Comments about ‘Letters: Put God back in schools’

How would increased religion help at all?

Let's put God back into not only schools but make him a priority in our lives! Let's put Ethics back where it belongs!

Do you honestly think all of America would agree with your choice of "whose God" we should all be forced to worship? I suggest you get out and see our Nation instead of spouting what I call absolute nonsense. I'm sure all these mass murderers share one commonality....self-righteous delusions.

While I would love to see faith inserted into all aspects of daily life, I fail to see how having God in School would have prevented any of these incidents. It is a nice thought, but really wont result in anything. Think back to the Amish school that was attacked several years ago where several children were slaughtered - a very God fearing group and school.

I wish it were that simple. But mentally unstable people don't worry about God too much.

Teaching about God is best done in the homes. If you want an all-day religious-based education for your children, find the money to pay for a private school that focuses on faith-based teaching.

Yes Lyle secularists would object to putting God in schools because it's the secularists and secularism that prevents the children in Utah from having to pray to Mother Mary before class, and it's the secularists that don't allow half a class to leave math class and go pray to Allah when they feel it's appropriate.

Believe what you choose Lyle...but it's secularism that allows you that choice without the influence from a more politically or even physically powerful religion telling you you can't.

How does one "put God in school"? What does this mean in reality? How would this stop a person not attending from going in and doing harm?

This seems to be a bit of an non sequitur: God is not in school so people go to school and harm children.. It does not follow any logic.

I started school in the mid 60's and we never prayed or studied the bible. Perhaps this God in schools thing was/is regional.

Maybe someone can logically explain this to me.

In one breath people will rant about getting the government out of their lives and in the other they'll demand that the government dictate the most intimate decisions we make. Which is it, guys?

Which God? The God of Catholics? Protestants? Evangelicals? Jews? Muslims? Wiccans? Buddhists? Hundus? Hare Krisna? Satanists? [Nme any other maor or minor religion]? And what about agnostics and athiests? Imposing one form of religious teaching on soeone whoe family believe in another way is NOT proper or ethical. We taught our children religion and faith in God at home. That's where the teaching of religion and God belongs (unless, of course, parents choose to send their children to private religious schools).

Good questions dave! I'd like to know how the author of this letter has the audacity to use the following...

"If you cannot trust in a God who answers prayers of faith, what can you believe in?"

The parents and loved ones of the victims must take great solace in attitudes like that! Right?

What greater good could be done in a school that could only be done with religion? None.

In some of the few places that force religion in schools we have sent our military to bring peace and freedom to their country.

Lyle, while I'm all for the individual developing a personal relationship and faith in God, that approach hasn't worked in the past when you consider all the molested children in churches and religous organizations, ie Boy Scouts. Lyle, we should assign you to find us an alternative.

Look, if God had wanted to, He could easily have given the shooter a massive heart attack the second he approached the school. What you're suggesting is that God did not intervene, because the kids weren't required to recite some rote, formulaic prayer every morning. That, apparently, so offended God that He decided to let a madman butcher them.
As it happens, I believe in God, and I pray to Him, and I wonder why He allows this kind of evil to occur. I certainly don't have all the answers, though I feel some peace when I pray. But I absolutely and completely reject the absurd theology that says that 'taking God out of our schools' has anything whatsoever to do with this kind of tragedy.

@ UtahBlueDevil 12/29 8:16a

We REALLY need to worry about the psychologically maladjusted that think God is exclusively on their side.

This really seems like another lame attempt from the right wing to eliminate Sex Education and Evolution in our schools rather than a serious call for citizens to become more virtuous.

You're right, Mr. Tillett. Adam Lanza killed 26 people in his school because he wasn't forced to pray to the Christian God or use the phrase "one nation under God" every day in the classroom. Where on earth are you getting this viewpoint from?

Here's something to think about: Europe is growing more and more secular and yet has a gun violence rate far far lower than the US. So the solution is actually to remove God not only from schools, but the entire public sphere!

God is at our schools. Every teacher brings in their own ethical based, much of it based on their own personal religious teachings, which effects their actions every day as teachers. I can't help but think of those teachers who laid their lives down to protect their students. Most of our high school students in Utah attend release time Seminary where they are engulfed with religion and God. But we all bring whatever to the classroom and all facets of our life. We also seem to forget history as well. The worst school mass murder happened in 1927, well before the Supreme Court decision Engel v. Vitale that "took prayer out of the classroom." I know many teachers in both private and public schools that pray for their students day and night to inspire them, to teach effective lessons, to help their students in what ever problems are affecting them. God is watching over our schools iMO. A rote prayer over the morning announcements or Bible reading does not bring students closer to God.

No. Secular Canada, Norway, Sweden, Spain, UK, and Germany all have significant (4x-40x) lower homicide rates (it's a rate so it accounts for population differnece since it's homicides per 100k people) than the US.

I don't understand how someone that believes in a god would think that he is NOT in schools. Do you really think that, if there is a god, man's government is more powerful then him, or her? Do you really think that government can ban him, or her from anywhere?

Also, prayer is not banned in schools, nor is religion. Your religion goes with you wherever you go. Or do you think you leave your religion behind when you step out of your chapel? And you can pray to your hearts content in school. Bow your head and say a little prayer. I am sure that their are plenty of students that do just this before finals.

But what you want is to push your religion on those that do not believe as you believe. I don't think most religious people want this, but a very vocal group does. And they need to knock it off. I, for one, want nothing to do with your religion.