“It goes beyond mere 'acknowledgment' of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context. In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.” MatterGovernmentPurposeIndividualLeftSidesReligiousPrayerTakenAtheismCitizensExerciseConscienceFunctionMerePositive AtheismInstanceSoleSecularAcknowledgment Author:Barbara Brandriff Crabb
“In fact, it is because the nature of prayer is so personal and can have such a powerful effect on a community that the government may not use its authority to try to influence an individual's decision on whether and when to pray.” TryingMayFactsUseGovernmentIndividualCommunityPrayerDecisionPowerfulAtheismInfluenceEffectsPrayingAuthorityPositive Atheism Author:Barbara Brandriff Crabb
“Prayer is intended to increase the devotion of the individual, but if the individual himself prays he requires no formula; he pours himself forth much more naturally in self-chosen and connected thoughts before God, and scarcely requires words at all. Real inward devotion knows no prayer but that arising from the depths of its own feelings.” IfsKnowsRealSelfFeelingsIndividualPrayerPrayingIncreaseDepthConnectedDevotionChosenFormulasInward Author:Wilhelm von Humboldt