Children Law Religion Rights

New Oklahoma Bill to Force Prayer in Schools

The names for these religious bills that pop up all over the country to put prayer in public schools or to tell people who they or cannot marry or who they can discriminate against amuse me. This latest one in Oklahoma is SB 450 or the “Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act” for Schools. From the article linked at the end of this post,

“The legislation officially sanctions school prayer in the classroom and at school sponsored events, and gives students permission to proselytize during class, lead a prayer over the school intercom during morning announcements, or introduce varsity sporting events with a prayer.”

Students are already permitted to pray in school if they choose to as long as it does not disrupt class. The issue is religions rites or displays at schools or school events or organized prayer lead by a student or staff member that means everyone feels compelled to participate. This bill might be intended by our American taliban to impose prayer in schools, a way for them to move us closer to a Christian theocracy.

It could be interpreted that way, but then Matthew 6:5-6 says that Christians don’t pull that shit unless they want dear old Dad to see they’re hypocrites:

“(5) And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. (6) 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.”

So that must mean that the State of Oklahoma is looking to encourage some other group to lead prayers in public schools, right? I don’t know everyone’s books, but maybe they mean Muslims? Jews?

Gee, what could this bill be aiming to accomplish then?

I’m not great with holy books so I’ll just go back to a passage that is a favorite of mine that Oklahoma might find helpful:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Attached article: “Oklahoma Bill Would Force Christian Prayers Into Public Schools” – Michael Stone

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