--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It goes beyond mere 'acknowledgment' of…" description: "\"It goes beyond mere 'acknowledgment' of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/barbara-brandriff-crabb-78954_acknowledgment_it-goes-beyond-mere-acknowledgment-of-re_1838891.png" --- # It goes beyond mere 'acknowledgment' of religion because… ![“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…” quote by Barbara Brandriff Crabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/barbara-brandriff-crabb-78954_acknowledgment_it-goes-beyond-mere-acknowledgment-of-re_1838891.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/barbara-brandriff-crabb-78954_acknowledgment_it-goes-beyond-mere-acknowledgment-of-re_1838891.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/barbara-brandriff-crabb-78954_acknowledgment_it-goes-beyond-mere-acknowledgment-of-re_1838891.png) > “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.” [Barbara Brandriff Crabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brandriff-crabb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The policy forces citizens into a religious practice, violating separation of church and state. **In simple terms:** Government mandates prayer, breaching religious freedom. Key Takeaway Advocate secular governance. Themes religion government freedom Mood critical concerned Type political ethical When to use this quote - public policy - legislation - public schools - public events Key Concepts separation of church and state individual conscience Questions to Reflect On - How should a pluralistic society handle religious expression in public spaces? - What limits should be placed on government endorsement of religion? A Different Perspective May conflict with cultural traditions that value communal prayer. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acknowledgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledgment/) [Acknowledgment Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledgment-religion-2333941/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-conscience-398666/) [Inherently Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherently-religious-1794557/) [Instance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instance/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer Inherently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-inherently-2333942/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) [Secular Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular-function-2333943/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Sole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sole/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) ## Related quotes > [A moment of silence is not inherently religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/a-moment-of-silence-is-not-inherently-religious/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [The point I wish plainly to bring before you on this occasion is the individuality of each human soul--our Protestant idea, the right of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-point-i-wish-plainly-to-bring-before-you-on-this-occasion-is-the/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [“Community as caring . . . Some communities - which are more groupings or sects - tend to suppress individual conscience in the interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/community-as-caring-some-communities-which-are-more-groupings-or/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [The practical revolutionary will understand Goethe's 'conscience is the virtue of observers and not of agents of action'; in action, one does not always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-practical-revolutionary-will-understand-goethe-s-conscience-is/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Blind obedience is itself an abuse of human morality. It is a misuse of the human soul in the name of religious commitment. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blind-obedience-is-itself-an-abuse-of-human-morality-it-is-a-misuse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We respect the individual conscience of every American on the painful issue of abortion, but believe as a matter of law that this decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-respect-the-individual-conscience-of-every-american-on-the-painful/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“We hear our legislators proclaim unceasingly their respect for the individual conscience, though it be a religious conscience, and themselves anticlericals. All the same,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-sertillanges/we-hear-our-legislators-proclaim-unceasingly-their-respect-for-the/) [Antonin Sertillanges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-sertillanges/) > [The concept of individual with a conscience is one whose highest allegiance is to his fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/the-concept-of-individual-with-a-conscience-is-one-whose-highest/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Above all we should not forget that government is an evil, a usurpation upon the private judgement and individual conscience of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/above-all-we-should-not-forget-that-government-is-an-evil-a/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Above all we should not forget, that government is an evil, an usurpation upon the private judgment and individual conscience of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/above-all-we-should-not-forget-that-government-is-an-evil-an/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Society itself is an accident to the spirit, and if society in any of its forms is to be justified morally it must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/society-itself-is-an-accident-to-the-spirit-and-if-society-in-any-of/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [The word 'truth' itself ceases to have its old meaning. It describes no longer something to be found, with the individual conscience as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/the-word-truth-itself-ceases-to-have-its-old-meaning-it-describes-no/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [“Any