Prayer in school :: essays research papers

Since the Engel decision in 1962, religious advocates have been assailing the Supreme beg for "taking God out of the classroom." In an effort to reverse this trend, materialistic religious groups have been fighting for the passage of a take aim charm amendment to gain greater leeway for religious activities in schools. Clearly non all school prayer advocates agree as to what types of religious activities atomic number 18 permissible in public schools and why, but the following are about of the most frequently heard arguments. (1) Our Government is based on ghostly PrinciplesSchool prayer proponents maintain the United States was established as a Christian nation with religious belief playing a central manipulation in guiding the nations destiny. Supporters of religion in school claim the founding fathers never intended a separation of church and evoke, evidenced by the fact that the phrase "separation of church and demesne" is not in the Constitution. Si gns of a church/state union brush off be seen regularly Congress prays at the opening of every session federal officials take their oaths upon a Bible "In God we bank" is stamped on our national currency and Moses and the Ten Commandments are featured prominently in the Supreme Court building. If religion is accepted in these authorities institutions, they reason, it should not be stopped at the schoolhouse door. (2) The Free make Clause Protects School PrayerDespite decades of Supreme Court rulings, many another(prenominal) religious advocates claim the Constitution protects school prayer. According to their interpretation, the First Amendment does not separate God and brass, but actually encourages religion. Many supporters believe the make-up Clause was intended to bar only the establishment of a state religion. They narrowly interpret the Free Exercise Clause as requiring the government to accommodate religious observances in public life. Many advocates believe the labor on graduation and student-led school prayers violates their First Amendment right to practice religion without government interference.