The constitution and prayer
Introduction
Prayer and the practice of religion are a part of many people’s lives –just as activities are from sports to courts, to schools, and taxes, to name a few. The 1st Amendment to the Constitution protects most religious practices while at the same time ensures a degree of separation between the church and state.
The purpose of this activity is to assess the effect of this amendment on our daily practices by discussing the line between the church and state. There is often a gray area whereby there is religious content, reading, and prayer allowed in the public and state settings. Whether that is prayer at public sporting events, the Ten Commandments at courthouses, religious teachings in public schools, or (as in the case for this week) prayer before a town meeting, people have found ways to put religious teachings and prayer into many parts of their daily lives that also happen to be affected by our Constitution.
Initial Post Instructions
In your initial post, answer the following question as a follow-up to the Introduction above. At what point do such religious contexts cross the line between church and state as indicated in our Constitution? Shouldn’t people be allowed to pray openly at public and state events?
Yet, as is discussed with the case of Town of Greece v. Galloway, when people of other faiths or who are atheists or practice other religions are truly offended by such prayers, should their rights be upheld in a town meeting? Why or why not?
In trying to decide the difference, do you agree with the majority reasoning in the case of Town of Greece v. Galloway by the Supreme Court? Back-up your affirmative or negative answer to this question with at least one example, either from the reading or from a news-related source.
Lastly, assess what you personally consider to be the impact of this constitutional decision makicgong on our daily lives?
