---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion is a personal, private matter…"
description: "\"Religion is a personal, private matter and parents, not public school officials, should decide their children's religious training. We should not have ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/george-w-bush-64_believe_religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-an_896916.jpg"
---

#  Religion is a personal, private matter and parents, not…

![“Religion is a personal, private matter and parents, not public school officials, should decide their children's religious training. We should not have teacher-led prayers in public schools, and school officials should never favor one religion over another, or favor religion over no religion (or…” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/george-w-bush-64_believe_religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-an_896916.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/george-w-bush-64_believe_religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-an_896916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/george-w-bush-64_believe_religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-an_896916.jpg)

> “Religion is a personal, private matter and parents, not public school officials, should decide their children's religious training. We should not have teacher-led prayers in public schools, and school officials should never favor one religion over another, or favor religion over no religion (or vice versa). I also believe that schools should not restrict students' religious liberties. The free exercise of faith is the fundamental right of every American, and that right doesn't stop at the schoolhouse door.”

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advocates strict separation of religious instruction from public education, emphasizing parental control and equal treatment of all faiths.

**In simple terms:** Religious education belongs to families, not schools.

Key Takeaway

Protect parental rights and religious neutrality.

Themes

religious freedom education policy separation of church and state

Mood

formal policy-oriented

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- school board meetings
- parent-teacher conferences
- legislative hearings

Key Concepts

constitutional law civil rights

Questions to Reflect On

- How should schools handle diverse religious expressions?
- What limits should exist on religious activities in public spaces?

A Different Perspective

Balancing freedom with pluralism can be contentious; may overlook students' personal spiritual needs.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-humor/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Public school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-school/) [Public schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-schools/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-liberty/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/)

## Related quotes

> [“Every religion should be in favor of humankind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/every-religion-should-be-in-favor-of-humankind/)

[Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/)

> [“Often our students see nothing about religious faith except the lowest common denominator. They see nothing but TV evangelists and fools, and it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-betts/often-our-students-see-nothing-about-religious-faith-except-the/)

[Doris Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-betts/)

> [There are students whose religious upbringing is going to make them feel uncomfortable in a class where certain kinds of secular ideas are presented.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-wallach-scott/there-are-students-whose-religious-upbringing-is-going-to-make-them/)

[Joan Wallach Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-wallach-scott/)

> [It must have been horrible for my parents to see me go from public school to comprehensive to detention centre to borstal. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-allen/it-must-have-been-horrible-for-my-parents-to-see-me-go-from-public/)

[Keith Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-allen/)

> [The child who has been taught to obey at home will seldom be an embarrassment to his parents in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-child-who-has-been-taught-to-obey-at-home-will-seldom-be-an/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not interested in hiding from the fact that my parents are actors. I'm proud of them! It's very ordinary to pursue a career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-m-not-interested-in-hiding-from-the-fact-that-my-parents-are-actors/)

[Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/)

> [This is a world that is much more uncertain than the past. In the past we were certain, we were certain it was us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/this-is-a-world-that-is-much-more-uncertain-than-the-past-in-the-past/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I hope we get to the bottom of the answer. It's what I'm interested to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-hope-we-get-to-the-bottom-of-the-answer-it-s-what-i-m-interested-to/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I do remain confident in Linda. She'll make a fine labor secretary. From what I've read in the press accounts, she's perfectly qualified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-do-remain-confident-in-linda-she-ll-make-a-fine-labor-secretary/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [We will keep a commitment to pluralism and not discriminate for or against Methodist or Mormons or Muslims or good people with no faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-keep-a-commitment-to-pluralism-and-not-discriminate-for-or/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Then I went for a run with the other dog and just walked. And I started thinking about a lot of things. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/then-i-went-for-a-run-with-the-other-dog-and-just-walked-and-i/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [They said, "You know, this issue doesn't seem to resignate with the people." And I said, you know something? Whether it resignates or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/they-said-you-know-this-issue-doesn-t-seem-to-resignate-with-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [We're certain there are people that can't stand what America stands for... We're certain there are madmen in this world, and there's terror, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-re-certain-there-are-people-that-can-t-stand-what-america-stands/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I really appreciate leaders from around the globe who have come to share in prayer with us today. It reminds me that the Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-really-appreciate-leaders-from-around-the-globe-who-have-come-to/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

## More by George W. Bush

> [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-can-fool-some-of-the-people-all-the-time-and-those-are-the-ones/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-our-energy-strategies-is-to-increase-the-cafe-standards-to-35/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

[Explore all 1,717 George W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Religion is a personal, private matter and parents, not public school officials, should decide their children's religious training. We should not have teacher-led prayers in public schools, and school officials should never favor one religion over another, or favor religion over no religion (or vice versa). I also believe that schools should not restrict students' religious liberties. The free exercise of faith is the fundamental right of every American, and that right doesn't stop at the schoolhouse door.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George W. Bush"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-and-parents-not-public-school/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-and-parents-not-public-school/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/george-w-bush-64_believe_religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-an_896916.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/george-w-bush-64_believe_religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-an_896916.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d88/george-w-bush-64_believe_religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-an_896916.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Religion is a personal, private matter and parents, not public school officials, should decide their…” — George W. Bush",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "George W. Bush",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Religion is a personal, private matter...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-and-parents-not-public-school/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/religion-is-a-personal-private-matter-and-parents-not-public-school/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
