We should congratulate Missouri and any other states that have taken action to protect our religious freedoms by amending the Missouri Constitution. The newly passed amendment now makes it permissible for students to “read a Bible in study hall" or for individuals "to pray briefly before a City Council meeting."
But here’s the main reason why I think the right to pray amendment is good law. So long as the right to pray also includes the right not to pray, it does not pose a threat to anyone's religious freedoms or freedom to be free from religion guaranteed in our federal constitution. This amendment will not require anyone to participate in prayer, but at the same time, it won't restrict the right to pray. Furthermore, Missouri’s right to pray amendment will allow students the right to refuse to participate in any school activities that he or she feels is contrary to his religious beliefs.
From a personal viewpoint, I think we should do more to allow individuals the right to pray, meditate, or do whatever it is that they need to in order to connect with their faith or express their individual beliefs. I think what opponents worry about is that right to pray will result in disruptive, intrusive, or overbearing conduct by those individuals that choose to exercise their right. Fortunately, there are other measures in place to prevent disruption from taking place.
Also, I think we have too many institutions limiting our abilities to express ourselves and our beliefs under the guise of separation of church and state. Same-sex marriage, for example. Amendments like this is one step in the right direction of allowing people to express their own views.
Prayer in schools has been a hot topic since the early 20th century and most recently in 2000 when individuals filed suits disputing whether "under God" could be said during the pledge of allegiance. It shouldn't. Missouri’s right to pray ultimately does not infringe on rights and is not much different than the moment of silence laws permitted in schools passed by some states 20 and 30 years ago. Most of those laws have survived legal challenges. Moments of silence in schools and public places, like in front of the White House pictured above, is something we should protect both on the sate and federal level.
This post is part of a weekly conversation with our Moms Matter 2012 political bloggers. To see the original question and what the other writers have to say, see Do States Need Right to Pray Amendments?
Image via U.S. National Archives/Flickr
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Comments 24
Sillieguze, any student who wishes to say that their schoolwork "goes against their belief system" is going to fail that class. Period. Refusal to do schoolwork because of a "religious conflict" (unless the subject is on religion, which unless you are in a religion-based school, it likely WONT be), is just a student being subordinate to the learning process and won't pass anyways. A student has the right not to learn if they choose not to, but it will be their own fault and not because of religion.
I think it is great that anyone anywhere can now worship freely. I know there are people who get offended when they see somebody praying, (i.e. there is a girl in school who says a prayer before she eats her lunch because that is what she believes in doing) when it shouldn't be offensive at all. Why should somebody get mad because someone else chooses to believe in a different way than themselves? It's not like that person praying is doing any harm to anyone else by doing it.
And as for "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, if it is so bothersome to you, either don't say the Pledge at all or skip those two words.No one can force you to say something that you choose not to. And if they do, that is against your rights as a human being.
@ Zach-Thanks for the tip and the way you made your point. I can go apostrophe crazy and usually depend on spell check to save me. It is true we are judged on the way we speak and write and it is something I will work on. I will not torch you for it, especially since I will admit its a problem I have always had. If you knew me you would notice my grammar is noticeably better when I am not trying to comment and watch over my son at the same time.