Federal Judge Prohibits Prayer at Texas Graduation Ceremony

FOXNews.com ^ | June 2, 2011 | By Todd Starnes

[HushTX]

Oh, I gotcha. I read your post after putting this thread out of my mind and sleeping. So I had no idea what you were on about.

I’m with you now.

[Elsie]

So I had no idea what you were on about.

Give ME a day; and if I re-read something I typed earlier, most likely I won't know what I was thinking, either!

[trisham]

If it’s good for the Amish...ah....

[Elsie]

[Syncro]

Taking the 'free' money offered by the Feds gave them control.

Foolish and also unconstitutional.

It started with the Dept of Ed, a fed dept that is unconstitutional.

Then the states accepting a SMALL portion of it back.

Hay, bureaucracies are expensive!

[BBB123]

“I’m opposed to the idea. If the majority of students wish to have a prayer as part of their graduation, why should they be denied? The First Amendment clearly supports their wishes.

Perhaps in the future a vote should be taken every year. The graduating students, and ONLY those who will graduate, can vote on whether to include prayer as part of the formal graduation service. THAT would be a reasonable compromise.”

They tried that in Sante Fe TX. The SCOTUS found that unconstitutional as well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_Independent_School_Dist._v._Doe

Don’t get me wrong folks. The judge is telling the school district that they have to censor what a student can say, word by word. I don’t care what the subject is, that can’t be constitutional.

[HushTX]

That case is not exactly what I’m proposing.

In that case, the vote was for a student elected chaplain. There was no vote on having prayer, it was just on who would lead it. I’m talking about having the graduating students vote on whether to include prayer AT ALL. Let it be the choice of the graduating seniors. Not parents. Not faculty. Not staff. Not administration. Not alumni, juniors, sophomores or freshmen. The graduating seniors decide.

But that would probably be found unconstitutional somehow. Far better to just strip all of our rights, little by little, than find ways to preserve them. I hate these people.

[BBB123]

“That case is not exactly what I’m proposing.

In that case, the vote was for a student elected chaplain. There was no vote on having prayer, it was just on who would lead it. I’m talking about having the graduating students vote on whether to include prayer AT ALL. Let it be the choice of the graduating seniors. Not parents. Not faculty. Not staff. Not administration. Not alumni, juniors, sophomores or freshmen. The graduating seniors decide.

But that would probably be found unconstitutional somehow. Far better to just strip all of our rights, little by little, than find ways to preserve them. I hate these people.”

In the Sante Fe case, they had student elections both on whether to have invocations at football games and who would give the invocation. The SCOTUS ruled the district couldn’t allow students to lead prayer at football games period. The problem isn’t this district Judge. It’s SCOTUS.

[EBH]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

[Doe Eyes]

You claim is commonly recited by atheists and liberals, and is unsubstantiated by the passage you cherry picked from the bible. IF you can READ the bible you will see that Jesus prayed publically in Mark 6:41, Matthew 14:1, Luke 9:16, John 6:11, and John 11:30-45.

Of course Jesus can pray, but the point is the average person (Not Jesus) doesn't need to be providing advise to God on how to run things, Hence, the Lord's Prayer

[Doe Eyes]

In my case it was, “do you support Obama”?

[Godzilla]

Of course Jesus can pray, but the point is the average person (Not Jesus) doesn't need to be providing advise to God on how to run things, Hence, the Lord's Prayer

Sad and pathetic. You appear incapable of addressing the specifics and CONTEXT of your prooftexts. So Jesus is our example in everything BUT public prayer eh? Too bad Stephen didn't get the memo when he prayed at his stoning, or Paul for all of his prayer, or even the disciples on the day of Pentcost, raising such a commotion of prayer that thousands heard them.

BTW, pretty lame parallel providing 'advise' on how to run things - LOL, Jesus said you have not because you ask not and I have yet to see any prayer that ASKED (not tell or advise) God to bless an event to be something prohibited by scripture. Also shows additional challenge on your part understanding prayer because we are to ask according to the will of God - that can hardly be considered 'advising' God.

BTW, we are challenged to pray without ceasing - on cannot live in the closet all the time - it means that there are public events too. We are to acknowledge Jesus publically - not in the closet.

[Doe Eyes]

Sad and pathetic. You appear incapable of addressing the specifics and CONTEXT of your prooftexts. So Jesus is our example in everything BUT public prayer eh? Too bad Stephen didn't get the memo when he prayed at his stoning, or Paul for all of his prayer, or even the disciples on the day of Pentcost, raising such a commotion of prayer that thousands heard them.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11Give us this day our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

[Godzilla]

After this manner therefore pray ye. .

Gives guidelines for general structure for prayer - NEVER states that it cannot be done in public

Keep swinging kiddo - start reading in CONTEXT.

Once again, we have other examples of prayer from Jesus, Stephen, Paul, the other apostles that keep the WHOLE in context.

But then it is easier to try to deflect the point when losing than to address the FACT of the other examples of public prayer I provided.

[little jeremiah]

That’s about it. I just searched for a site I had as a favorite that described in simple layman’s language all the dirty “debate” tactics but can’t find it!

[Doe Eyes]

Gives guidelines for general structure for prayer - NEVER states that it cannot be done in public

From the Bible as stated by our Lord Jesus, "

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

[metmom]

Satan took verses out of context as well, when he tempted Jesus.

Keep digging.

[Godzilla]

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And has been pointed out - we gather our understanding of what is being communicated by the CONTEXT from which the passage sits in.

Here is what the bible COULD be telling you to do too -

Mat 27:5 KJV - And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Luk 10:37 KJV -. . . Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Jhn 13:27 KJV - . . . . Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Yours understanding is lacking.

[Doe Eyes]

Satan took verses out of context as well, when he tempted Jesus.

How are the Bible verses I posted taken out of context? This is from Jesus himself. Please explain.

[Doe Eyes]

And has been pointed out - we gather our understanding of what is being communicated by the CONTEXT from which the passage sits in.

CONTEXT from the passage from our Lord was not posted by you. Please post something related to what Jesus said regarding prayer in Mathew.