Is School Prayer Illegal?

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When did school prayer end? When was school prayer made illegal?

American Christians have disagreed about school prayer ever since it was declared illegal in the 1960s by the Supreme Court of the United States. But what were the conditions surrounding that debate?

In this episode of Truce, we break down the debate using Justice Hugo Black's majority argument against school prayer. It goes all the way back to the founding of the Church of England when Thomas Cranmer wrote the Book of Common Prayer and helped the king solidify his divorce. Thomas Cranmer was made Archbishop of Canterbury, the highest role in the Church of England. But when Mary Tudor became queen, she executed Cranmer because she was Catholic and he was Protestant.

Justice Black's decision hinged on the story of Cranmer. England was thrown into turmoil with every new regent because they could change the religion. The US, he argued, was founded on principles that would keep that from happening. The Establishment Clause of the US Constitution prohibits the government from establishing a religion. So... is school prayer a violation of the Establishment Clause?

What do you think?

Discussion Questions:

• Have you ever used prayer as a weapon like Chris did in the locker room for his school play?
• What are the benefits of prayers that are written down? What are the drawbacks?
• Do you recite written prayers? Why or why not?
• Was the Regent's Prayer right in being non-specific about which God it referred to?
• Do you think your country would benefit from a national religion? What if that religion could be changed over time?
• Did you ever pray in school?
• Should we pray in schools?
• What did you think of Justice Hugo Black's majority opinion which used the example of the Church of England in the 1500s as a reason why we should not have school prayer?

Helpful links:

• One Nation Under God by Kevin Kruse (book used for research)
• Helpful site about Thomas Cranmer
• Supreme Court audio of the deliberations for Engel v. Vitale on Oyez.org
• Justice Black's majority opinion

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