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• Supreme Court Case Centers On Whether U.S. Is A ‘Christian Nation’

  The U.S. Supreme Court will consider a case involving prayers before local government meetings. The town of Greece, N.Y., has opened their town council’s monthly meeting with prayer for years, until two non-Christian residents sued, claiming the prayer ritual aligned the town’s government with one religion–Christianity.

  A federal appeals court ruled that the town violated the First Amendment’s ban on the government participating in an “establishment of religion.” The town has appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the appeal. Both Republican lawmakers and lawyers from the Obama administration have filed briefs with the high court in support of relaxing laws barring prayers at government meetings.

  Wake Forest University religion and culture professor Derek Hicks says this controversy centers on the question of whether or not the United States is a Christian nation.

  “On some level, what this is issue is about is how the United States as a nation has utilized religion and the impact of religious faith and culture on American life, American culture, and American politics. So this debate … forces us to contend yet again — or perpetually! — with whether or not the United States was founded as a Christian nation,” he said.

  Hicks went on to say that while there aren’t many Christian values in American history and culture, there are some Christian influences.

  The Supreme Court will examine the town’s appeal in the fall.