The Power of Prayer, the Trouble With Prayer

Re “Keep Prayer Private in Public Schools,” Letters, Dec. 5:

I was saddened to read Michael Jabbra’s letter regarding school prayer, in which he states that prayer is “worthless.” The violence and injustice he rightly laments is the result of human intolerance and misunderstanding, which is illustrated in his insensitive description of prayer as a “meaningless ritual.”

I don’t feel that prayer should be forced upon schoolchildren, but I also don’t feel that the meaningfulness of personal prayer should be judged publicly by a nonbeliever. For a believer, prayer is a powerful and effective way to stay connected to God, the creator of us all. God didn’t promise utopia on earth, but God did promise to be with us in times of trouble, offering us strength, comfort and hope.

Joyce Stenberg

Irvine

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Re “Terrorism Spurs Push for Prayer in Schools,” Dec. 2:

I couldn’t help but notice the irony of the article on Sunday’s front page alongside the article about the suicide bombers in Israel.

With religion at the root of so much bigotry, hatred and violence in the world, do we really want to foster it in our public schools?

The “moment of silence” being embraced so eagerly by many school boards and parents is a thinly veiled call to prayer that has no place in our secular, tax-supported school system.

Silent prayer has always been permitted in school; there is no need to entangle it with un-constitutional government sponsorship.

Stephen C. Lee

La Habra

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First, let me say that I believe in God, but the founders of our country saw the inherent dangers of linking religion and government.

All we have to do is look at Afghanistan. Look what religious fervor and fundamentalism has done for them, and done to us. We’re very lucky in this country to have freedom of religion, but how long will that last if we start combining church with state?

James Santhon

Aliso Viejo