Filling schools with history of prayer

Inspired: Kimberly McBeth is raising funds to send copies of the book The History of Prayer in America, by Fern Nilson, to every school library in Pennsylvania.

[Patty Wack]

Include childrens letters to Santa. It is the same thing.

[Old Alumnus]

I applaud Kimberly for her efforts. We certainly need to educate our children about the power of prayer, and its relevance in schools. Back when I went to public schools, we were allowed to pray if you wanted to. I certainly would have prayed that a lady dressed like Kimberly (in the article photo)would have delivered the book in person.

[justdandy]

It is obvious that she is trying to do what she believes in which is more than post on this local blog. I know her too and one thing about Kim, she always speaks her mind about her beliefs. I say good for her taking it to another level. Go Kim!

[Former Chambersburg Girl]

Old Alumnus wrote:

I applaud Kimberly for her efforts. We certainly need to educate our children about the power of prayer, and its relevance in schools. Back when I went to public schools, we were allowed to pray if you wanted to. I certainly would have prayed that a lady dressed like Kimberly (in the article photo)would have delivered the book in person.

What happened to the fundamentals of separation of Church and State that our country was founded on? If we want to call our country free that means freedom of religion for everyone not just evangelical Christians....if we allow this book to be sent to all schools we must also remember to send the Koran to all schools!

[See Chel Post]

How about we fill the schools with passing scores FIRST?

[Onward Christian Soilder]

I know Kimberly also and I know she is doing what she strongly believes in and has a passion for. The only thing she is trying to promote is that without Christ you have nothing. How sad it would be to wake up everyday and not know him or his love.

[Loree]

After the Constitutional Cpmvemtopm c

Former Chambersburg Girl wrote:

<quoted text>
What happened to the fundamentals of separation of Church and State that our country was founded on? If we want to call our country free that means freedom of religion for everyone not just evangelical Christians....if we allow this book to be sent to all schools we must also remember to send the Koran to all schools!

Read the Following:
After the Constitutional Convention concluded, leaders like Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and Thomas Jefferson insisted that the Constitution must clearly contain in writing those specific liberties the colonists were intent on preserving. So Congress drafted and enacted the first ten amendments to the Consitution, also known as the Bill of Rights, which include the First Amendment.

The First Amendment contains two important religion clauses: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." These two clauses are referred to legally as the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. The first is a prohibition and the second is a guarantee.

This Amendment says absolutely nothing about "the separation of church and state." In fact, that phrase is found NOWHERE in the Constitution or in the Bill of Rights. What the founders meant by "an establishment of religion" in the First Amendment was simply that there should be NO OFFICIALLY established national church which citizens would be forced to attend, as there had been in England.(Information from "One Nation Under God" by Dr. David C. Gibbs, Jr.,)

[cowboy-up]

Former Chambersburg Girl wrote:

<quoted text>
What happened to the fundamentals of separation of Church and State that our country was founded on? If we want to call our country free that means freedom of religion for everyone not just evangelical Christians....if we allow this book to be sent to all schools we must also remember to send the Koran to all schools!

If someone wants to raise the money themselves and send different books to the school districts, go ahead.

[A Talking Horse]

Loree wrote:

After the Constitutional Cpmvemtopm c<quoted text>
Read the Following:
After the Constitutional Convention concluded, leaders like Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and Thomas Jefferson insisted that the Constitution must clearly contain in writing those specific liberties the colonists were intent on preserving. So Congress drafted and enacted the first ten amendments to the Consitution, also known as the Bill of Rights, which include the First Amendment.
The First Amendment contains two important religion clauses: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." These two clauses are referred to legally as the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. The first is a prohibition and the second is a guarantee.
This Amendment says absolutely nothing about "the separation of church and state." In fact, that phrase is found NOWHERE in the Constitution or in the Bill of Rights. What the founders meant by "an establishment of religion" in the First Amendment was simply that there should be NO OFFICIALLY established national church which citizens would be forced to attend, as there had been in England.(Information from "One Nation Under God" by Dr. David C. Gibbs, Jr.,)

The Declaration Of Independence has the pertinent clause:

"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."

Not god...

[Imogene]

I would love to see prayer restored in our schools. I do believe we are living in the last days and we should be thinking about where we would like to spend eternity.

[A Talking Horse]

Imogene wrote:

I would love to see prayer restored in our schools. I do believe we are living in the last days and we should be thinking about where we would like to spend eternity.

Vanity...

[Confused]

A Talking Horse wrote:

<quoted text>
The Declaration Of Independence has the pertinent clause:
"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."
Not god...

Can you tell me where this clause is located.

[Anon]

I have no problem with this woman and her family making money, if that's the outcome, to put one of these books in every public or church library. But keep it out of public schools and quit trying to indoctrinate our children in YOUR beliefs only.

[Dean]

Hey why don't we just lock the kids in their classrooms and shove the “King James” version of bible down their throats. School is a place for the children to learn... NOT about god or prayer, the right place for that is called a CHURCH. This world isn't coming to an end because there is no prayer in school...lol. Our country is great for embracing the diversity of many religions and nationalities, and still there are people who want everyone to be the same. If the book was only about the history of prayer; i.e. prayer through out all the different religions and why it is done that might be a little interesting for the students, but by the way it sounds this is only about the Christian prayer. I give this woman credit for being proud of her religion and taking a stand for something she feels so strongly about, but seriously why would anyone want to interfere with a child’s school lessons with something they could learn at church.

[Shippensburg Could Be]

This book seems to tell the history of The United States of America and our history includes prayer. No one is pushing religion down anybodies throat. Grow up!! I beleive that school is no place for religion but this is history and how pray was apart of it. Knowing information is not the same as pushing a religion. Informed children make better choices. If we withhold information they will not have what they need to make good choices!!

[Jason Bingaman]

I don't see anything wrong with putting information in a library. It's there if students want to read it. No one said anyhting about holding prayer meetings, etc.

[A Talking Horse]

Confused wrote:

<quoted text> Can you tell me where this clause is located.

Preamble...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_De...

[jtb]

You poor God-haters.
When justice is finally served upon you, I'm sure it will be a sad day. But from this vantage point, I'd love to see your faces when you hear those fateful words, "depart from me, I never knew you".

I believe it's the fool who says in their heart "there is no god".

Onward christian soldier: I admit when I saw the top I was a bit taken back as well.

[jtb]

Ship could be:

These god haters can't stand the thought of anyone believing in God.

They use the "shove it down the throat" comment, but they don't even want people voluntarily using such literature.

They want a purely athiestic approach to society.

Well, for me,
1. I'm going to continue to drive my SUV
2. I'm going to continue to cling to my guns and my religion.

[Calm]

Personal attacks do not aid any debate; perhaps people should read the book before commenting.
A book on a shelf is an available reference; no one is forced to check it out.