Prayer In Schools
See Also...

FAQs About Prayer In Schools
Ellen Johnson Testifies On Atheist Civil Rights
Battle of Philadelphia
Street Fightin' Believers...
Religious-Pseudo Science
Six Myths about Madalyn Murray O'Hair and the Supreme Court Case She Fought
Court Case - Murray vs. Curlett
Atheists' Rights in the Public Schools
What's Wrong With A Few Prayers?

Prayer in Schools

No doubt about it. Prayer in schools is a controversial issue, and one with a good deal of heated rhetoric -- with little understanding. What are the facts behind this controversial practice? Is prayer in the schools a "solution" to a wide range of problems, both real and exaggerated, which confront kids and the rest of American society? Is religious ritual and instruction the only way to teach "values" and ethics?

AMERICAN ATHEISTS grew out of the famous U.S. Supreme Court case Murray v. Curlett which helped to end -- at least in theory -- the practice of bible and prayer recitation in the public schools. Since then, that legal case and the woman behind it - Madalyn Murray O'Hair -- have been blamed for rising teen pregnancy rates, crime, drug use, violence and youth-related problems. Today, religious groups are insisting that we "put god back in the classroom", and begin to emphasize religion in the teaching of history, civics and other subjects.

But what are the facts behind the school prayer controversy? Study this important issue, and you may find that it involves a good deal more than many religious advocates would have you believe!

There are serious legal and ethical problems involved; and there is the danger of turning our schools into religious pulpits, rather than institutions which teach children subjects like math, science, biology and history.

And what about moving beyond just the practice of having prayer in classrooms? Many religious groups want "more of a role for religion" in the teaching of everything from history to biology. Some want to emphasize the "religious contribution" in the history of our nation, and the world; others insist that evolution should not be taught in schools, or want "equal time" in the science classes for bogus doctrines like Creationism.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS supports the idea that public schools must remain "religion free zones." School administrators and teachers have no business in promoting religious beliefs or ceremonies; such a practice violates the basic liberties of millions of school children (and parents) who have no religious ideology. And official prayer in schools also ignores the growing pluralism in American culture over which religion is "right".

controversial topic. Learn about the school prayer movement, and the dangers it poses to our First Amendment rights.

See Also...

• FAQs About Prayer In Schools

• Ellen Johnson Testifies To U.S. Civil Rights Commission
  The president of American Atheists argues that there is no real protection for non-believers in public schools.

• The Battle of Philadelphia
  What happens when religions disagree? One little-known case from American history illustrates the dangers of having ANY religious exercise mandated in our public schools...

• Street Fighten' Believers...
  More on the Battle of Philadelphia and other religious strife. A verbatim transcript of a radio broadcast aired on American Atheist Radio Series, with Madalyn O'Hair.

• Religious-Pseudo Science
  Recent proposals like the "Religious Equality Amendment" suggest that the goals of present religious activists are far more wide-sweeping than a simple minute prayer.

• Six Myths About Madalyn Murray O'Hair and the Supreme Court Case She Fought
  Forty years after Murray v Curlett and myths and misunderstandings continue.

• Court Case - Murray vs. Curlett
  "Before that Woman Kicked God out of the Classroom"

• Atheists' Rights And Religious Expression in the Public Schools. A Secular Perspective & Guide For Parents And Students.
  

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