also view that since education is mandatory, publicschools cannot impose one religions prayers or beliefs over that of another(Kramer, I Want My Freedom 1). To do so would be a certain violation of therights of those students who did not belong to or believe in the dominatingreligion. According to many who are opposed, the only way to make people ofdiffering religions comfortable with the idea of school prayer and religiousexpression would be to make prayers cross-cultural, but any watered-downprayer, as these have been called, would only cause more controversy. It wouldresult in the deeply religious persons finding it meaningless, and it would be aninfringement on students who follow no religion (Kramer, I Want My Freedom1).There are more people opposed to prayer in schools than just theobvious. Even highly religious Christians are strongly opposed to religion beingconnected in any way to the everyday school routines of children. They say thatthe Bible specifically warns against public prayers, such as school prayer(Kramer, I Want My Freedom 1). It is found in The New Testament that Jesus,in fact, did give somewhat of a warning against public prayer. When you pray, dont be like those show-offs who love to standup and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners...When you pray, go into a room and close the door. Prayto your Father in private...(Matthew 6:5-6)Some have translated this passage as to implying two clear things: Jesuscondemns prayer in situations where other people are present (as in schools);and prayers are to be an intensely personal event between a person and theirGod (Robinson, The Bible and Public Prayer 1). Another example from the Holy Bible that adds further evidence to theideal that public prayer wasnt completed supported can be found also in thebook of Matthew. Chapter 14, verse 23 reads as follows:Then he [Jesus] went up on a mountain where he could be aloneand pray.There are many references that can be f...
