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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 19605
[Schools/Ed]
Date Posted:
4/18/2008
9:15:40 am EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 5,540
RSS: 17,913
Comments: 8
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Prudent Ruling On Team Prayer
Author: Asbury Park Press Opinion Source: Asbury Park Press (NJ)
Title: PRUDENT RULING ON TEAM PRAYER
The coach of the East Brunswick High School football team has been ordered by a federal appeals court to get off his knees and keep his chin up.
Mark Borden can no longer bow his head or kneel during his team's student-led prayers. The court ruled in a 2-to-1 decision that his actions constitute an "endorsement of religion" in violation of the First Amendment's establishment clause.
The appellate court made the correct decision.
Consider, for example, a situation in which the student leading the prayer were a member of Santeria, or a Wiccan, or even a Satanist. Would Borden then drop to one knee and bow his head? And if he did, wouldn't that at least imply acceptance of the theology behind that prayer?
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Community Thoughts: There are 8 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| I'm Surprised... | Apr 21st. at 5:09:25 pm EDT
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Eric Wolfborn (Jenkintown, Pennsylvania) - Email Me
...no one took issue with the article suggesting that there would be something grotesque about a wiccan leading a prayer.
Bowing one's head during prayer is a sign of respect, not a sign of practice. When I walk into a church, I bow my head at the appropriate times, sit, and stand when requested, and don't make a scene.
It's not hard to shut up every now and again, really. A coach is as much a part of a team as the players; neither functions without the other. The coach knows more about the sport, that's all. If the players want to pray, what is he supposed to do? Jumping jacks off to the side? Sing showtunes? Hit him with a chair to show he doesn't 'endorse' the religion in question?
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| Parental Compaints | Apr 19th. at 11:41:41 pm EDT
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Ixacacau (Moore, Oklahoma) - Email Me
There's your sign.
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| If I Have A Right.... | Apr 19th. at 12:56:57 am EDT
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Katmandu (elba, Alabama) - Email Me
to NOT have to pray with someone, then so should he. If I have a right to pray with someone, then so should he. If one of the teammates calls for prayer and leads it, then so be it. If another teammate has an issue with this, let them work it out (perhaps with adult assistance) amongst themselves.
At least it seems that the coach isn't instiigating the prayers himself.
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| As Long As........ | Apr 18th. at 10:52:45 pm EDT
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Thorin (Newaygo, Michigan) - Email Me
As long as the teacher/coach is NOT leading the prayer, it's fine, or should be. He should be able to join in and kneal/bow if he wishes to, however, if he were to lead the prayer, then, as an agent of the governement, the government would be endorsing/promoting that religion.
JMO
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| Prayer Is Okay | Apr 18th. at 4:18:36 pm EDT
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Faloku (Arcata, California) - Email Me
I don't mind anyone praying, and I almost always don't mind showing reverence while they do with a bowed head. I'll even say "Amen" when they're finished, right along with everybody else. I know, if they do not, that all Gods are One.
Prayer in public is hardly a slippery slope to theo-crazy. Besides, I want to be able to say MY prayers when it's appropriate.
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| Why Are They Butting In | Apr 18th. at 3:17:13 pm EDT
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Rubyglare (Sacramento, California) - Email Me
everywhere? Christians are disrespectful to society when they butt in & shove their particular brand in everyone's face. The naive feel they should be able to do "little Christian things", not realizing the first tiny steps are on a long road to oppression, where if you do not bow your head to their authority they'll run you out of town, they'll not hire you & see to it that you're not hired, we have but to look at the past, at all those Virgin With Child paintings, listen to all those church songs by musicians of the past, don't be 'reasonable', it isn't.
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| Silly Me! | Apr 18th. at 11:40:21 am EDT
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Rev. Jeanene Hammers (Hillsboro, Oregon) - Email Me
I have always thought that, to bow one's head during a prayer was a sign of respect tot he religion - not an endorsement of it.
I go to a great many events where there are prayers. Some of them I agree with, as they mirror my beliefs. Others I do not agree with.
Yet I was taught to always stand silently, with head bowed, no matter what. If I had an issue with what was said, to address it AFTER the prayer, in private.
Getting on one knee i can understand as an endorsement, but not just bowing the head.
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