bakerkayla@... asked this question on 5/1/2000:

Can you send me some statistics of results since involuntary prayer has been dismissed from pulic schools? Ex: percent of teen pregnancy, illegal use of drugs, etc.

The_Philosopher_King gave this response on 5/1/2000:

I don't have any statistics. I would bet though that Christians will say that such social problems increased after prayer was removed from public schools, but what is to say that there is a direct correlation between praying and social problems?

Religion by its very nature can be one of the foremost proponents of conflict and violence. Organized religion deals with ultimate reality. Thus adherents must accept that their way is the *only* right way. This necessarily leads to intolerance.

What is prayer? How does it affect the mind? Is there a God? How do we know such a being listens? How do we know we are praying in the correct way? If God is so great, why doesn't He just stop the problems by himself? If God is so great? Why doesn't everybody know that such a being exists? If God is there why is there even debate? You don't see people debating over whether or not squirrels exist or not do you? No, because it is self evident.

We don't need organized religion to teach us how to live. Religion, especially Christianity absolves man of personal responsibility. It says, *depend* on Jesus and *depend* on God. God will take care of everything. Man is too frail and weak. This kind of thinking weakens the mind and abilities of man and makes him merely a blade of grass flowing in the wind with no control over his destiny whatsoever

We don't need religion.

What is your concept of religion by the way? How do you define it and what do you think about it?

TPK