Does God belong in School?

The practice of living the life in Christ: fasting, vigil lamps, head-coverings, family life, icon corners, and other forms of Orthopraxy. All Forum Rules apply.


Does God belong in Schools?

Poll ended at Mon 14 February 2005 4:56 pm

yes,

4
31%

no

1
8%

not for orthodox in secular school

6
46%

maybe

0
No votes

not sure one way or the other

1
8%

no opinion.......

1
8%
 
Total votes: 13

gphadraig
Member
Posts: 195
Joined: Mon 23 August 2004 4:19 pm

Post by gphadraig »

A difficult question and one that must be placed in some form of context to make sense. The question, I imagine, is directed at the situation in the USA. Theorectically and legally there is a clear seperation of church and state there. I say clear 'cos in reality it appears in some ways as any but, e.g. Presidential swearing ins, President Reagan's funeral, etc.

Also the thought of education without God strikes me as an impossibility. Though I firmly agree with the poster who pointed out God is not religion and nor is Orthodoxy. Orthodoxy is the 'the pillar and ground of the truth', 1 Timothy 3,15. Orthodoxy rejects the concept of relativity, partiality or the truth somehow not being found in any one 'church' but rather residing in the sum of all of them. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ, per Our Lord's own words. So Christianity is not one religion among many, each leading equally validly to God, as some teach.

This may be heard to accept, but nevertheless this is the teaching of our blameless Church.

In a secular society therefore what should we seek. Regrettably perhaps the teaching concerning God and salvation may have to fall on the home, the parish and Sunday schools.

One poster referred to America not being a Christian country. It hurts Greeks but I do not believe there is a single Christian country in the world. Countries which owe their past, their structures and so forth to an earlier Christian time, yes. But Christian now, no.

Soon2BeOrthodox
Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu 24 March 2005 11:01 pm

Post by Soon2BeOrthodox »

While I don't believe there is a place for God in the classroom in today's public schools, I do believe that students should be allowed to congregate and worship at school as long as it does not interfere with classes or curriculum (i.e. school "clubs", etc.).

User avatar
rat
Newbie
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue 28 September 2004 12:16 am

Post by rat »

God is everywhere, always. Therefore, there is no place where God isn't.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

User avatar
Maria
Archon
Posts: 8428
Joined: Fri 11 June 2004 8:39 pm
Faith: True Orthodox Christian
Jurisdiction: GOC
Location: USA

Post by Maria »

wretched sinner wrote:

God is everywhere, always. Therefore, there is no place where God isn't.

Amen!

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things ....

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

patrick

Post by patrick »

Schultz wrote:

It sometimes annoys me to see good-natured Christian people moaning and whining, in a few words, about God not being in the schools and how this Nativity scene isn't allowed on public property or that plaque of the Ten Commandments isn't allowed in a courtroom. They all labor under the assumption that the American state is a Christian nation.

I gave up that assumption a long time ago.

I'm old enough to remember when they banned prayer and Bible reading in the public schools. Yes, I suppose one could find things to criticise, perhaps, but at least these practices represented an acknowledgement of God! And certainly in those days nobody was criticized for praying, mentioning Jesus Christ, and any teacher could have a Bible on his or her desk without it being considered as some sort of religious "intimidation."

For some years after the ban, I recall that many, possibly most, teachers kept a Bible on their desk. Nowadays, I don't think they could do that without some school official complaing that they were offending non-Christians or that it represented enforcement of a state religion.

On balance, I think it was a good thing when prayer and Bible reading were done in the schools. It was done in a general enough way that I don't see how any Orthodox person would have been offended. People could pray however they chose. The teachers didn't actually lead the prayers.

Post Reply