Public Prayer

Public prayer has been controversial for quite some time, as has freedom of religion in the United States and other countries. There is a difference in opinion between conservative and liberal Christians and other religious groups in their views of how religion should be presented in public forums, specifically public schools. At this point in the United States, the government has not allowed public displays of religion in public schools. Some conservatives believe that public prayer may strengthen morality within schools, i.e. helping to thwart drug use, enforce good behavior, etc. Liberal advocates claim that the separation of church and state is very important in order to keep the peace. They also believe that forcefully making people participate in public prayer is an unfair and unconstitutional practice and violates freedom of religion laws.

The law has had to step in over the years, to mediate between religious groups and the government as amendments from the Constitution may be violated. Specifically, it was in the 1960s when the interpretation of the US Constitution was such that mandatory prayer in public schools was banned. Prior to the early 1960s, folks may remember hearing a Christian prayer at public gatherings, sporting events, graduations and the like - but that has long changed.

The First Amendment of the Constitution states that public schools are required to remain neutral and show no preferential treatment towards any particular religious groups. Group-led prayer or reading passages from the Bible (or other religious books) are not permissible in a public school classroom. Additionally, the Constitution does not prohibit any student from voluntarily praying in public, or discussing religion with others.