Everything After - A 9.11 Youth Circle - Religion in Public Life

a big issue for me lately has been the re-introduction of forms of religion, mainly moments of silence, into schools. One time in the weeks following 9-11, my school stopped for a moment to pray for the victims; we've had several moments of silence as well. i see these as obvious inferences to prayer, and it bothers me. in addition, president bush held a national prayer day following 9-11, which seems a blatant violation of separation of church and state. maybe it's because i'm a part of a minority religion in this country, but this all offends me. what do you guys think of these or other similar issues?
*Allison*

Yes, well religion's always a difficult thing because there are so many different belief systems. We've had a few 'moments of silence' down under as well, but to me they don't seem to be religious. They are just moments where you can honour the memory of people in your own way. Some people may use this time to pray, but that's not necessarily what it's for.

My friends and I were discussing another religious issue the other day and that is the fact that the theory of evolution is not allowed to be taught in some (all?) American schools. A few of my frinds who do biology here are extremely religious and they were told to just accept it as a theory that some people believe and some people don't, which is fair enough. I mean, at my school everyone has to do Scripture from Year 7 to Year 9, so people should have to learn non-religious beliefs as well. What do you people think?

Megan.

Moments of silence are not to pray...merely to remember whomever died in your own way without anyone telling you how to...if prayer is someone's way of honoring the deceased person then that is their choice. As is not praying...it doesnt matter either way. ONe religious thing that I dont like being in school is the pledge of alliegence- "One Nation Under God". If yout hink about it, this really should be illegal because prayer and other religious related things cannot be forced upon students in public schools and the pledge is usually read to the whole school on the announcements. I think one of the older versions of the pledge should be used since they make no religious references. And evolution is addressed from a strictly scientific point of view...just as in history you learn about the Puritans and other Christian denominations in a strictly historical point of view.

-Amanda

How are moments of silence religious? I mean, sure, they could be. However, that's up to the individual person to decide. Moments of silence are for remembering the dead. Whatever you decide to do with that moment is your personal decision. Hell, I know people who go over their Math test during so-called "moments of silence". And, I mean, c'mon, hundreds of people died on September 11th. One small quiet moment of your time isn't going to kill you. (But can someone explain to me why if prayer isn't aloud in school, then how come Harry Potter is banned from some, public AND private, because there's no mention of God?? That kinda baffles me just a bit.)

And about the whole "separation of church and state" issue, the fact of the matter is, church and state are forever connected, no matter what it says on a piece of paper a bunch of old dead guys signed decades ago. What's on the back of the dollar bill? "In GOD we trust." The pledge? "One nation, under GOD, indivisible." So stop bitching about it and face the facts - church and state will forever be connected, no matter how much you moan about it. So just quit while you're ahead.

Amalthealsis, so what are you saying? We should just accept things that are wrong and unjust instead of trying to change them? With that attitude we'd still have slavery and women wouldn't be able to vote.

RaiRae, yes there are older versions of the pledge...The original version was written by Francis Bellamy and was first used in 1892. Original Version: "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.' In 1923 "my flag" was changed to "the Flag of the United States". On June 14, 1954, Flag Day, President Eisenhower signed into law House Joint Resolution 243, introduced by Representative Louis C. Rabaut of Michigan, which added to the original pledge, the controversial words "under god."

-Amanda

I didn't say not tofight againts it, but who is to say it's unjust?

And to annarchomiechris, I know there are pagan symbols on the back of the dollar bill, and I sincerely wish that people would acknowledge and admit it. But god forbid the US gov't acknowledge us witches.

i think it is unjust that church and state are connected, and i think that, if it's a cause you believe in, you need to fight against it so that it won't be such a big, inevitable part of our country. sure, the majority of people in this country might be christians, but that doesn't mean it's okay to showcase that in our government. i'm jewish, but i'm also an atheist, and i don't say the pledge of allegience, in part because of the "under g-d" section. in my opinion, religion should be a private matter. i understand that, no matter what, if a politician is religious, his/her religion is going to affect their views on certain subjects, but i also don't think that it's okay just to accept obvious references to and acts of religion in the government or schools or any other public area.
*Allison*

call me a synic but i dont think the majority of politicans with religous views hold them for any reason other than to appeal to voters. for example king george puts on a christian front and prays post september 11th and then preceeds to ignore any concepts of forgiveness or turning the other cheek by blowing the shit out of afghanistan. so really politcans will accept the religion of the majority which if there is a connection of church and state the religion of the majority becomes domineering and oppresive. if there is not seperation of church and state then there will be oppression of minority religions.