During my decades of teaching, I had a small poster in my room that read “As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools.” Those silent supplications for strength, spontaneous and individual, are much like the football players who silently fall to one knee when another is injured. These students and athletes are very different than a coach who makes a public display of moving to mid-field/center stage to pray. Academics, politicians and lawyers can argue the constitutional issues until the cows come home. Little had been said about the religious dogma that relates to the issue.
Matthew 6: 5-6 clearly speaks to the assistant coach’s actions: And when thou prayest thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. … But thou, when thou prayest enter into thy closet, and when thou has shut the door pray to your father who is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Religion that is designed for public display does not follow Christian teachings. One of the most Christian people in our country today, Jimmy Carter, makes no public displays of piety, but rather demonstrates his beliefs in his every caring act and word. In the end, that’s what it’s about isn’t it?
Janis Case
Edmonds
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