prayer in school

stephenw20

On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel
Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in
Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House
Judiciary Committee's sub-committee. What he said
to our national leaders during this special session of
Congress was painfully truthful.They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well.
It needs to be heard by every parent, every
teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every
psychologist, and every so-called expert! These
courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful,
penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt
that God sent this man as a voice crying in the
wilderness. The following is a portion of the
transcript:
"Since the dawn of creation there has been both
good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain
the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The
death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott,
and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other
eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their
blood cries out for answers."
"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain
slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain
was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA,
the National Club Association. The true killer was
Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found
in Cain's heart."
"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I
was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be
pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the
NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am
not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I
don't believe that they are theonsible for my
daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they
need to be defended. If I believed they had anything
to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent."
"I am here today to declare that Columbine was not
just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should
be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies!
Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the
blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers
themselves. "I wrote a poem just four nights ago that
expresses my feelings best. This was written way
before I knew I would be speaking here today":
> Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
> Your words are empty air.
> You've stripped away our heritage,
> You've outlawed simple prayer.
> Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
> And precious children die.
> You seek for answers everywhere,
> And ask the question "Why?"
> You regulate restrictive laws,
> Through legislative creed.
> And yet you fail to understand,
> That God is what we need!
"Men and women are three-part beings. We all
consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to
acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create
a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to
rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual presences were present
within our educational systems for most of our nation's history.
Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact.
What has happened to us as a nation? We have
refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to
hatred and violence. And when something as terrible
as Columbine's tragedy occurs - politicians
immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately
seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to
erode away our personal and private liberties. We do
not need more restrictive laws.
"Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal
detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone
who spends months planning this type of massacre. The
real villain lies within our own hearts.
Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the
answers. The young people of our nation hold the key.
There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will
not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We
do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing
out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million
dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored. We do need a change of heart
and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was
founded on the principle of simple trust in God!"
"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school
library and saw his two friends murdered before his
very eyes-He did not hesitate to pray in school. I
defy any law or politician to deny him that right!
I challenge every young person in America, and around
the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at
Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our
schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by
those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new
millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation
that violates your God-given right to communicate
with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at
the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare
to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young
people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

crossroads

Praise the LORD;
For all of those out there waiting for the 'new system' to
solve all mans ills. Didn't OUR LORD and SAVIOR cure
ills when HE walked even though HE knew it was only a
bandaide for the present momemt. Are not we encouraged
to follow the"GREAT TEACHERS" example. I know we can't
raise the dead or make the blind see. But we can do many things for all are brothers[humanity] world wide can't we?
Even if is just to alert some one of a child molester, what a
little thing and yet oh soooo big. So find a cause that burns
inside you and do something like the LORD would want
you to. Remember what you do to the least of these my
brothers you do to me. Isn't this really the 'GOOD NEWS'
that you show love to those who can't help themselves.
Isn't that what HE did for us. Also to spread the WORD
far and wide JESUS came, JESUS died, and lo and behold
JESUS rose again. Who did that JESUS,who JESUS,
JESUS JESUS JESUS.[K.M. school repitition for emphasis]
LOVE and PEACE to ALL.

Tina

Prayer doesnt belong in the public school system. It violates the rights of those who are not judeo-christian oriented.
Ever read any Thomas Jefferson or T Paine?
WHile Im sorry about that tragedy,prayer is not going to do a thing. And his screaming for that 'right' violates the rights of others. This is a country of immigrants from its very inception and with these came different faiths, philosophies,and ways of thinking.
And if one knows the constitution,its quite clear on the separation. The founding fathers did not want what this man is asking for. FWIW,Tina

stephenw20

To say where prayer belongs or not is like saying, dont breathe here...............

you can wax as politically as you like, get all the evolution items you enjoy....at somepoint you will come to a divne being...............

if acknowleging this is wrong what can be right...............

.

Francois

What is a divne being?

expatbrit

Stephenw20:

To say where prayer belongs or not is like saying, dont breathe here...............

In your opinion.

you can wax as politically as you like, get all the evolution items you enjoy....at somepoint you will come to a divne being...............

In your opinion.

if acknowleging this is wrong what can be right...............

In your opinion.

Perhaps it would be better if prayer was to be an individual, free and unhindered choice in schools. Those who do not wish to engage in any religious activity should not be forced to do so. Children should not have forced indoctrination into any particular religious viewpoint, whether through prayers in school or other enforced procedures.

Pupils in schools should have the right not to pray, as well.

Expatbrit

crossroads

Are we missing Mr. Scotts point, please go back and read it.
Ask yourself why the media didn't report it? It has nothing to
do with 'our rights'. It really dosen't have anything[really] to do
about prayer in school. It has to do with how far of the path
this society has come. Sodom and Gehmora had rights too.
Do we want are kids to end up like that? The love of the greater
number has certainly cooled off. But the true followers also
have freedoms. The freedom to teach there childern and
friends and neighbors about Faith, Hope, and Love. If only
by example. "Imagine living life in Peace you may say I'm a
dreamer" But Lennon wasn't the only one I believe he
was inspired when he wrote this song. Oh maybe not like
the gospel writers but definitly inspired. What of MLK wasn't
he inspired when he had ' DREAM' . Strange how these worldly
men preached the 'GOOD NEWS' of Faith, Hope and Love.
Only to no longer be with us. Did they die for preaching it,
It is not for me to say all I ask of you is to go back and read
the original post and think about what this FATHER is saying.
Peace and Love to All-MARK

Tina

soory stephen,but you dont make sense

stephenw20

Tina,

If you have a specific question please ask?

EX.................
just answer one question.....when those kids were under the tables at school.............was ther any doubt what they were doing.........

FRANCoise...........when they were under the tables..........they found the divine being..the higher self the higher connection inthe universe...............

expatbrit

StephenW:

You assume that all of the threatened kids in this situation were praying. Do you not think it is possible that some were not?

You link this tragic but isolated incident to the issue of whether to have Judeo-Christian prayer in schools. Much as I respect the father you quoted in your first post, and feel for his suffering, to base decisions on his raw emotions at this time would be unwise, unbalanced and unobjective.

Surely it is not unreasonable to give students the right to decline to pray to the Christian (or other) God should they so choose. It seems to me that those who are vocal about "religious rights" invariably view others' non-practice as an infringement of their "religious rights". Sort of like "you don't wish to pray at school. I find that offensive. It violates my religious rights!"

If kid's wish to pray in school, let them do it. But to entrench it in law is merely the first step. The next step on the agenda of the religious right is to force others to conform, or suffer harmful consequences.

Another question: when those kids were being shot dead, were their prayers of any use?

Expatbrit

prayer in school

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