When all too many people speak of Christian prayer in schools, what they really mean is not prayers by all Christians, but some type of prayer that is fully acceptable only to some Christians. Not surprisingly, those Christians tend to be WASP.
When I was young, I attended Roman Catholic parochial school. The school day started with prayers, and at least once a week, it started with a Mass. But, the classroom prayers that started the day—on non-Mass days—were the typical Roman Catholic cycle of morning prayers for children, including the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, Gloria Patri, and the Symbolum Apostolorum (the Our Father or Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary, Glory to the Father, and the Apostolic Creed).
However, it is impossible for me to imagine a scenario in which Christian school prayer in a public school setting would be left to the discretion of the teacher. Rather, a definition would be forced on the teachers that would be every bit as tight as the secularist definition that is now forced on teacher in public schools.
No teacher would be allowed to follow their denomination’s accepted pattern for morning prayer. Rather, I strongly suspect that what would be imposed would be the typical Evangelical pattern for morning prayer, which would mean some type of Scripture, a general prayer (probably including the Our Father, but maybe not in “Bible Belt” states), and maybe a brief and rather limited, controlled reflection on the Scripture might be allowed. But, even that controlled reflection on Scripture would probably not allow any other type of interpretation than that considered to be somewhat “literal” by American Evangelical standards, and most certainly it would not include any quotes from Church Fathers or monastic saints.
You see, the problem with those who insist that we must pass a constitutional amendment to return Christian prayer to schools is that they would be the same ones who would promptly move against any Christian group whose prayers were not approved by them, even if a significant percentage of the United States belonged to that group. [25% of Americans are Roman Catholic]. A lot of verbiage is used to try to say that what they mean is that only prayer must be used that is acceptable to all Christian groups. Conveniently, they forget to mention that what this means in actuality is only that prayer found acceptable to Evangelical conservatives. No room or give would be present to periodically alternate that with other prayers acceptable to other Christians.
Worldwide, the largest Christian group in the world is the Roman Catholic Church. If one added all the other Christian groups in the world, they still would not equal the number of Roman Catholics. Thus, one would think that their prayers would be acceptable to those American conservatives who wish to have Christian prayer in schools. But, it is not so. Only some type of “generic” prayer (substitute “Evangelical”) is acceptable to these groups.
But, I am in favor of Christian prayer in public schools. Provided, that is, that we are allowed to periodically have Orthodox prayer days. If that is not possible, then I am completely against Christian prayer in public schools on the ground that it is state-sponsored prayer designed to teach my child false doctrines.
Somewhat related: Father, how do you feel about Orthodox families sending children to Catholic schools?
I do not see it as a major problem. In the USA & Canada, the Roman Catholic schools are very respectful of Eastern Orthodox and tend to say positive things to Orthodox children. Of course, it would be good if Orthodoxy were to start more schools in the USA, but that many not happen for another generation.
“…designed to teach my child false doctrines”? Hast thou not exaggerated? I understand thy point to some degree, but usually generic prayers, in my opinion, don’t teach false doctrine, and they’re not designed to. “We thank Thee for this day.” “We ask that Thou wilt bless us and help us.” Those seem to be pretty generic, I think they would be acceptable to any Jesus follower, even others for that matter. And I think they would be based on truths that have been expressed thus: We believe in God … Creator of all things, visible and invisible. (He created this day, which He has given to the people who are praying.); or Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, and My help comes from the Lord. (Thus acknowledging that ultimately, all blessing originates in God.
In general, I find what thou writest to be very interesting, challenging, informative and helpful, but this phrase just struck me strangely.
Now, I realize I do really feel identified with a WASP culture; and thou probably dost not, and never didst completely. I can’t imagine fully what it must be like culturally to be Eastern Orthodox in the middle of so much Protestantism. Maybe there are moments when thou just wantest to scream in frustration. A whole new world has opened up to thee, and thou wantest to share its riches. Probably many times they are not received.
Keep writing. Thanks for letting me rant about this phrase. Love to thy whole family.
Russ
I was thinking in terms of the idea that whatever is not practiced regularly must not be important. Whatever is not present regularly must not be important. Thus, if prayers like the Our Father are forbidden (in parts of the Bible Belt, you do not recite the Lord’s Prayer on the grounds that it is empty repetition), or liturgical prayer is forbidden (it must be somewhat spontaneous), etc., the child does not perceive the subtleties of the discussion that led to a generic prayer to which no one would object. What the child perceives is that memorized prayer, liturgical prayer, etc., is either not very important or is nothing more than some frosting added onto a base of common Christianity.
However, I would not wish our children growing up thinking that. Liturgy, memorized prayers, honoring of the Virgin Mary, etc., are part of the very warp and woof of Catholic Christianity. I can compromise, but not to the point that I could completely eliminate all those things from our children’s experience in school. That is why I said that I would wish to have periodic Orthodox, or at least Catholic Christianity, days. It would be better to present to the children that there are various “Christianities” than to present the idea that somehow there is a generic cake which is then covered by denominational (and not important) frosting that can be scraped off if it is too sugary for your tastes.
To have only generic (Evangelical) Christian prayers in school would be to teach a “cake and frosting” theology, which would indeed be false doctrine to Orthodox believers. That is why I would wish to have periodic “Orthodox/Catholic” days and would oppose generic-only Christianity in schools.
Thing is, “Fundagelicals” have redefined the word “Christian” without any adjectives to mean THEIR brand of Christian and ONLY their brand of Christian.
All the rest of us have to add an adjective — “Catholic”, “Orthodox”, “Lutheran”, etc.