Soon it will be time for the September "call-ups" in Major League Baseball. This is a time when rookies get to see if they have the skills for the "big-leagues".
In welcoming you to the St. Matthew pastoral blog ... that's what I wonder ... will I have the skills to play in the blog-leagues! We'll see?!
What I hope this blog becomes is a forum to examine our everyday lives through a theological and spiritual lens. That means that our everyday encounters, and, the questions arising from these encounters will be the "grist" for this blog.
I won't be able to get to the blog every day ... but, I hope to blog a thought or two, and/or respond once or twice a week.
Now, an initial thought ... one that came to me as I reflected on seeing a school bus Monday morning. What about prayer in schools?
First of all, I think we'll always have prayer in school ... especially when there is a math test :)
More seriously, perhaps this issue is mis-named. Perhaps it would be more accurate to ask what we think of "prescribed" prayer in schools? Do we really want a prescribed prayer in school? If so, who should write it? Should the principal? Or, the teacher? Or, a local clergy-person? If a clergy-person, of what faith tradition?
What if the principal, teacher, or clergy-person's faith is different from my child's? Should my child need to pray their prayer? For instance, what if the writer is a fine Roman Catholic, and, devoutly prays the rosary. Should a Lutheran child need to pray the rosary? What if the writer is a devoted Hindu? Should every child need to pray a Hindu prayer? I have kiddingly said that if I could write the prayer then I'd be happy!
We live in a land of religious freedom. We are a melting pot. Our diversity is part of what makes the USA great! In my opinion, having a prescribed prayer in school does not contribute to the notion of democracy.
So what should we do? I think it would be fine to have a time for the student to pause and pray, meditate, or simply be quiet. Perhaps, this "time-out" would set the tone for a calmer school day. But, what do I know ...
Your thoughts ...
Seems to me that having "a time of silence" is akin to nothing at all. If we believe that corporate worship has any value, then it's much better to share prayers from various faiths. If we need anything today, it's an attitude of tolerance and respect, and the understanding that "freedom of religion" does not mean "freedom from religion". --my 2 cents.
ReplyDeleteRex ... you are probably right concerning a time of silence as being akin to nothing at all. I like your idea of sharing prayers from various faith traditions. Wonder how "tolerant" some in our culture would be, however, when a child came home reciting a Muslim prayer. I can only guess what my own reaction might be. I think I might be less tolerant than I imagine myself to be.
ReplyDeleteSusie...Good questions. I don't like the idea of prescribed prayer. A student can pray at any time and for anything during the school day. I wouldn't like the idea of a Muslim or Jewish prayer personally, and that would have to happen in order to institute prescribed prayer. In my granddaughter's school the Pledge is said every morning with a time of silence. I'm not sure this is true in every school.
ReplyDeleteSusie ... like you I would prefer a time of silence. By the way, I think it is entirely appropriate for the pledge to be said in school. This shows our loyalty to the USA. On the other hand, I would be uncomfortable if it was recommended that we say the pledge in worship. I think this is a different take on the separation of church and state.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. We were members of a church where they said the Pledge once. It was hard for me to say it, and I felt bad about that. Christianity is much bigger than the Lutheran Church. I even have trouble singing some patriotic songs during worship, and I know I'm in the minority there. I know God understands our struggles, and for that I'm grateful.
ReplyDeleteYes, glad God is with us during and through our struggling times.
ReplyDeleteI think our children need to learn from their parents and from their church community that they can pray anywhere - anytime.
ReplyDeleteExactly my feelings, Bonnie.
ReplyDeleteAs I drive students every day to and from Medina's local schools, the subject of religion often comes up as the kids talk about heaven and God. A lot of the children at my school come from rough backgrounds and I often wonder how the church plays a role in their lives and if they know about Jesus's love for them. My faith smiled just yesterday when on my way back from Garfield Elementary I had a kindergartner (who at the moment is homeless) start singing "Jesus Loves Me". Adding in her own flare, by the time we got back to our school the whole had chimed in, what a wonderful sound it was!!
ReplyDeleteYou are being a witness through your kindness, caring and loving! Thanks for sharing this! That child singing "Jesus Love Me" is an unbelievable witness.
ReplyDeleteI think it's positive no matter what kind of prayer is being said. I think the real question is; what kind of prayer is a Muslim prayer, and how does it differ from our own? What are we expecting to see in terms of prayers in schools? If you heard the following prayer;
ReplyDelete"In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord of all the worlds.
The Compassionate, the Merciful.
Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight path,
the path of those who have received your grace;
not the path of those who have brought down wrath, nor of those who wander astray.
Amen,"
would you recognize it for what it was? More than that, would you be offended? Consider that you're looking from a third party perspective down on a situation that hasn't exactly occurred yet at Medina public schools. You may be upset that your child isn't learning a prayer you're familiar with, but they're not vastly different from our own. Just to reiterate; how knowledgeable are we that we could even spot this prayer for being a Muslim prayer? I tell you, I might not be able to. I might even presume it was one I might've heard in church one sunday morning.
The final thing I'd like to ask is; are you honestly worried that children are going to come home and sing "Allah Loves Me?" Or that the school would force it upon children? That's an extreme point to take on a matter that's merely trivial at the moment. I welcome people's thoughts on the matter :)
Zachary Frame
Some great points Zach! We certainly could not tell the difference between many prayers from many different perspectives. I think of some Native American prayers that I have heard and while the "name" for God is a bit different,the sense behind the prayer is wonderful. I think an essential issue is whether we want our children to learn or say prayers in the school setting ... in a formal or prescribed manner.
ReplyDeleteI happen to believe that we have already mixed the religious and the secular too much. Don't ask me to teach physics ... and, I won't ask a teacher to teach my child "how to" or "what to" pray.
Thanks for the comments. You've inspired me to think about another blog sooner rather than later.