Customer Reviews

The Battle over School Prayer: How Engel V. Vitale Changed America (Landmark Law Cases and American Society)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bruce Dierenfield has written an excellent book that combines the personal stories of a very divisive court case, with an excellent historical overview of the relationship between church and state in the U.S.
As a child of one of the plaintiffs I was fascinated to learn the stories of other people involved with the case.

Over the years I have heard many reasons for school prayer. Everything from the demise of our society in general, to the violence at Virginia Tech. All such attention given to one reason for society's ills with avoidance of many others. The increase in school violence, lack of prayer in our schools. No mention the effects of more and more Mothers working outside the home. No mention of how we have been redirected as to how we disipline our children. You know "They are just expressing themselves." "Or to disipline them is to destroy their self esteem." No you are teaching them to live an orderly life in an ordered society. Instead of blaming a lack of school prayer for our ills, why not blame we as parents?

In the 6th Chapter of Matthew Christ admonished us to pray in private, in our closets, not as some glowing example of so called Christian values, in public. Which is so like wearing ones religion on ones sleeve, and looking down on those who choose to pray in private. In turn the 1962 Supereme Court decision has also given rise to this need to display the 10 Commandments on our public grounds or in our courthouses. In turn angring many professed Christians. Deplorying a merger between "Church and State." One reason many of us came to this land in the first place, "Freedom from religion." Not just freedom of religion.

This book gives us a reminder of what we have had to contend with in our society since 1962, from both sides. This is not a Christian nation, and we should attempt to revamp our values. Never mind that at the founding of this nation the new comers tried to exterminate those who were here already, and then we brought peoples from another land as slaves. Not too Christ like from where I stand.

What about those of other beliefs, who do not believe as the majority, you know Buddist, Muslims, Jews, and even non believers? Should not their needs be respected as well? What ever happened to "Love Thy Neighbor?"

Our Constitution dose state in part Congress shall make no law respecting one religion, or the establishment of one religion as opposed to another. So we then call the judges "Activist" for upholding this point. If we are so "Religious," why all the wars? In this world we have fought more wars over religion than anything in history. Blaming a whole host of ills on a lack of school pray for everything from increased crime, to abortion.

So we get upset over the court upholding our Constitution, which we both love and hate.

Read this book, and get an inside look at both sides of this argument, and understand there is a great need for not school prayer, but home prayer, to whom ever, and how ever an individual prays. There is after all, diversity even within Christianty, so why should one frame of mind win out. Tolerance is the message here. Educate your self, refresh in your mind even though "Atheist" brought the suite, we all win in tolerance.