<P> Silent prayer , including moments of silence practiced during other group activities , have been practiced by Quakers for more than 300 years . Since silence contains no statements or assumptions concerning beliefs and requires no understanding of language to interpret , it is more easily accepted and used than a spoken prayer or observance when persons of different religious and cultural backgrounds participate together . In the colonial period Pennsylvania Quakers and Americans worshiped silently together on occasions , yet both groups thought that this implied that they had altered their traditional belief system in doing so . Over time , the effectiveness of Quaker - style silence for non-sectarian and non-controversial public observances has led to its almost universal use in the English - speaking world as well as other plural societies . This is also the case within many institutions where diverse groups are expected to participate but not necessarily share beliefs such as in government , schools , businesses and the military . </P>
<P> Silent prayer , including moments of silence practiced during other group activities , have been practiced by Quakers for more than 300 years . Since silence contains no statements or assumptions concerning beliefs and requires no understanding of language to interpret , it is more easily accepted and used than a spoken prayer or observance when persons of different religious and cultural backgrounds participate together . In the colonial period Pennsylvania Quakers and Americans worshiped silently together on occasions , yet both groups thought that this implied that they had altered their traditional belief system in doing so . Over time , the effectiveness of Quaker - style silence for non-sectarian and non-controversial public observances has led to its almost universal use in the English - speaking world as well as other plural societies . This is also the case within many institutions where diverse groups are expected to participate but not necessarily share beliefs such as in government , schools , businesses and the military . </P>
where does a moment of silence come from
where does a moment of silence come from
Quakers
Quakers