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→20th and 21st century: 1962 Supreme Court decision disallowing prayer in public schools
In the early 1960's problems began to develop as newer Sunday school curriculums failed to emphasize personal [[conversion]] of life style and [[Corporal and spiritual works of mercy|works of mercy]], and neglected [[Christian apologetics]] in favor of a more entertaining style of witness with a "feel-good" approach which contained nothing about personal sacrifice and commitment in the face of doctrinal confusion, [[indifference]], [[Secular|secularism]], [[pop culture]], the [[new age movement]] and worldly opposition. The realities of [[sin]], the [[Last Judgment|last judgment]] and [[hell]] were ignored. Christian educators began to be at a loss to explain why young people began to leave their churches, and why so many of them entered colleges and universities unprepared to meet [[liberal]] and [[atheist]] challenges to belief in Jesus Christ as the only Savior of the world and the Bible as the inspired word of God.
In the early 1960's problems began to develop as newer Sunday school curriculums failed to emphasize personal [[conversion]] of life style and [[Corporal and spiritual works of mercy|works of mercy]], and neglected [[Christian apologetics]] in favor of a more entertaining style of witness with a "feel-good" approach which contained nothing about personal sacrifice and commitment in the face of doctrinal confusion, [[indifference]], [[Secular|secularism]], [[pop culture]], the [[new age movement]] and worldly opposition. The realities of [[sin]], the [[Last Judgment|last judgment]] and [[hell]] were ignored. Christian educators began to be at a loss to explain why young people began to leave their churches, and why so many of them entered colleges and universities unprepared to meet [[liberal]] and [[atheist]] challenges to belief in Jesus Christ as the only Savior of the world and the Bible as the inspired word of God.
On June 25, 1962, the United States Supreme Court decided in ''[[Engel v. Vitale]]'' that a prayer approved by the New York Board of Regents for use in schools violated the [[First Amendment]] by constituting an establishment of religion. The following year, in ''[[Abington School District v. Schempp]]'', the Court disallowed Bible readings in public schools for similar reasons. These two landmark Supreme Court decisions centered on the place of religion in public education, and particularly the place of [[Protestantism]], which had long been accepted as the given American faith tradition. Some conservatives like [[Billy Graham]] and [[Francis Cardinal Spellman|Cardinal Francis Spellman]], along with the more liberal Episcopal Bishop [[James A. Pike]], condemned these decisions. Others, including the [[National Association of Evangelicals]], applauded the Court for separating the state from the affairs of the church. ''[[Christianity Today]]'' supported the Court's prayer decision. Religious activity and education was confined to religious institutions and to parachurch organizations.
The Catholic TEC weekend retreat program for teens (Teens Encounter Christ) was developed in 1965, which emphasized teen moral conversion and commitment to Christ in the Church. The first scheduled TEC weekend took place 9-11 October that same year.
The Catholic TEC weekend retreat program for teens (Teens Encounter Christ) was developed in 1965, which emphasized teen moral conversion and commitment to Christ in the Church. The first scheduled TEC weekend took place 9-11 October that same year.