tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post4470906405378083779..comments2024-03-28T00:46:19.476-04:00Comments on Religion & American Law: National Prayer Day is Unconstitutional?Brantley Gasawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894338478934982958noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-16603255606052926732010-04-21T17:01:18.893-04:002010-04-21T17:01:18.893-04:00I agree with the arguments Justin put forth in his...I agree with the arguments Justin put forth in his post. A national day of prayer is certainly no more an establishment of religion than any other governmentally recognized holiday such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. The parallel drawn between this case and Marsh is also clear and valid. Justice Crabb’s decision is incorrect and I disagree with the argument that a national day of prayer establishes a religion. Nonreligious persons are not coerced into praying on this day and I fail to see a significant burden placed on nonreligious persons by such national recognition of prayer. The one issue I do have with the reasoning against Justice Crabb’s decision is that of the role of tradition and history. While it is definitely true that religion has played a large role in our country’s founding and history, I do not think that tradition has a place in this argument. Accommodation of religion by the government based on tradition does not seem necessarily constitutional and reliance on tradition can be dangerous.Lauren Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17366570487073979473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-41579079602498012202010-04-20T15:47:11.571-04:002010-04-20T15:47:11.571-04:00After first reading Justin’s post, I instantly agr...After first reading Justin’s post, I instantly agreed with Justice Crabb’s decision because of the notion that National Prayer may not promote one specific religion but it does promote religiosity within the nation and therefore discriminates against the non believers. However, after thinking about all the other national holidays we have, such as Christmas, I changed my mind. I agree with Justin because when we have other very dominant religious holidays being promoted in such a high regards, a day of national prayer is in not discriminating in the least. Rather, it promotes a day of acceptance of all religious beliefs. Like Justin mentioned it does not coerce anyone into praying but instead it recognizes and celebrates the fact that we are able to pray freely without government or social discrimination. If Justice Crabb believes that the National Day of Prayer establishes religion, I wonder what she would say about Christmas?Alicia_Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17794592533231186094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-91596044273122115172010-04-20T15:46:25.488-04:002010-04-20T15:46:25.488-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Alicia_Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17794592533231186094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-53788608987094482422010-04-18T17:25:07.653-04:002010-04-18T17:25:07.653-04:00Justice Crabb is correct; the US government should...Justice Crabb is correct; the US government should not dictate prayer. I'm not apposed to praying, nor am I an atheist, but I do agree with Justice Crabb that prayer is very personal. <br />Religious values compose an integral portion of the glue that holds American morality in check, yet allowing the government to promote religious action is unconstitutional. <br />There are already so many laws and standards that accommodate the religious majority of America. In class, we reviewed the Sherbert v. Verner case. That case held that Ms. Sherbert, a Jehovah Witness, unwilling to work on Saturdays, was entitled to receive unemployment benefits partly because Sunday worshipers were already being accommodated. To me, the verdict was indicative of the Judicial Branch’s reluctance to ruffle the feathers of the religious majority. If Ms. Sherbert was prevented from receiving benefits, then the benefits of those unwilling to work Sundays would be questioned, and that would offend the religious majority. <br />I’m very surprised that Justice Crabb was brave enough to comment on the prayer day when she knew that she would be strongly apposed. Whether it’s National Prayer Day or regular Sunday through Saturday, people who pray, will most likely be praying on that day anyway.weinerjoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03659355362767518961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-66197835866044357822010-04-18T17:23:20.654-04:002010-04-18T17:23:20.654-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.weinerjoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03659355362767518961noreply@blogger.com