Not Prayer, But Islam in Schools

In California, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the same court that abolished "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, has approved Muslim role-playing exercises that are to be used in public schools. According to Investors.com these exercises include:

Reciting aloud Muslim prayers that begin with "In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful . . . ."

Memorizing the Muslim profession of faith: "Allah is the only true God and Muhammad is his messenger."

Chanting "Praise be to Allah" in response to teacher prompts.

Professing as "true" the Muslim belief that "The Holy Quran is God's word."

Giving up candy and TV to demonstrate Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting.

Designing prayer rugs, taking an Arabic name and essentially "becoming a Muslim" for two full weeks.

Parents of seventh graders sued when the role-playing was implemented in their children's world history class, arguing that the government was promoting Islam. The federal judge basically told them to get over it, so they appealed. Unfortunately the case landed in the most liberal court in the U.S., and the lower court ruling was upheld.

Imagine holding a class in California featuring Christian role-playing exercises. Students would be required to sing hymns, pray to God through Christ, partake of the Lord's Supper, and undergo water baptism. How do you think that would go over?

It's sad that, after 9-11, there are still influential persons in high positions who refuse to believe that Islam is responsible for much of the violence and terrorism that afflicts our world. Coupled with that is an all-out war on Christian values. Seeing that "righteousness exalts a nation" (Prov. 14:34), America is headed for dark days if it stays on this course. I pray that, through our influence, Christians are able to turn things around.