What did the founding fathers intend by these words from the First Amendment, and how should this amendment be applied to the free exercise of religion today? In School Prayer, Robert Alley examines the history behind the writing of the religion clauses of the First Amendment, the courts' interpretations of these clauses over two centuries, and the debates in Congress over their application, especially as regards prayer in the public schools.
Alley begins with an extensive analysis of the writings and actions of James Madison, described as "the architect of the religion clauses" and "the...