, authored by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, would designate time for prayer, reading of the Bible or other religious texts. And just who would be leading these prayers and readings?the establishment clause of the Bill of RightsThe United States has a long history of debating the display of religious text and symbols in public spaces.
But what if your religious beliefs are not reflected by the Ten Commandments? The point here is displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms and bringing prayer onto public school campuses isn’t universal, so neither is the implied religious freedom. Rather, such a mandate amplifies the beliefs of some while subjugating the beliefs of others.
Once again, state lawmakers are seeking to address a nonexistent problem. Options abound for those parents who hope to provide meaningful religious education to their children. They can attend church. They can also opt for private school. They can study religious texts at home. They can put the Ten Commandments on their living room wall.