T

arus Lyons called students this week from a comfortable place.

Rick Owens prayed from a popular pulpit.

Good thing, too. It might have been different.

Lyons could, after all, have urged his students to bow before Muhammad, to open their hearts and minds to the words of the Buddha.

Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.

Yeah, Owens might have told Bessemer's troubled boys to emulate Balrama, the brother of Krishna. He's a fine role model and husband, an all-around good guy and god.

That would have been educational.

As it was this week, Lyons led an apparently successful and obviously inspirational altar call during a required assembly in the Bessemer school system. Owens raised the bar, praying to the students that Jesus Christ is the only way.

Surprising? No. There will always be prayer in schools, as they say, as long as there are algebra tests.

And around these parts there will always be a call to freedom of faith in schools, city council meetings and school boards.

As long as you worship the right way.

It would have been different, I suppose, if Lyons had told students to attune themselves to the natural rhythm of life forces through the phases of the moon, as a Wiccan might.

It would have been different if Owens prayed to Hanuman the monkey god, or a sacred caterpillar known as Malacos the tent worm.



The only way to salvation, young pupae, is to follow the transformation of the tent worm. Mate, build your cocoons and emerge as moths. Follow the light until ... ZAP!

I say teach your children well in whatever your faith may have. But don't teach mine.

We are arrogant and ignorant when we presume our beliefs are the only ones worth teaching. We might even be un-American.

Because freedom of religion is freedom

from

religion. Pray to my God. Pray to your moth. But not in public schools.

It's not just Bessemer's issue. The Birmingham City Council has been challenged for its prayer policy, too. No wonder why.

So far this year 15 prayers have opened council meetings, and 15 have been Christian prayers. There is barely even denominational diversity. Ten of those prayers came from Baptists, one from the chaplain at Miles College, and one each from A.M.E., Presbyterian and Full Gospel ministers. One came far out on a limb, from a Catholic priest.

Hoover School Board President Donna Frazier also wants to return to verbal prayers before meetings, backtracking on a year-long policy of silent prayers.

And why not? Just start with a prayer to Jesus and move on to Muhammad or Mother Earth. We'll get to Ram, 7th incarnation of Vishnu, before we reach Tom Cruise and Confucius.

Maybe we'll get back to Malacos the tent worm. Right before the next school board appointment.

Teach your children about the worm, if that's what you believe. Let me teach my own.

John Archibald's column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Write him at

jarchibald@bhamnews.com.