TOK notes 2-15-02 Friday

We discussed the article in the paper about prayer at school events.

The article mentioned that a bill had passed the florida house concerning
allowing prayer in public schools.

In particular, the bill would allow student-led prayer at non-compulsory
school events, as well as graduation.

As expected, most people didn't feel that such a bill should pass.

They felt that by doing so, the majority was imposing their will on the
minority and subjecting them to unwanted prayer.

A couple questions posed:

Who would be offended if this bill was passed and students led prayer at
certain events?

Would others who did not believe in a particular religion be pressured
into either joining that religion, or at the very least praying with the
others?

Where does freedom of speech come into play with this issue?

Should a student be allowed to express/show his/her ideas freely with
others as long as those ideas do not concern religion?

Why is religion special?

Would something like this be constitutional?

Why are we so afraid of a bill like this? How does our history as a nation
play into this debate?

Are the conditions that our founding fathers dealt with, with respect to
religion still pertinent to this issue like they were several hundred
years ago?

Why can't those who want to pray just do so elsewhere?

Would a bill like this, which is meant to unite, ultimately be too
divisive?