individual whose conscience is pure and clear, who can think for himself or herself, is a musalman or muslim, regardless of socio-religious background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/any-individual-whose-conscience-is-pure-and-clear-who-can-think-for/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The question of religion was a matter for each individual's conscience, and in a great many cases was the outcome of birth or residence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-larkin/the-question-of-religion-was-a-matter-for-each-individual-s/) [James Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-larkin/) > [“Well, this. That we’re ashamed to say we’ve refused a posting. That the social conscience completely dominates the individual conscience, instead of striking a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/well-this-that-we-re-ashamed-to-say-we-ve-refused-a-posting-that-the/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) ## More by Barbara Brandriff Crabb > [This case is not about whether marriages between same-sex couples are consistent or inconsistent with the teachings of a particular religion, whether such marriages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brandriff-crabb/this-case-is-not-about-whether-marriages-between-same-sex-couples-are/) [Barbara Brandriff Crabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brandriff-crabb/in-fact-it-is-because-the-nature-of-prayer-is-so-personal-and-can/) [Barbara Brandriff Crabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brandriff-crabb/) [Explore all 3 Barbara Brandriff Crabb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brandriff-crabb/) ## More Acknowledgment quotes > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Every acknowledgment of gratitude is a circumstance of humiliation; and some are found to submit to frequent mortifications of this kind, proclaiming what obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/every-acknowledgment-of-gratitude-is-a-circumstance-of-humiliation/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [When we would show any one that he is mistaken, our best course is to observe on what side he considers the subject,--for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/when-we-would-show-any-one-that-he-is-mistaken-our-best-course-is-to/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [True reconciliation is never cheap, for it is based on forgiveness which is costly. Forgiveness in turn depends on repentance, which has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/true-reconciliation-is-never-cheap-for-it-is-based-on-forgiveness/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“Acknowledgment remained absent long-term. She would push to the point of sickness through drinking and activities that made recovery more difficult. She would refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-winsomer/acknowledgment-remained-absent-long-term-she-would-push-to-the-point/) [Neal Winsomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-winsomer/) > [Few men are so obstinate in their atheism, that a pressing danger will not compel them to acknowledgment of a divine power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/few-men-are-so-obstinate-in-their-atheism-that-a-pressing-danger-will/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [To me, bitterness is the under-arm odor of wishful weakness. It is the graceless acknowledgment of defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/to-me-bitterness-is-the-under-arm-odor-of-wishful-weakness-it-is-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [It is a wonderful acknowledgment of what has been a six-year journey to make and release this first film in 'The Lord of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/it-is-a-wonderful-acknowledgment-of-what-has-been-a-six-year-journey/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) > [There's no praise or acknowledgment paid to women who raise the babies,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gless/there-s-no-praise-or-acknowledgment-paid-to-women-who-raise-the-babies/) [Sharon Gless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gless/) > [The number one goal in resolving a conflict is to make sure both sides maintain their self-esteem. Resolving conflict is rarely about who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-crum/the-number-one-goal-in-resolving-a-conflict-is-to-make-sure-both/) [Thomas Crum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-crum/) > [With respect to public acknowledgment of religious belief, it is entirely clear from our nation's historical practices that the Establishment Clause permits this disregard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/with-respect-to-public-acknowledgment-of-religious-belief-it-is/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [That acknowledgment of weakness which we make in imploring to be relieved from hunger and from temptation is surely wisely put in our daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/that-acknowledgment-of-weakness-which-we-make-in-imploring-to-be/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Under the blessings of Divine Providence ... It becomes us in humility to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk/under-the-blessings-of-divine-providence-it-becomes-us-in-humility-to/) [James K. Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk/) > [“words both of acknowledgment and miscellaneous remark. My thanks are due in three quarters. To the Public, for the indulgent ear it has inclined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/words-both-of-acknowledgment-and-miscellaneous-remark-my-thanks-are/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [It is a significant acknowledgment that the way people are watching television is changing and the model is quickly changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/it-is-a-significant-acknowledgment-that-the-way-people-are-watching/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) [Browse all 119 Acknowledgment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledgment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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