So starting next week, I may be part of a movement to

petition our university from hosting public prayers during football games. If you don't hear from after next week, I was lynched.

 

What do you mean public prayers?

As in everyone stops during the game to pray?

Or people are off to the side praying and anyone is welcome to join in?

 

Why does it matter?

I mean... jeez. I'm not Christian, but the last time I checked you can choose not to join in a prayer, and I'm pretty sure they can pray if they want to. The petition seems childish.

 

If it doesn't matter, than they should have no problem removing it. It's a religious ritual and it has no place interrupting a game.

 

Yes, but doesn't it take more effort to gather a whole group to remove it?

 

It's the principle of the thing.

 

I know, but as my first post said, why does it matter? I'm really confused as to why this is a problem.

 

You're contradicting yourself. You're saying that it doesn't matter, yet are acting as if it holds enough significance to not be removed.

 

It seemed more like a question, actually. I was wondering about it a bit at first myself, since America is all about freedom of religion. But then I figured that not EVERYONE follows the same religion.

So some people may feel uncomfortable. Would be better to replace a prayer with something positive that doesn't denote a religion in particular.

 

People are putting so much effort into something rather pointless to fight over.

I just think that religious people should have their thing, because a lot of non-religious people try to take it away. Of course, A LOT of religious people try to push their beliefs on others, but I don't really think that this situation is one of those.

But I suppose they could just do a moment of silence for thoughts or prayer, and stop calling it a prayer. I just don't think so much effort should have to be put into it.

 

Yeah I agree with that.

 

Like what? The national anthem? Believe it or not, there are people who live in America who don't want to live in America.

 

Separation of state and church. School is supposed to be secular, which is a decision that was taken in order to protect religious beliefs. I take it that this prayer is Christian, is it followed by a Muslim prayer, then a Jewish prayer, then a pagan ritual, then a Scientology prayer (not sure they have any but you get my drift), so on, so forth ? Can atheists just leave and get back later instead of having to sit through what' s tantamount to proselytism ? If you want to be fair either you represent all beliefs or you represent none, none is much simpler to enforce.

 

That's sort of different. Prayers are religious, thus separate from state. I think that's what people are pushing for.

I dunno, really. Those who are bothered by it should bring ideas to the table and what not.

 

Don't think for a second this is about the prayer itself. It takes almost no effort to pray, and to pray during a game would take away nothing from the game. This is about them denying religion at all levels, and displaying their disapproval with it being "forced" upon them.

I have no problem with them removing prayer for a public game. Why is it there in the first place? And I'm sure not everyone there is Christian, and if someone is religious they aren't necessarily Christian.

I agree that it seems like people are trying to take away religious peoples freedom to practice a religion publicly. However in a public setting like this where everyone has different beliefs, to favor one and then "force" everyone else to take part does come off as something that should be done away with.

Also, what is stopping them from praying silently? Nothing. A moment of silence would be far more appropriate when dealing people of different religions, or lack of religion.

 

Spam Zone + Religion = Discussion Section

Lol

 

I think it might be illegal for the school to sponsor it and/or the prayer to interrupt the game, actually? Provided it's a public university (private universities can do that if they want iirc). Correct me if I'm wrong, though.
But if this is just a group of religious people who happen to attend classes there doing their own thing, then I don't think it can be stopped.

 

See, that's exactly what I thought. It's about Christians, and not wanting Christians to be rewarded somehow, because apparently to many non-Christians, praying is viewed as a younger sibling getting more Christmas presents than you. To me it seems as if it's just some personal vendetta people have against Christianity, while the majority of eastern and western religions pray, and I get that it's some church and state bullshit argument, and I don't have a problem with it being removed, I just have a problem with people making such a damn big deal about it, when it's so much easier to just go on their way.

It's not like Christians are purposefully doing it in spite of others. In fact, the only ones offended by this are probably Atheists, and I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but from the majority of Atheists I've met, I've found them to be the most damn intolerable group of people I've ever had the displeasure to meet.

To me it doesn't seem like people are being forced to pray though, I've been to games before that do this, and I've never seen security officers or staff going around with whistles saying, "Hey! Your head isn't bowed you cross-burning heathen!"

 

You don't have to pray...