The U.S. Supreme Court will soon rule on the constitutionality of prayer at public meetings. But a new survey finds U.S. voters clearly favor prayer – as long the public prayer is generic and not specifically Christian.
Most registered voters (73 percent) said “prayer at public meetings is fine as long as the public officials are not favoring some beliefs over others.” And 23 percent said “public meetings shouldn’t have any prayers at all because prayers by definition suggest one belief or another.”
While support for prayer was similar for every age group and both men and women, the most religiously observant were the most inclined to approve of it.
Hands clasped in prayer in a circle.Photo courtesy of Brett Jorgensen via Shutterstock
Among those who attend religious services (aside from funerals or weddings) at least once or twice a month, 86 percent would allow prayer, 11 percent would not.
For those who attend services a few times a year, 73 percent support it but opposition doubles to 26 percent.
But even those who seldom or never go to church backed the prayers at public meetings, with 58 percent approving and 36 percent opposing.
Surveys continually find prayer in general — not specified by denominational distinctions — is hugely popular.
But there still remains a vocal minority of people who oppose having officials call on God before calling a public meeting to order.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State often send letters to legislators and public officials relaying citizen complaints and asking them to drop the prayer practices.
The FFRF view is that “government prayer is unnecessary, inappropriate and divisive.”