Monday, July 30, 2007

Meditation Programs Spread In Public Schools Raising Church-State Questions

Yesterday's Inside Bay Area reports on the growing movement around the country to introduce meditation and mindfulness programs in public schools. However opponents claim that the programs are religious in nature, with roots in Buddhism and Hinduism. They say that mantras and meditation should not be allowed if prayer is banned. However meditation and mindfulness programs have become more "medicalized", teaching skills such as paying attention and controlling emotions without showing obvious religious trappings.