Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxp.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!we13!ihnp4!ihuxp!wbpesch From: wbpesch@ihuxp.UUCP (Walt Pesch) Newsgroups: net.misc Subject: Prayer in schools and WHY Message-ID: <623@ihuxp.UUCP> Date: Wed, 8-Feb-84 18:32:01 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxp.623 Posted: Wed Feb 8 18:32:01 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 10-Feb-84 02:30:49 EST References: <198@mi-eec.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 33 Hmmm... we might get a real cooker going with this. I will first say that religion has and does have a great effect on our society. This can be seen simply by looking at history. From there, I will state that children should be aware of the various religous beliefs that they will encounter in their fellow children and in their life. I do believe in religion in school. I believe as sure as they have social studies, or perhaps as part of social studies, the basis behind people's religous beliefs should be explained. Myself, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, go to Parochial Schools, and went to church every Sunday, can count on the fingers of one hand the numbers of times that I have been to a non-Catholic place of worship, and these all stem from either weddings or funerals. I will admit that though I am not of any religous persuasion at the current time, I am pretty much totally unaware of the various religous beliefs. I have a vague understanding of Judaism, no real understanding of the various Protestant sects, no comprehension of why the born-agains are constantly babbling about, and I won't even mention Buddhism. So my statement comes down to a support of the education in schools of religion. But only on a far basis where all the various belief are presented equally, and more on a socialogical than religous basis. I have a feeling that the Reverend Falwell and I will disagree on this, for I am sure that he only wants HIS religion in schools. Walt Pesch AT&T Technologies ihnp4!ihuxp!wbpesch