When I was working on Education Homework...

[Simplyme7]

I was studying the history of school and religion in the US.

I came across an idea, that I had never thought of before. By the government not allowing us to have religion in schools, doesn't that violate our first amendment, because basically that is establishing atheism over other religions.

Does that make sense to anyone else? Or am I just sleep deprived?

The government cannot pass a law tp establish and one official religion over another, but by saying that we can't pray in school and all of the other things like that, then wouldn't that be passing laws establishing atheism over all other religions? And wouldn't that go against the 1st amendment?

[thebigmole]

Originally Posted by Simplyme7

I was studying the history of school and religion in the US.

I came across an idea, that I had never thought of before. By the government not allowing us to have religion in schools, doesn't that violate our first amendment, because basically that is establishing atheism over other religions.

Does that make sense to anyone else? Or am I just sleep deprived?

The government cannot pass a law tp establish and one official religion over another, but by saying that we can't pray in school and all of the other things like that, then wouldn't that be passing laws establishing atheism over all other religions? And wouldn't that go against the 1st amendment?

Well atheism isn't a religion, it's a belief.
Definition of Religion: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
Atheism doesn't fit that definition, it's simply the absense of belief in a God or higher power, there are no rules attached to it.

Also religion isn't allowed in public schools because they are run by the government and the first amendment says we have separation of church and state.

Originally Posted by thebigmole

Also religion isn't allowed in public schools because they are run by the government and the first amendment says we have separation of church and state.

I agree.

Public schools aren't claiming that there is no God. Rather, they're setting an even playing field for everyone in regards to religion, to avoid tension and to honor the separation of church and state, by not teaching any religious or philosophical beliefs. Including Atheism. You can practice your religion in your own time, but like everything else, there is a time and place for worship. It just doesn't happen to be at school.

[Xujhan]

As Taylor and Kylie have said, were there atheist prayer, or something of that like, it would be disallowed too. There simply isn't any such thing, because atheism isn't a religion. The only real way to ban atheism is to insist that everyone carry some sort of religious affiliation with them.

[MisplacedDreamer]

It's a common misunderstanding regarding public schools. There is no school-led religion, not that there is no religion in schools period. Students can pray as long as it is not disruptive (like standing in front of the classroom and yelling). However, a teacher cannot lead the classroom in prayer. If some students can wear religious symbols such as a cross on a necklace, then the other student can wear a pentagram (necklaces may be banned due to the potential of it being used as a weapon).

So sort of yes and no. If there is not a valid reason for something like a strict dress code that prohibits necklaces due to gang-related activity or there has been severe tension between groups and any display of religious material may incite a riot, then no it is not against someone's rights. However, the tension reason has to have some pretty good evidence and I don't think it's been used for religious cases. However, in my school a teacher was reprimanded for her telling a girl to remove her pentagram because it was satanic. That violated her rights to the first amendmant.