Lead Us Not into Temptation. A Christian Case against School Prayer.

If God truly answers prayers, then politicians, lawmakers, and religious activists may soon have Him working overtime: Speaker-elect of U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich promises a constitutional amendment allowing voluntary, student-led prayer in public school; President Clinton says there is room for such prayer in public education; over last 18 months, school prayer initiatives have passed or appeared in at least 10 state legislatures. Not everyone, of course, is ready to invoke a hearty Amen. Strict church-state separationists cite constitutional objections, while religious minorities and secularists worry about coercive prayers in class. But more surprisingly, a growing number of conservative, evangelical Christians are raising deep concerns about difficulties that even student-led prayer creates in matters of faith, conscience and civility. And doubts and criticisms are coming from some of most influential quarters of this faith community--including academics, seminary leaders, and legal scholars and activists. It's a diversion, says Steven McFarland, director of Christian Legal Society's Center for Law and Religious Freedom. It's a diversion of our legal energies, it's a diversion of our spiritual focus, and it anesthetizes churches. NEW WAVE OF SUPPORT Ever since Supreme Court declared prayer in public schools unconstitutional, religious conservatives have been longing--and lobbying--for its return. In 1970s, school prayer was one of issues that helped propel conservative Christians into national politics. One evangelical Protestant leader called Court's ban on prayer the darkest hour in history of nation. By 1980, invigorated evangelicals helped elect Ronald Reagan on a platform endorsing a constitutional amendment to restore voluntary school prayer. Such bills were proposed, but never cleared Congress, and by mid-1980s, states were limited to passing moment-of-silence laws. Then came 1992 U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision allowing non-sectarian student-led prayers at graduation ceremonies. The Supreme Court declined to review ruling, and several lower federal courts have issued conflicting decisions in similar cases. Since then, attempts to reintroduce either school prayers or a moment of quiet have hit a new crescendo. At least six states--Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama--now allow prayer or quiet reflection in class. Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Florida, and Oklahoma have considered similar laws. Gingrich has anointed Representative Ernest J. Istook Jr., (R-OK) to oversee hearings on school prayer in all 50 states, anticipating a floor vote by fourth of July. Student prayer has always been popular with majority of Americans: At least 75 percent consistently favor returning prayer to schools. What is new about latest surge in interest is growing support from liberal politicians and black urban leaders and clergy. Prayer legislation recently was supported by majority of Democratic council members in District of Columbia, including Mayor-elect Marion Barry. Democrats like Florida state Representative Beryl Burke and Georgia state Senator David Scott have pushed similar measures. THE CASE FOR PRAYER One of primary arguments for school prayer is historical: American society always has been religious, and public prayer seems an appropriate reflection of nation's emphasis on faith and religious freedom. The modern exclusion of prayer from public say proponents, reveals a deep-seated and historically inappropriate hostility to religious belief. Right now there's almost a total absence of religion in schools, says Robert Dugan, director of public affairs office for National Association of Evangelicals. Court rulings that remove Ten Commandments from school walls, textbooks that delete religious motivations of American Founders, prohibitions against graduation prayers--all are seen as attempts to purge public schools of America's religious roots. …