Majority of Americans Want Prayer and Religious Celebrations in Public Schools and Think Judges are Anti-Religious

chuch and stateA new Rasmussen survey reveals that 65% of Americans favor having prayer in public schools.  Twenty-four percent (24%) are opposed, while 11% are not sure.

While the numbers have dropped somewhat from 80% to 73%, the majority of Americans say that religion is important in their lives.  Tied to this importance of religion, Rasmussen also reports:

  • 74% of adults say religious symbols like Christmas Nativity scenes, Hanukkah Menorahs and Muslim Crescents should be allowed on public land.  Only 17% disagree and feel these symbols should not be allowed [December 2010 poll].
  • 80% of American adults favor celebrating religious holidays in the public schools, which includes 43% who believe all religious holidays should be celebrated in the schools and 37% who think only some of those holidays should be recognized [December 2010].
  • 60% of Americans believe that the federal government should recognize a national day of prayer [April 2010].
  • 64% believe judges’ rulings have been more anti-religious than the Founding Fathers intended [April 2010].
  • Americans have mixed reactions about how much influence religion should have in government.

D. Beeksma

One of the growing crowd of American "nones" herself, Deborah is a prolific writer who finds religion, spirituality and the impact of belief (and non-belief) on culture inspiring, fascinating and at times, disturbing. She hosts the God Discussion show and handles the site's technical work. Her education and background is in business, ecommerce and law.

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  • Older_Wiser

    What we need is real education, not religious indoctrination in our schools. Isn't that what places of "worship" are for? Otherwise, we are screwed as a country.

  • http://boremetotears.com Lynn

    These numbers look a little high, even to the eye of this cynic. Aren't Rasmussen polls accused of providing biased "data" which support "narratives conservatives are promoting"?
    http://tinyurl.com/yge8tac

    • http://boremetotears.com Lynn

      By the way, the ad imbedded in the story over at Rasmussen:

      PRICE CONTROLS DIDN'T WORK FOR THE SOVIETS. THEY WON'T WORK HERE. WILL BUREAUCRATS TAKE AWAY THE DEBIT CARD?

      In fairness, I didn't notice any ads for gold bars – or survival gear – however. :)

      • http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

        The ads are delivered by Google, based on the content of the story and the user's web browsing history. So each person probably sees a different ad.

        Deborah

  • http://www.houseofbetazed.com Mriana

    How and where are they getting these stats?

  • themanofearth

    I find this news disconcerting. Which mandatory prayer should be instituted? Should we segregate schools based on the faith of the parents of the children to make sure no one's religious rights are impeded upon? Should we also then segregated the children of secular parents into separate schools or separate rooms when the other children are praying? Should we continue to allow federal funding of schools that promote prayer and worship of every religion across the nation lest we discriminate against certain people and spend the tax dollars of Christians on the promotion of Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, and any other religious affiliation?

    This news is disconcerting to me because it tells me that 65% of my fellow Americans are either religious zealots, ignorant about any world outside of their own little group of co-religionists, and/or welcoming of bigotry toward and segregation from their fellow Americans. It also tells me that an additional 11% are unable to think about the problems that placing prayer back into public schools could/would cause or, if they are able to think of those problems, are apathetic enough toward their fellow human beings as to not care enough to object.

    In any case this news has told me that potentially 76% of Americans are ignoramuses, bigots, or blindingly apathetic. It's disgusting in the highest degree and even more disgraceful being that this is black history month.

    • http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

      I think these views come from people who assume that everyone is a Christian or that Christianity is superior to all other ways of thinking. It is incredibly short-sighted, particularly if you consider how many sects of Christianity there are, with some that disavow pledging allegiance, swearing on the bible, Christmas and so on. Of course, that doesn't even begin to consider other beliefs, as you pointed out.

      I agree with your sentiments and found these statistics disturbing but not surprising. I don't have the statistics in front of me, but if memory serves me right, 65% (+/-) of Americans believe that the U.S. is a "Christian nation."

      Deborah