Prayer in School Essay

seat Knox Press, 1996. 45-218. In this book the author gives an epic description of the parameter surrounding the debate on prayer in cosmos shoals. It touches on the legal aspects as well up as the interpretation of among other articles the low amendment. Alley uses history and preceding events to bring out his line of reasoning against prayer in public schoolhouses terming the practice as an abuse and harassment of the minority by the mass who atomic number 18 keen on imposing their own definition of faith. He asserts that the law on first amendment religion issues has adequately and consistently clarified the differences that exist between church and solid ground.He cited some cases such(prenominal) as Barnette, McCollum, Everson, Engel and Schempp to mention but a few as having set precedence thus preventing hereafter conflict. However, iodin reads anti Christianity overtones which bring up the question of objectivity due to his obvious bias. He has successfully pres ented one side of the debate with a personal tone. The book strongly opines that any form of ghostly inclinations in public schools is incompatible with the constitution as well as with the principle of democracy. Murray, J. William. Let us pray A plea for prayer in our school. New YorkWilliam Morrow & Co, 1995. 11-97. In the first pages of his interesting book, Murray tells of his atheist past that was directed by his mother Madalyn Murray and how he, as a 14 year old was a plaintiff against the Baltimore School system. The suit led to the Supreme Courts decision that outlawed public school prayer and bible reading. Murray later converts to Christianity and embarks on a mission aimed at undoing the change done by his past. He becomes a strong proponent of prayer in Schools arguing that this is the one way of rooting out the moral decay in the society.Among other arguments, he presents the debate as conflicting excitations. The discomfort of minority faiths or nonbelievers at he aring prayer in school versus the discomfort of Protestant Christians at being prohibited from public prayer. He allows that the drafters of the constitution are misinterpreted by those who claim that they intended to eradicate prayer from public institutions. Rather, he cites influential figures such as John Locke and Tocqueville as strong believers in the value of prayer in providing positive guidance to the society.His recommendations are and weak since the freedom he seeks could be confused with what is provided for in the constitution. Again the founding fathers he cites are understood to have given us the current laws and so his enlisting them undermines his very argument. Cookson, Catharine. Regulating organized religion The Courts and the Free Exercise Clause. New York Oxford University Press, 2000. 54, 67-75. In this book, Catherine Cookson delves into the issues of the law and the authority of state as laid low in the constitution on one hand and the obligations of consc ience on the other.She embarks on a travail to provide the solution for a recurrent problem. She examines the history of the Christian tradition as well as more contemporary political development of religious freedom (186). Her argument on the free make clause is vivid and thought provoking as she seeks the balance between the majoritys slump to religious expression and public prayer and the minoritys discomfort arising from that kind of expression. U. S incision of Education. Guidance on Constitutionally protect Prayer in frequent Elementary and Secondary Schools. usable on-line at http//www. ed. gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance. html Accessed on 12. 04. 07. This article deals with the legal aspect of the debate on prayer in schools. The article endeavors to provide information on the current state of the law concerning constitutionally protected prayer in the public schools, and therefore spell out the extent to which prayer in public schools is lawfull y protected. The Case against School Prayer. Available online at http//209. 85. 135. 104/search? q=cacheRTckL_PUwSEJffrf.org/nontracts/schoolprayer. php+prayers+in+school&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ke. Accessed on 12. 04. 07. In this article the author delves into the arguments against school prayer. The author advances the argument that prayers are private and yet there is nothing private about a public school. Therefore the two are incompatible and should not mix. He/She asserts that public schools cater for students with alter backgrounds and religious inclinations and they should not be subjected to rules that promote one form of religious expression.According to the author of the article, Public prayer leads to discrimination of the minority and a denial of their right to worship. The article refutes the claim that prayer in school has any value in checking societal excesses. The conclusion calls for total separation of church and state arguing that this is one way of preventing di visiveness in the society.Works CitedCampbell, Ted A. Christian Confessions A Historical Introduction. Louisville, KY Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. Questia. 12 Apr. 2007 . Cookson, Catharine. Regulating Religion The Courts and the Free Exercise Clause. New York Oxford University Press, 2000. Questia. 12 Apr. 2007 . Murray, J. William. Let us pray A plea for prayer in our school. New York William Morrow & Co, 1995. U. S Department of Education. Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. Available on-line at http//www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html Accessed on 12.04.07