If the US has freedom of religion, why does your Congress say a prayer at the start of a session?

Question

Is the US still a secular nation?

Answer 1

Very good question! If we had a truly secular government which honored the Bill of Rights, they probably wouldn't.

And no, plainly we're not secular, with the President saying he spoke to God and using religious beliefs as an excuse for war.

Answer 2

Freedom of religion does not mean the absence of religious expression, as you seem to wrongly assume. The First Amendment merely prohibits the government from conduct that tends to elevate one or more sects or denominations over others into something like an "official religion" status; the courts have long held that religious expression that does not have that tendency or that is expressive of American history and tradition is permissible even in public places. As the recent Supreme Court cases on the Ten Commandments clearly indicate, the intention and the context are extremely important in determining the limits of permissible religious expression.

Congress indeed opens its sessions with a prayer or meditation, usually led by a religious leader of some sort. However, there is no requirement that these only be of certain sects or denominations, and there is no intention in the act to proselytize in the public forum. Therefore, this conduct does not violate the First Amendment's Establishment Clause any more than it does for our military to provide chaplains of various faiths, or for the tax code to provide benefits to religious organizations regardless of faith. It is simply incorrect to regard these as rendering the government non-secular, as you seem to wrongly believe.

And, by the way, only the government is required to be secular, not the nation. The nation is in fact somewhat religious, according to polls showing how people think of themselves, though the diversity of their beliefs only underscores the necessity for a government that does not choose favorites among them.

Answer 3

Saying a prayer at the start of a Congressional session doesn't violate Freedom of Religion- if anything, it violates the separation of Church and State.

I am an American and have long argued against this practice as I believe the separation should be absolute.

No, the United States is not a secular nation, in many ways it is however, a hypocritical nation. All you're really doing is basically pointing out the obvious.

Good for you, you deserve a Scooby-snack.

Answer 4

As has been stated earlier, members of Congress are allowed to say a prayer at the start of sessions. I am not aware that all members participate, or if they do participate that all members say the same prayer.

Your confusion may be due to the fact that under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the government cannot mandate or officially endorse a particular religious belief. This prevents the majority from mandating religious practice on the minority via the democratic process.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

The United States is a religious nation, they just don't like to admit it. Their policies on stem cell research stems from this religious influence on the top politicians.
A lot of people here don't seem to understand that it isn't the mere presence of a prayer that he is pointing out, but the presence of a biased prayer.
To the person who said "You can believe in god without declaring a religion" or something like that, when you show a belief in god you declare that you follow a monotheistic religion.
The United States is a predominantly religious state "In god we trust", "One nation under god" etc. I think even the nutsack in the oval office said that god told him to go to war.

Freedom of religion should be freedom from religion as saying a biased prayer does not give all religions equality.

Answer 6

Because this is a Nation founded under God and they have the freedom to start with a prayer if they wish.

Not allowing it, is freedom taken away.

I have been to DC and have seen a session or Two while being on a tour and I noticed that not all members stand for the prayers, so they do have the freedom to participate or not.

Answer 7

Does every member of congress partake in the prayer? Or is it only certain people? And just because the U.S. has freedom of Religion, and the Congress says a prayer, doesn't mean anything. Perhaps the prayer is non-denominational and just a habit to God. People can believe in God without declaring a Religion.

Answer 8

1. Show me a seperation of church and state in the Consitution.

2. As far as I can tell, there is no official religion in the U.S. (which would be a violation of the constitution).

3. Many of the people who helped found the U.S. believed in one God (specifically, many were Christians).

4. Do you even know what it means to be secular? Israel is a secular state even though most of the people who live there are Jewish. Saudi Arabia is a secular state even though most of the people who live there are Muslims. The U.S. is a secular state even though most of the people who live here are Christians.

Answer 9

Because if they were, as our public school classroom teachers are, prohibited (contrary to what you would believe is clear wording of the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the State from coming against, and forbidding the free exercise of their, or any religion..."go ye into all the world and preach...") from doing so...then we would NOT have freedom of religion.
However groups like the ACLU and others want what China has...freedom from religion. If you guarantee one you can't guarantee the other. To do so as we have done here in America, you then sanction discrimination.
Would someone (Congress) please start impeaching the federal judge(s) who departs from relying solely upon the U.S. Constitution, and using international law as precedent?

Answer 10

A prayer can be said because it would be unconstitutional to forbid it.

We are a secular nation because our laws are based on the Constitution of the United States rather than a theological document.

At least until dubya refuses to leave the Oval Office under marshall law in two years. God did select him to be president you know. I don't know what the hell we did to deserve it.