A new national survey reveals that a narrow majority of Americans would allow public school teachers to lead classroom prayers that mention Jesus, but strong backing for the practice remains limited.

Recent findings from Pew Research show 52% of U.S. adults support such teacher-led Christian prayers, as debates continue over religion’s role in public education and new state-level policies take shape, American Faith reported.

The Pew Research Center conducted the sweeping study with nearly 37,000 Americans across all 50 states and the District of Columbia to gauge attitudes toward public religious expressions in schools.

Among respondents who support classroom prayers focused on Jesus, only 27% expressed strong support, suggesting that while a majority may approve of the idea in principle, the intensity of conviction is more limited.

Conversely, there is a broader preference among Americans for school prayers that reference “God” rather than specifically invoking the name of Jesus, pointing to varied levels of comfort with religious specificity.

Sharp Geographic Divides in Prayer Support

Geographic location appears to play a significant role in shaping public sentiment, with support highest in conservative southern states.

Mississippi leads with 81% of surveyed adults in favor of teacher-led Christian prayers, followed closely by Alabama and Arkansas at 75%. Louisiana and South Carolina also show strong approval at 74% and 71%, respectively.

Meanwhile, opposition to teacher-led school prayer is strongest in several states along the West Coast and the Northeast. In Oregon, 65% of respondents said they were against the practice, with Vermont close behind at 64%.

States Show Wide Variety of Sentiment

Other high-opposition states include Washington at 61%, Connecticut and New Hampshire at 60% each, and Massachusetts at 58%. Major population centers like California, New York, and New Jersey also demonstrated majority resistance to the idea.

Some states showed no statistically significant preference in either direction. This group includes Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Arizona, Idaho, and Iowa, indicating more divided or uncertain public opinion.

The survey findings come at a time of broader discussion about religion’s place in schools, courts, and state legislatures. While the U.S. Supreme Court has placed limits on government-endorsed prayer in schools since the 1960s, voluntary individual prayer remains protected.

Legislative Action Brings Policy Changes

Recent action at the state level has reignited conversation around school prayer and religious freedom. In Texas, a new law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott allows school districts to adopt policies that permit voluntary prayer periods for students and staff.

This legislative change is seen by supporters as a measure to protect religious expression, while critics warn that it may blur the line between church and state in publicly funded schools.

Increased attention on religious engagement may also help explain recent shifts in public attitudes. The American Bible Society recently reported a rise in Bible usage among U.S. adults, with 41% now engaging with Scripture—an increase of 10 million people from the previous year.

Millennials Lead in Bible Engagement Growth

Younger adults, particularly Millennials, are driving this change. The same report found a 29% jump in Bible engagement within that generation, the most notable increase among all age groups surveyed.

While the Pew survey focused specifically on teacher-led prayer mentioning Jesus, this renewed religious interest could have implications for future debates about spiritual practices in public environments.

As these trends develop, many educators and policymakers will need to navigate a delicate balance between freedom of religious expression and the constitutional separation of church and state.