Without a Prayer: Religious Expression in Public Schools [Hardcover]

Robert S. Alley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1996

This is the first thorough examination of school prayer to bring together the experiences of parents and children involved in contesting public school sanctioned prayer and Bible reading. Alley explores the way in which terms like "non-preferentialism", "toleration" and "accommodation" are being used to hide violations of the First Amendment. Personal interviews were conducted with those involved in seven prominent cases. Each story challenges communities that impose the mores and cultural patterns of religion on their public schools. The result, in most instances, has been angry protests as well as threats against parents and children, and/or property damage. What's wrong with a little prayer? One need only observe the ways in which religious fervour leads to the use of the Bible and prayer as a weapon against minorities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a frank apologetic in behalf of separationist principles, but written with academic sensibility." -- Journal of Church and State, Autumn 1999

An alarming number of school districts are bending to pressure by those on the religious right to allow prayer, Bible readings, and other religious activities in classrooms, while directly infringing upon the rights of many students, believers and nonbelievers alike. Now, for the first time, noted author Robert S. Alley thoroughly examines school prayer, bringing together the experiences of parents and children who object to public school-sanctioned prayer and Bible reading. He shows what happens when people, concerned with education and the basic rights of our children, are forced to seek legal action to protect their constitutional liberties. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 277 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; First Edition edition (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573920975
• ISBN-13: 978-1573920971
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,556,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How Can Christians Show Such Hate?, March 24, 1999

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Robert Derenthal "bucherwurm" (California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Without a Prayer: Religious Expression in Public Schools (Hardcover)

That's the question that runs through your mind constantly as you read the court cases presented in this book. The first part of the book deals briefly with our founders' concepts of religion and state that found expression in the first amendment. After another short review of court actions up until 1940 the book begins in earnest to cover the major cases of the 1960s to the present.

The typical first amendment case involves some form of prayer or religious teaching being imposed on all students. Even if students are not required to participate, their non-participation usually exposes them to harassment by other students.

Without exception, plaintiffs in first amendment religious cases have been the victims of death threats and hate mail. Plaintiffs have also suffered beatings and damage of property at the hands of hostile Christians. What is also amazing is the fact that most citizens do not realize that the bill of rights does not establish a system of majority rule, but instead protects the individual rights of all citizens. In terms of the first amendment this means that I as a non Christian should not have to be forced to pray to a Christian God.

For a good presentation of what our country's founders were thinking about when they wrote the constitution read "The Godless Constitution", by Kramnick and Moore. Washington, Madison and Jefferson did not in any sense want religion mixed with government.