The great demand for "prayer in the schools" and "in public places" IN EFFECT & BY DEFAULT says that PRIVATE PRAYER ISN'T PRAYER! That ONLY PRAYER BY COMMITTEE or COLLECTIVIST PRAYER IS PROPER PRAYER!

But that isn't the way I was taught as a child. For read Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 6-13 (King James Version): "and when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.... But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father, which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth thee in secret shall reward thee openly.... After this manner, pray ye ...", and The Lord's Prayer follows.

Charlotte? Jesus didn't say "Pray in the schools" -- unless it's one-at-a-time -- in the school closet. I regard this demand for Collectivist Praying as "Prayer by Committee". (Yes, Ophelia, I join in congregational prayer, which I equate with hymn-singing -- not the secret prayer Jesus taught me!)

Secret prayer, anywhere, cannot effectively be forbidden by law. But you can "brain-wash" citizens into doubting that secret prayer is really prayer. Secret prayer, in a democracy, apparently provokes religious rightwing theocrats. Will theocrats also attack the secret ballot?

[Camp Tune: "What did Iowa?"]
[Chorus]Why was Jesus wrong, Pat Robertson?
Why was Jesus wrong?
Why was Jesus wrong, Jerry Falwell?
Why was Jesus wrong?
Why was Jesus wrong, Jesse Helms?
Why was Jesus wrong?
Jesus said, "Go into your closets and pray",
So why was Jesus wrong?

Jesus didn't say pray in the market place,
Like the Scribes and the Pharisees.
Jesus didn't say pray in the Temple,
Like the hypocrites on their knees.
Jesus didn't say pray in classrooms --
In Prayer-by-Committees.
Jesus said, "Go into your closet and pray",
So why was Jesus wrong?
[Chorus]

The LEAKYNESS of "prayer" -- which has been forced on us -- LOSES MANY DECISION GAMES OF FREE CHOICE OF WORKSHIP! If some one mentions PRAYER, I have to look for a RATING, as in a movie or literary work.