So here is a question for the people opposed to the prayer. I have seen numerous kids do the "reflective knee" as I call it to take a moment before the match and maybe gather their thoughts or what not (Looks like a prayer to me). Should the officials ding them for stalling or for being Christians in public?

I am not opposed to prayer at a HS wretling tournament--if it is voluntary and not intrusive. What I and several others question is the organization, or attempt to organize, a public prayer in and on a public school and activity. Can a student get up in class and organize/lead a prayer; can a eacher or coach organize a prayer in a class or at a school sponsored activity. Don't think so!!

What can a school do: I think they can or should be able to set aside an announced time and private place where students, and faculty, can have private thoughts, meditate, even prayer. And, I think they can present nonreligous classes on the academic study of religions (NOTICE SAID RELIGIONS---NOT JUST ONE RELIGION). What could such classes teach? How aboput the comparative studies, the history and philosophy of World religions, the conficts between World religions, the demographics of World religions, etc. etc. This would not include denominational religious studies or services--those are conducted in the church!!

Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Sorry Enetophobic was not a reply to your post I was just posting the Scripture.

I, too, think something great is happening here. It is a testament to these wrestlers' and adults' faith that they are willing to step out there for all to see. Thanks so much, Brett and Michael for taking the time and effort to organize this. I've no doubt my son, of his own free will, will be there.

To gymmom, the First Amendment reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ...." It doesn't say we can't pray on public school or government grounds, only that the government can't force you to.

Darlene Wolf

Students do not shed their constitutional rights when they enter the school house gate. These “constitutional rights” include a student’s right to pray alone or in groups, as long as they are not disruptive to the school environment. The subjectivity of "disruptive" is not determined by Contrarian.

Pray on kids. Include Contrarian in your prayer!

Don't apologize to me, I am for freedom of press...thus freedom of religion is right up there too.

Don't mean to post on back to back here, but do schools no longer do the "Pray at the Pole?"

Do not see the need to quote scripture!!!

Fred Phelps and his group of Christian nuts from Topeka quote scripture when they picket and demonstrate at the funerals of our service people killed in combat. Muslim radicals quote scripture as they blow themselve and others into kingdom come!! The nuts in Salem mass sang gospels and quoted scripture while the burned the witches. Catholic priests, I think Jesuits, conducted the Inquisition (torture and death) in Spain.

Enough said on the subject.

Dude. Come on. Just because nut cases quote scripture, you take the stance that nobody should? Are you serious?

While these comments have a lot to say about prayer, the instructions of it's author are for a kind of prayer that has nothing to do with public displays: "And when you pray" Jesus of Nazareth said, "do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men, I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you"
(Matthew 6:5-6)

You better believe I am. A feverent Christian, if not controlled by law, would kill a non Christian believer/heathen as quick as a Jihadist bomber. I believe thru history more people have been killed for religious reasons than for all other reasons combined!!! Probably have to include ethnic conflicts/genocide in those numbers--These are normally based in religion and conflicts between religion.

A "feverent Christian? Bill, you are misrepresenting Christians. We are called to be a light in the world. To tell unbelievers about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. For you to say that Christians would kill an unbeliever if not for the law, shows your ignorance of what the bible says.

I used to pray before every math test - I think God said, "Mark you have to study!"

But in fact a student can pray in class. A student can organize a bible study on campus, a student can organize a prayer room. At GEHS there is a prayer room every wednesday morning at 7:00- 8 am It is student led and organized.

The number of student led prayer groups across kansas and the country is exploding.

You are wrong here: Communists/facist governments have killed far more people than any religious movement in history.

Great! But as you said--it is in a designated space and at a designated time.

there are no laws being broken here. all you folks who are concerned about this need to do is ignore it. i promise your day won't be affected in any way. we can not restrict these young men, from organizing this, that would be against the law. God Bless, Good Luck, and Have a Great Day.

DUDE!!!! You need to go read some history. I will give you a hint----start way way way back before 1919. Muslim-Hindu conflicts in India in the 40s and 50s probably killed as many as Communism or Facism--these confilict led to the division of India into India (Hindu), Muslim Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Exactly. Before regionals and on the mat.

As is evident by the comments included in this thread, that there are those who resent and disapprove of those who pray in public; those who feel uncomfortable with public prayer; and those who wholly support the notion of public prayer. That seems pretty strait-forward. Religious or not, people are looking for things they can cling to, hoping to gain meaning, purpose, hope and security. That ultimate security comes from somewhere else. It isn't from public displays of prayer, investments, security cameras or things you buy. Such things are the sounds of insecurity.