For the record, I would like to address the topic of religion and school prayer. This is due to a visit we received from Tom Short of campus ministries and tomthepreacher.com.

Last week, if you happened upon the lawn of the Parks Library, chances are you saw an exhibit with the words “IT IS WRITTEN” on the centerfold. Like giant pages taken from a book, the display stood 15 feet tall. Quotes from historical figures were splashed over colors of gold, green and black, an inviting beacon for passersby. Members of Brookstone church stood happily by to answer questions. Tom himself spoke for at least five hours straight. Impressive, under full tilt of an Iowa summer.

The passage on the display that caught my attention reads as follows:

“The Scourge of Secularism: In 1962, America made a terrible mistake. The Supreme Court defied God and the will of the people by declaring Bible reading and prayer in school unconstitutional. Since that time, America has become materially wealthier, but spiritually and morally bankrupt.”

Except that Bible reading and prayer in school is not unconstitutional.

It is school-sponsored prayer that is unconstitutional. Students are welcome to read religious texts and pray during school. As long as it is not during an academic period, it is not coercive to other students (more info can be found on this on the Web page of the ACLU).

If students wish to have a greater involvement with religious life, they can join a private school. In private religious schools, praying is part of classroom activity. Students there can pray in class, pray on the swings at recess and during gym out loud every time they shoot a basketball.

What a gift we have. How lucky we are, Preacher Tom, that we can live in a country where you can visit us on campus to share your ideas. How lucky that we in turn can share our ideas with you. How absolutely delightful that amidst an earthly history of countless people facing horrid religious persecution, our government respects and honors our will to choose our own religion, or to choose no religion at all.

For: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Personally, I am grateful for these words.

As a college student here at Iowa State, I find debate and conversation absolutely fantastic. I hope more open debate can flourish here. We could hash out all kinds of topics; it could be great.

Preacher Tom, your courage, conviction and passion have given us a chance to have one of these open debates. Thank you. I hope you will return to speak with us again.

Perhaps we can address the rest of the passage on your exhibit, the court decision in 1962, or the possible moral decline of America. But I do hope you will change the part about prayer being prohibited in schools. It is not true.

For in the First Amendment of the Constitution, it is also written.