like you, would have no problem in hearing someone pray out loud. I do agree they should be able to. What happened to Aymerlu's son was pretty sh#tty I think he should be allowed to pray at the table and this thing about him not allowed to read the bible in free reading class is #######.

What my original complaint was is about people who say prayer has been taken out of school when it hasn't. A student can always pray silently and it still counts as prayer.

[pax 0]

Hey, Aymerlu, you're in Boone County? Are you at all near Columbia? I have some friends in Columbia.

[Aymerlu 3]

Hey, Aymerlu, you're in Boone County? Are you at all near Columbia? I have some friends in Columbia.

LOL...I am in Columbia! Born and raised.

[pax 0]

I'll be damned! Columbia's a nice town. I've been there a few times. You know the Columbia Cemetery on Broadway? The dad of one of my friends at least used to be the caretaker there...he might still be.

If you've ever ordered pizza from Papa John's in Columbia, very likely one of my old pals delivered it to you!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If Christian children were singled out, it may not be right (I still believe that the school is not a place of worship). But wherever such rule exists, it applies to all children of all faiths, does it not?

Applying equally restrictive rules on people of all faiths, where such restrictions serve no valuable purpose, is just as stupid.

If a child wishes to pray out loud on his/her own time in a place other than the classroom, I don't see the problem with that. No matter what his/her faith.

If you feel strongly about your kid praying in school, there are schools available where that can be accomodated.

[Sister Fracas 5]

If Christian children were singled out, it may not be right (I still believe that the school is not a place of worship). But wherever such rule exists, it applies to all children of all faiths, does it not?

Applying equally restrictive rules on people of all faiths, where such restrictions serve no valuable purpose, is just as stupid.

If a child wishes to pray out loud on his/her own time in a place other than the classroom, I don't see the problem with that. No matter what his/her faith.

See how quickly the same people who are crying about not having prayer in school would be up in arms if a Muslim child was on his hands and knees praying before his lunch....

What my original complaint was is about people who say prayer has been taken out of school when it hasn't. A student can always pray silently and it still counts as prayer.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If Christian children were singled out, it may not be right (I still believe that the school is not a place of worship). But wherever such rule exists, it applies to all children of all faiths, does it not?

Applying equally restrictive rules on people of all faiths, where such restrictions serve no valuable purpose, is just as stupid.

If a child wishes to pray out loud on his/her own time in a place other than the classroom, I don't see the problem with that. No matter what his/her faith.

If you feel strongly about your kid praying in school, there are schools available where that can be accomodated.

How very inclusive of you. Hypocrite.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If Christian children were singled out, it may not be right (I still believe that the school is not a place of worship). But wherever such rule exists, it applies to all children of all faiths, does it not?

Applying equally restrictive rules on people of all faiths, where such restrictions serve no valuable purpose, is just as stupid.

If a child wishes to pray out loud on his/her own time in a place other than the classroom, I don't see the problem with that. No matter what his/her faith.

If you feel strongly about your kid praying in school, there are schools available where that can be accomodated.

How very inclusive of you. Hypocrite.

What does that have to do with inclusiveness? The public school system is NOT a place of worship. There's a couple churches on every corner for that purpose.

[almaty 19]

ah reinhard, arijit gone..probably to his john birch meeting///

[Sister Fracas 5]

ah reinhard, arijit gone..probably to his john birch meeting///

*chortle*

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The public school system is NOT a place of worship. There's a couple churches on every corner for that purpose.

You don't think spiritual growth is as much a part of a childs education as are sports and other extra-curriculars?

Many parents feel it is. And you do them a disservice with this "everything but religion" approach.

[pax 0]

I do believe that students have the right to pray in public school, and I think the law is pretty clear on it as well. Teachers or principals who attempt to halt private, student-initiated prayer are basically just panicked about lawsuits, and while I sympathize with that reaction, the law is on the side of the students.

That said, I also agree with Reinhard. Parents who feel so strongly about their children praying in school ought to send their children to schools in which praying is expected, encouraged, and probably even mandated. There are many of them. They're called private religious schools. Other than that, prayer is best kept the province of the individual and of clergy and places of worship. Not public institutions, wherein any religious expression that is suggested will be so watered-down to appeal to a mass audience as to be meaningless anyway.

[Aymerlu 3]

Personally I don't care if you are Christian, Muslim, Buddist, whatever, we are to have freedom of speech correct? Does it really matter where we voice that freedom of speech? I guess so. Anyhow...I'm still confused because NO ONE I have talked to around here has heard of the bill the OP was talking about. And I'm a Missourian. I am definatly going to be checking this out.