Transcendental Meditation Settlement
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. Ephesians 6:12
As Christian attorneys, we are called to stand boldly against spiritual deception in the public square. The $2.6 million settlement in a class action lawsuit against Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the David Lynch Foundation is a resounding victory against the insidious indoctrination of young minds with demonic teachings disguised as “stress relief.”
Such violations of religious freedom must never be tolerated!
The Case: Demonic Deception in Schools
From 2015 to 2019, CPS, in collusion with the David Lynch Foundation, implemented a “Quiet Time” program that forced Transcendental Meditation (TM) on students.
The lead plaintiff Kaya Hudgins, now 22 years old, recounted that, at age 16, she was forced to take part in the program called “Quiet Time.” She was Muslim, and her participation was mandatory, despite any personal objections. She described how, despite its innocuous title, the program included a private one-on-one Hindu “Puja” worship ceremony in a darkened room, chanting, religious paraphernalia, and secret mantras that were actually the names of Hindu gods.
“I was just a teenager when I was pressured into a program I didn’t understand and wasn’t allowed to question,” said Kaya Hudgins. “No student should ever be forced into a religious practice against their will—especially not in a public school. This settlement is a step toward accountability and a reminder that our constitutional rights don’t stop at the classroom door.”
Hudgins’ attorneys petitioned the court for class action status, which was granted on April 19, 2024, for all students who participated in the Quiet Time program in Chicago Public Schools during the academic years from Fall 2015 through Spring 2019 and who reached age eighteen on or after January 13, 2021.
Don’t Tell “Religious Parents”
At least one student shared how she and a classmate were instructed not to tell anyone—including their parents—about the program. A representative from the David Lynch Foundation allegedly warned them specifically not to inform religious parents.
Marketed as a secular tool, TM was steeped in Hindu rituals, including mantras and a “Puja” ceremony with offerings and Sanskrit chants—practices rooted in spiritual darkness that have no place in public schools. The plaintiffs, including Christian families, exposed this program as a blatant violation of First Amendment rights, promoting demonic ideologies under the guise of wellness. Some students, like Hudgins, faced coercion, with one basketball player reporting implied threats from a coach to participate or lose playing time.
The lawsuit, led by Mauck & Baker and other firms, revealed CPS’s reckless failure to disclose TM’s religious nature, deceiving parents and students. On October 31, 2024, a federal judge approved a $2.6 million settlement, awarding $150,000 to each named plaintiff and funds for approximately 2,000 class members. CPS and the Foundation were forced to commit to never again imposing such programs, a clear rebuke of their attempt to infiltrate schools with ungodly teachings.
Read the Final-Order-and-Judgment-05.13.2025
A Call to Spiritual Warfare
This case is a battle cry for Christian attorneys to stand against demonic influences masquerading as neutral programs.
The TM initiative was a deliberate attempt to lead impressionable students astray, and we must not tolerate such assaults on our children’s souls. As believers, we are called to protect the sanctity of faith, ensuring public institutions remain free from spiritual corruption.
Lessons for Christian Attorneys
Fight with Boldness: Like Mauck & Baker’s John Mauck, we must confront evil head-on, exposing deception with unwavering conviction.
Guard Young Minds: Students like Kaya Hudgins deserve fierce advocates to shield them from spiritual coercion.
Stand for Truth: Ephesians 6:12 reminds us to battle the forces of darkness, ensuring justice prevails over demonic schemes.
This victory is a testament to God’s power over deception. Let us remain vigilant, ensuring no school ever dares to indoctrinate our children with teachings that defy the truth of Christ.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
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