Skip to content

George w Quote by David Barton

“Another aspect of behavior directly impacted by the removal of religious principles was morality. Recall that both George Washington and Fisher Ames had warned that neither national morality in general nor student morality in particular could be maintained apart from religious principles…” quote by David Barton
Download Open image
““Another aspect of behavior directly impacted by the removal of religious principles was morality. Recall that both George Washington and Fisher Ames had warned that neither national morality in general nor student morality in particular could be maintained apart from religious principles. Statistics now verify the accuracy of their warnings. For example, following the 1962-1963 court-ordered removal of religious principles from students, teenage pregnancies immediately soared over 700 percent,52 with the United States recording the highest teen pregnancy rates in the industrialized world.53 Similarly, sexual activity among fifteen year-olds skyrocketed,54 and sexually transmitted diseases among students ascended to previously unrecorded levels.55 In fact, virtually every moral measurement kept by federal cabinet-level agencies reflects the same statistical pattern: the removal of religious principles from the public sphere was accompanied by a corresponding decline in public morality.56””

David Barton

About This Quote

Source Book: "The End of Secularism?" by David Barton, 2005

Removing religious principles from public education correlates with declines in moral behavior among youth, suggesting a link between religion and societal ethics.

In simple terms: Losing religious guidance in schools may lower moral standards.

Key Takeaway

Consider the role of values education in schools.

Themes

morality education religion public policy

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

policy research

When to use this quote

  • school curricula
  • policy debates
  • public health outcomes

Key Concepts

secularism impact statistical correlation

Questions to Reflect On

  • What other variables could affect teen morality?
  • How can moral education be fostered without religion?
A Different Perspective

Correlation does not prove causation; other factors may influence trends.

2.1 out of 5 (4 ratings)

More by David Barton

Explore all 35 David Barton quotes

More George w quotes

Browse all 1,139 George w quotes