N.J. High School Football Coach Has No Right To Encourage Student Prayers

[JaneDoe321]

No one was being required to pray in this case. While I agree that teachers in government indoctrination centers shouldn't be promoting participation in a religious exercise during an official school function, no one was being required to pray.

But what I want to know is why the courts are going after this guy but aren't going after the teachers requiring students to participate in non-Christian religious activities such as these:

MASS MEDIA - The Bedford Hills Witch Project

Speaking as myself (and not as a member of the ACLU or whoever usually brings these cases to the courts because I certainly don't have the discretionary income or immense amounts of time off work to do so) *I* would be offended and complain if my kids were asked to participate in *ANY* religious activities at school.

I would not consider "Magic: The Gathering" as a religious activity. ADDICTING, perhaps, like any "Collect the cards!" type game, but religious? Come on.

[Mick Jagger]

No one was being required to pray in this case.

True. No authority to use force in matters of religion was granted to the government. However, there was also no grant to the government of recommendatory authority over religion.

[Maryjane]

Chancellor,
The ACLU would be happy to look into that if they were contacted.

[Jack]

What *I* always wonder is why people feel the need to pray out loud in public in a very showy and attention garnering way

Good point.

(Matthew 6:5-18 NKJV) "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. {6} "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. {7} "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. {8} "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

[Rainbow]

Pray individually if you want to or don't, but don't make it a group participation event.

A hypothetical situation #1 :
- room
- 40 players
- all the players pray individually
Is that event recognized as :
- individual
or
- group
?

A hypothetical situation #2 :
- room
- 40 players
- all the players meditate individually.
Is that event recognized as :
- individual
or
- group
?

:-)))

[Rainbow]

What *I* always wonder is why people feel the need to pray out loud in public in a very showy and attention garnering way "OH JEEEEEESUS! Hear our PRAAAAAAAAYERS! Bring us VIIIIICTORY this day, HALLELUUUJAH!"

An omnipotent god can hear ya if you say it inside your head. So who are they *truly* trying to impress?

It carries a psychological aspect, mainly.

[Rainbow]

Good point.

(Matthew 6:5-18 NKJV) "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. {6} "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. {7} "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. {8} "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

In other words :
- be a modest person

[Voluntary]

BTW, I happen to be a Christian who is in favor of an extremely strong wall of separation between church and state. Any Christian (or any religious person) with a brain is.

As an atheist, I am complete agreement. I have no grudge against Christianity. It is a personal god and a personal relationship. You have the right to prayer in silence. I respect Christians who prayer in silence. I don't believe in your god, but I see it as a practice of personal cultivation. I respect that.

I played HS sports. Some of my teammates prayed in silence. Others listened to music. Others told jokes. My coach gave us 5-10 minutes of free time to do want we wanted before home games. On the bus ride out to away games, the bus ride was free time.

My coach respected the players diversity in mentally preparing for a game. He only talked about game tactics combine with an emotional appeal to win the game. I listened to his tactics, and dismissed his emotions. I respected his emotions. He was trying to 'fire us up'.

[Anmon]

Sonart;496899].
Says who... oh, that's right. Christians.

Yep.

How about a rousing Buddhist chant before the game. That'll get folks fired up. Or maybe an invocation to Kartikeya, the Hindu God of war. After all, we ain't gonna be playin' pattycake out there. Maybe a Muslim prayer of An-Nasr, for Victory.

It was probably more like just a prayer to Jesus to thank him for the opportunity to play, and general stuff.
Your going a bit over the top with comparing it to war chants etc

The parents won't mind, right?

Um the Muslim war chants or praying to the Hindu god of war? Yeah they probably would, given the war bit, you understand right?

[Anmon]

As an atheist, I am complete agreement. I have no grudge against Christianity. It is a personal god and a personal relationship. You have the right to prayer in silence. I respect Christians who prayer in silence. I don't believe in your god, but I see it as a practice of personal cultivation. I respect that.

If we want to pray out loud, we will and as loud as we like, if you don't like it, then block your ears.

[Voluntary]

If we want to pray out loud, we will and as loud as we like, if you don't like it, then block your ears.

Bigotry at it's finest. Why do you need to pray out loud to a personal god on a public stage? If you have this right, then I can blow second hand smoke into your lungs since this is my god's law.

If you don't like it, then block your lungs.

[Anmon]

Bigotry at it's finest. Why do you need to prayer out loud to a personal god on a public stage? If you have this right, then I can blow second hand smoke into your lungs since this is my god's law.
If you don't like it, then block your lungs.

Because praying out loud to Jesus isn't hurting anyone, where as blowing second hand nicotine smoke down someones throat is.