Religion and School Prayer in Public Schools Essay -- Prayer in Public

Americas founders envisioned a nation whose government would hold for freedoms and rights to be guaranteed to its citizens. The desire for religious freedom was prominent, sine it was not a right granted to the early colonists living under Briti sh rule. Because Englands government pressure all of its citizens to learn and work the same religion, Americas first legislators made definite that government intervention in religious matters was prohibited. Therefore, religious freedom was ensured in the First Amendment to the Constitution, as it states, Congress shall make no law respecting the foundation of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . . (Whitehead, Rights 49). This statement allowed Americans to f reely express and practice or chose not to practice a religion. The 2 distinct part of the religious freedom affirmation in the First Amendment became known as the Free Exercise Clause, which guarantees religious expression, and the origination C lau se, which protects citizens from state sponsored religion (Whitehead, Rights 49). These two clauses are generally interpreted as being contradictory to to each one other. Often times, a right guaranteed by one clause contrasts with a right maintained by the other clause. Since the two clauses rae not ignominious and white, there is an extensive amount of gray area. Due to the conflicting religious expression clauses stated under the First Amendment, the role of prayer in public schools is controversial and must be interpreted in such(prenominal) a way to accommodate all and restrain from violating the rights of any religious believers and nonbelievers. The dispute over school prayer has stemmed from the governments views on the relationsh... ...ayer. Buffalo, young York Prometheus Books, 1994. Barker, Dan. The Case Against School postulation. Internet Infidels. Online. Internet. 21 October 2002. Available http//www.infidels.org/org/ffrf/issues/pray.html Farmer, Rod. The School collection Issue. Education 104 (1984) 248-49. Gaffney, Edward McGlynn. A Church in Texas. Commonweal 124 (April 25, 1997) 9-10. OConnor, Sandra. Forward the Establishment Clause and Endorsement of Religion. Journal of Law and Religion 8 (1990) 1-4. Sikorski, Robert. ingathering in Public Schools and the Constitution 1961-1992. New York Garland Publishing Inc., 1993. Thomas, Oliver. Prayer and Speech. Finding Common Ground 12 (1996) 29 pars. Online. Internetr. 1 October 2002. Whitehead, washbowl W. The Rights of Religious Persons in Public Education. Wheaton, Illinois Crossway Books, 1994 33,49-50.