Why don atheists want prayer in school or other public places?
The American Constitution declares that there will be no establishment of national religion in America. This is for the benefit of all religious and non-religious people. When a State Religion is established it can mean trouble for those who do not follow it (which is how many Americans came to be here in the first place, way back when). Directed prayer in public places establishes religion because it instructs subordinates to pray in the manner dictated by the director’s religion. In the example of prayer in public schools, if there was a “Prayer Moment” of some sort every morning, it is forcing the schoolchildren to imitate the Christian method of prayer or risk being ostracized. Students of other religions are not encouraged to face Mecca, for example, which is necessary for Muslim prayer. Atheist students would need to pretend to pray or else be subverting the will of their teacher and fellow students, with whatever consequences might follow. Individual prayer, however, is not outl
The fear is that those who don’t participate in a school prayer are open to ostracism and bullying by others. Kids tend to pick on anyone who is perceived as “different”. There are many subtle ways this can manifest also, such as a teacher’s attitude toward a child who won’t participate in prayers in the classroom. I think there are ways to have classroom prayer without atheists becoming targets, like a moment for personal thought rather than an out-loud communal prayer. I don’t know of any atheists who are bothered by anyone praying – it’s the assumption that everyone WANTS to pray that is irritating. Individuals prayers by people anywhere and at any time are fine, and it’s also fine is a group of people who share a belief system. But you cannot assume it.
There are a lot of answers, but mine is simple. We all pay taxes for public education, and other public services. To put any sort of spiritual or religious belief or practice into something I pay taxes to support would be to effectively force me to support something against my conscience. Furthermore, we’re talking about “education”, which is supposed to teach you about the world. Praying has nothing to do with that. And there can never be a neutral activity – there will always be that Hindu or Buddhist, or yes, atheist, that doesn’t like the “interfaith” prayer, much less the Christian-inspired one. Maybe I would be okay with “let’s put a moment of silence and reflection” into classrooms thing, if it was not guided. Then the atheists could think, or read, or just breathe, Buddhists could meditate, Christians could pray. But not “all together”. I don’t see why people can’t just keep their faith to themselves, why they feel they need to be around others who share their faith… well, I
In public school I don’t want any children to feel they are hangin’ with the wrong (or no) god. It’s also just not appropriate to teach prayer there. Some may believe it’s helpful but others don’t. One set’s beliefs shouldn’t be shoved up into others. Public places are paid for by the general public – again of all or no religion. So people occasionally praying there is no problem. But if a park, for instance, is taken over by some “prayer gang” or turned into a de facto church paid for by taxes – it’s bad. I bet it’s not just atheists who feel this way. Imagine the reaction if Muslims wanted kids to pray several times a day in school – or Hindus wanted prayers to their appropriate gods.
