Prayer in schools? Aww, crap...

[Ryoga]

Something's started at my school recently, where a bunch of students gather in a circle out front and pray to God, before class starts.

I found it quite amusing because the news reporters covering it were blathering about how they were "making a difference." Yeah, I know! Let's not go to the trouble of volunteering at a homeless shelter, or donating to United Way, or something like that! We can pray to God, and say that we're helping the less-fortunate!

Here's my question, though: do you guys think it would be worth it to set up a table there and start distributing some of the flyers from Positive Atheism?

[HemlockGrey]

-smacks foolish students-

God hates it when you make an ass of yourself, and I hate it when you make other Christians look like asses. Stop now, please.

[Durandal]

Even better, when the kids start praying, start praying to Satan and thanking him for bringing all the suffering to Earth that he does.

If someone gives you shit, cry that they're oppressing your religious beliefs.

[Rhadamanthus]

Tsk tsk, don't you know that prayer will magically solve all the worlds problems? You don't actually have to do anything, you just have to pray and it will all work out.

[Sea Skimmer]

Something's started at my school recently, where a bunch of students gather in a circle out front and pray to God, before class starts.

I found it quite amusing because the news reporters covering it were blathering about how they were "making a difference." Yeah, I know! Let's not go to the trouble of volunteering at a homeless shelter, or donating to United Way, or something like that! We can pray to God, and say that we're helping the less-fortunate!

Here's my question, though: do you guys think it would be worth it to set up a table there and start distributing some of the flyers from Positive Atheism?

Hearing about the results would amuse me. Do it.

[Enlightenment]

Here's my question, though: do you guys think it would be worth it to set up a table there and start distributing some of the flyers from Positive Atheism?

You'd probably be beaten up by the other inmates or expelled by the school administration.

[Shadow WarChief]

You'd probably be beaten up by the other inmates or expelled by the school administration.

Exactly. Then you'd be able to point out what fucking hypocrites your peers are.

I say do it.

[Rhadamanthus]

Then you call the ACLU and actually give them something useful to do, the idea of religion in schools gives them cold sweats, so they should be more than happy to help

[weemadando]

I remember some years ago at UTAS, a large portion of the student body was sick of the many (and I mean MANY) Christian societies sucking up money from the student coffers. As a protest (and a joke) one guy started Students For Satan. Within the week it was leading news in Australia as Christians all over Aus and indeed the world began protesting against it.

Results - SFS folded several years later when the creator left Uni. There is now only 1 christian society on campus.

[Mr Bean]

Call up some JW's and sic them on the prayers

Watch the fun

Just call up the local JW Bunker and say you have people praying in your school but they are doing the wrong kind of praying and you fear for thier souls and don't want them to go to hell(They eat this stuff up)
Soon you will have the local SWAT JWs in route and the fireworks as the Fundie idiots try and aurgue with each other should keep you laughing for quite awhile

[Tosho]

Something's started at my school recently, where a bunch of students gather in a circle out front and pray to God, before class starts.

I found it quite amusing because the news reporters covering it were blathering about how they were "making a difference." Yeah, I know! Let's not go to the trouble of volunteering at a homeless shelter, or donating to United Way, or something like that! We can pray to God, and say that we're helping the less-fortunate!

Here's my question, though: do you guys think it would be worth it to set up a table there and start distributing some of the flyers from Positive Atheism?

I hear somthing similar is starting at my School soon, I plan on distrubuting skeptical writings starting with the Age of Reason by Tom Paine.

[Ryoga]

Now, of course, comes the immortal question. Which of the three from positiveatheism.org should I use?

'Which 10 Commandments'? This one could work, though it's only tangental to the issue of praying.

'National Bible Week'? It's not National Bible Week yet, but as long as people are praying...maybe they should know what to be looking out for?

'Founding Fathers'? This one gets to the point...but I doubt many people know who some of these guys are, sad as that may be.

[Joe]

Does the school authorize it? Is anyone forced to participate? If not, then it's no big deal and doesn't violate anything.

I, however, was sort of made to participate in a mass prayer at the Georgia-South Carolina game this weekend.

[Alferd Packer]

Unless your school has a "No Solicitation" policy, I say distribute pamphlets like a madman. Otherwise, start praying to Satan right next to them every morning.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

So, you're from the south? I'm assuming it because out West, saying anything that rhymes with "God" will get you sued, and up North, well, it could happen. Still, I think it's dumb. A moment of silence would be good enough.

