Which of the following is a claim that utilitarian might use to argue that prayer should not be allowed in school?

What are the choices? What is your answer?

By the way, prayer is allowed in public schools. God hears silent prayers as well as prayers said out loud.

One possible claim that a utilitarian might make to argue against allowing prayer in school is:

"Prayer should not be allowed in school because it infringes upon the principle of maximizing overall happiness and utility for the greatest number of people."

To understand this claim, let's break it down into two parts.

1. Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that focuses on maximizing overall well-being and happiness. According to utilitarianism, an action is morally right if it produces the greatest amount of pleasure or happiness for the greatest number of individuals affected by that action. It prioritizes the collective welfare rather than individual preferences or beliefs.

2. Infringement on the principle of maximizing overall happiness: The utilitarian argument against allowing prayer in school suggests that it can potentially infringe upon the principle of maximizing overall happiness and utility. Prayer is often seen as a religious practice associated with specific beliefs and faiths. By allowing prayer in school, it may privilege certain religious beliefs over others, potentially causing division and conflict among students and creating an atmosphere of exclusion for those who do not align with the specific religious practices being promoted.

Furthermore, utilitarians might argue that time devoted to prayer could be better spent on educational activities that benefit the broader student body, promoting intellectual growth and providing equal opportunities for all, rather than promoting specific religious practices that may exclude or marginalize some individuals.

It is important to note that this claim represents one possible perspective that a utilitarian might employ. Different utilitarians may have varying views, and other ethical theories may yield different arguments for or against prayer in school.