Sure, I'd love to start the game with an Our Father and a Hail Mary. I'll bring an icon of Christ for the team members to venerate, too. You'd be fine with that, right OP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not. Religious beliefs/rituals do not belong in a public setting. Players who get comfort from a pre-game prayer can do so at home before leaving for the game.

Agree a group pre-game prayer (or other event) is not appropriate. But there is no reason players have to reserve their prayers for home. Anyone can pray to themselves whenever and wherever they want to.

PP here. Yes, of course players don't have to reserve their silent prayers for home and can pray to themselves whenever and wherever they want. The point was that if they feel the need for some sort of group SPOKEN prayer, that should be done at home - or another private setting - not in a public setting. I don't think anyone intends to- or wants to - control anyone's private thoughts. SMH.

Absolutely not. Even if someone is religious they may not necessarily subscribe to the idea that God should be worried about a children’s football game rather than much bigger problems, or that prayer is a popularity contest.

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not. Religious beliefs/rituals do not belong in a public setting. Players who get comfort from a pre-game prayer can do so at home before leaving for the game.

Agree a group pre-game prayer (or other event) is not appropriate. But there is no reason players have to reserve their prayers for home. Anyone can pray to themselves whenever and wherever they want to.

I don't say the God part in the pledge anymore, so that would be a big no

Nope. I grew up in a neighboring state with similar practices. This isn't Kentucky. That would not go well here with the diversity of religions and beliefs (and non-beliefs if that's a word). Also, religious practices don't belong at public school functions. Pre-game prayers can be private and there is absolutely no reason for it at functions like graduation and in school. If that's important to you, go to a religious private school. There are plenty around here.

Definitely not. Religious beliefs/rituals do not belong in a public setting. Players who get comfort from a pre-game prayer can do so at home before leaving for the game.

Nope and I’m Christian. Not everyone believes the same things.

Of course not. I wouldn't want to sit around at a public school setting and be asked to give thanks to Allah or to ask for protection from Satan or to sit quietly as the featured speaker declares that there is no God. Football, graduation, first day of school -- none of that has anything to do with religion. No need to inject religion into the process.

These public displays of piety aren't really a way for believers to interact with God. They're more a way of marking territory in the public square.

Absolutely not. Religion has no place in any school-related event.

of course

No. I’m not ok with that.

No. I am Christian but it’s not appropriate in that setting, from an inclusion perspective. There’s nothing stopping individual players from saying a private prayer.

I wouldn't mind as long as there wasn't any crazy speaking in tongues/arm waving/etc but it would open the door to any religious group being allowed to say prayers and I'd rather not start off a game with pagan false gods, aka demons, being invoked.

Would you be okay with praying to the lord before an event like football game, Graduation, first day of school?


I was in Eastern KY, and they pray to the lord before the start of the football game. How would react if we did that in LCPS?