[Kahlis]

And you think that Christians are 'intolerant and intrusive'..

Folks, there's a difference between making a valid point and simply making an ass out of yourself. Come now.

That's not saying anything about the praying group of course, but without knowing who they are and what their motivation is, it is rather hard to even think about making a judgement.

[ArmorPierce]

uhhhhh what a cute bunny

[Darth Wong]

And you think that Christians are 'intolerant and intrusive'..

Individually, some are, some aren't. Institutionally, they are.

Folks, there's a difference between making a valid point and simply making an ass out of yourself. Come now.

"Appeal to ridicule" fallacy. Perhaps you should try actually finding a point somewhere and then presenting it.

That's not saying anything about the praying group of course, but without knowing who they are and what their motivation is, it is rather hard to even think about making a judgement.

Motivation is irrelevant. Their actions are more than enough justification for our derisive comments.

[Alyrium Denryle]

They did that at my school today as well. School authorize3d. I may do that at the next FCA meeting, distribute things from positive Atheism.

[Darth Wong]

They did that at my school today as well. School authorize3d. I may do that at the next FCA meeting, distribute things from positive Atheism.

If I were you, I would stand there during their prayer meeting and shout "Your God is a mass-murderer! Your God is a mass-murderer! Your God is a mass-murderer!" over and over. But of course, I'm a bit more outspoken than most

[IRG CommandoJoe]

Why should people praying be made fun out of? And why would it concern anyone? Even if it is around other people who don't believe in the religion they are praying for, why is it ok to mock it? I wouldn't make fun out of a group of Muslims for praying around the school, even though their religion isn't mine. I'm sure atheists wouldn't like the idea of people who practice religion to openly mock them.

[Darth Wong]

Why should people praying be made fun out of?

It's not the prayer; it's the fact that they're SHOVING IT IN YOUR FACE by doing it on public school property.

And why would it concern anyone?

See above. You haven't been paying attention around here, have you?

Even if it is around other people who don't believe in the religion they are praying for, why is it ok to mock it?

Why is it wrong to mock it?

I wouldn't make fun out of a group of Muslims for praying around the school, even though their religion isn't mine.

If they do it quietly and privately, I wouldn't either. If they get in a big group and do it publicly on the FUCKING LAWN, then yes. I would make fun of them for being the asinine dumb-fucks that they are.

I'm sure atheists wouldn't like the idea of people who practice religion to openly mock them.

Yet that happens all the time. Every Sunday service is another sermon about how being far from God makes you immoral. The natural reaction is "Hmmm ... I'm far from God ... hey, wait a minute; you fuckers just insulted me!"

Mind you, if a bunch of atheists got together on the school lawn and held some kind of ceremony affirming the power of atheism every day, I wouldn't be surprised at all if people made fun of them.

[IRG CommandoJoe]

I don't really know what sort of praying they do there, but I assumed they just kneel down on the grass and quietly pray. If they loudly preached and what not, then I would object to it. So for the most part, I agree with what you say about being loud and shoving it in your face. But you don't like being insulted and yet you question if it is wrong. If you don't like being insulted, then it should be wrong in your view, shouldn't it?

[TrailerParkJawa]

People paying before class does not bug me. I think its their right.
As long as it does not cross that line between state sponsorship and
individuals acting on their own.

Of course I do agree with you all that if us athiests did something like that it would generate negative publicity.

[Darth Wong]

I don't really know what sort of praying they do there, but I assumed they just kneel down on the grass and quietly pray. If they loudly preached and what not, then I would object to it.

If they wanted to be discreet, they wouldn't be grandstanding on the lawn, would they?

So for the most part, I agree with what you say about being loud and shoving it in your face. But you don't like being insulted and yet you question if it is wrong. If you don't like being insulted, then it should be wrong in your view, shouldn't it?

There's a difference between:

1. Accusing someone of immorality with no justification whatsoever apart from your bigoted assumption that failure to follow your particular belief system is evil.
2. Making fun of someone when he shoves his beliefs in your face.

The former is action. The latter is reaction. I would never go into a church and make fun of the people there because they're minding their own business in their own place. But on the lawn of PUBLIC PROPERTY THAT I PAY TO MAINTAIN WITH MY FUCKING TAX DOLLARS, I will goddamned well make fun of people like that, and I won't apologize for it.