Enter sexy, interest-creating subject about praying in school here.

[praxiz]

When I grew up in Norway, kids sing grace before eating their lunch. I ended up as an atheist.

I'm sharing this with you because some of you may not realize that one of the most secular countries in the world, and has a very clear seperation of church and state, have had their 6-9 yearolds hanging out with Jesus in schools for decades.

Ofcourse, we learn about ALL religions in school, and there's never any pressure on anyone to believe in God. I remember once saying in class that I didn't believe in God or Jesus, and the teacher was fine with it (even though she was a very religious person herself). I was 8 years old, I think.

Neither creationism or intelligent has ever been discussed in any classroom as far as I know. My mother is a teacher and I think she'd mention it.

Last time I heard, the majority of Norwegians don't believe in God or consider themselves religious.

So the biggest argument against prayer in school might be not to spread christianity, but to preserve it. Kids generally don't like the things they learn about in school. If you want them to resent Jesus, then please - go ahead, order them to pray to him every day.

Personally I think you Americans should have all kinds of church in school. Go ahead, breed a generation of agnostics, and watch the world become a better place.

Anyway, someone said that kids shouldn't say grace in school, because school should be religion-neutral. Now, muslim leaders say they don't mind at all. That's the story.

--
By the way, the grace is as follows:

Og du som metter liten fugl,
velsign vår mat, O Gud.
Amen.

Or:

Oh you who feed the little birds,
bless our food, O'Lord.
Amen.

--

[BiggJawn]

1. Americans and Norwegians are Apples and Plums.

No comparison.

As I was saying in another thread, our "American Roots" are with those uber-fundy Puritans who came over in 1620 because they thought the Church of England was too "liberal".

A second-grader here who told his teacher that he didn't believe in Gawd would find himself in the Principal's office.

See if you can find a clip of that "God Warrior" freak from "Trading Spouses" the other week. You're looking right into the face of Religous Murka there.

[papau]

2. Norwegian tourist guides state a 60% belief in God nation

http://www.best.ntnu.no/sc2003/sg2003.doc