National Day of Prayer

[HoleyCarbonGrid]

Today, Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 is the 61st annual National Day of Prayer in the United States, with a proclamation by President Obama.

The National Day of Prayer is advocated by an explicitly Christian group. (see: About Us : Christian Prayer : Power of Prayer Ministry : National Day of Prayer)

So my questions are these.

First, do you think that the National Day of Prayer is an inclusive or divisive event, given that it is Christian in nature and there are a large number of non-Christians in the United States?

Second, what do you think this says about the supposed "persecution," of religious rights and freedoms in the United States under the Obama administration?

[Peter]

The federal government should distance itself from anything that even remotely encourages belief in one or more of the thousands of gods invented by mankind down through the ages. Instead of encouraging religious sectarianism we should have a national day of "walking in your neighbors shoes" that encourages mutual understanding between all people.

[Jack]

First, do you think that the National Day of Prayer is an inclusive or divisive event, given that it is Christian in nature and there are a large number of non-Christians in the United States?

If I were a Muslim or Hindu I'd attend a local event or a national one and see if my prayers were as welcome as Christian prayers. If not, if the event were not inclusive, I'd find a really good lawyer...

Second, what do you think this says about the supposed "persecution," of religious rights and freedoms in the United States under the Obama administration?

I think it illustrates the reluctance of the federal government to stand up against the religious influence peddlers and distance itself from any event that is overtly religious or even appears to endorse one religious sect over another. This timidity has been a hallmark of the government since the start of the 20th century. The religious right (Christians all) enjoys more power and influence in our government now than they ever have. Their frequent cries of oppression and persecution are absurd.

we should have a national day of "walking in your neighbors shoes" that encourages mutual understanding between all people

Interesting concept. Unfortunately the powerful religious elite in this country would never agree to even putting on someone else's shoes, let alone walking in them. What would their chauffeurs do all day?

[RedDaze]

The federal government should distance itself from anything that even remotely encourages belief in one or more of the thousands of gods invented by mankind down through the ages. Instead of encouraging religious sectarianism we should have a national day of "walking in your neighbors shoes" that encourages mutual understanding between all people.

What he said. The fact that a President would go on to exclusively advocate for a certain religious group, no matter how kind and all-inclusive his speech is, just goes to show how far our government is removed from sticking to its original founding policies. What's next, Obama lectures on how we should raise our kids? Oh, wait...

By nature, this event is divisive because of the people who are running it and what the event asks its participants to do, although Im sure personally they have an inclusive policy, whether you're a heathen infidel or not.

Persecution? What persecution? Money is what they're concerned about. If the church devised a way for the government to make more money, they fed wouldn't bother them about anything. But since no such miracle has occurred, the administration finds a need to awkwardly interject its head into religious affairs every now and again to say something important, flop around, then be silent until more trouble stirs.

[theophilus]

The fact that a President would go on to exclusively advocate for a certain religious group, no matter how kind and all-inclusive his speech is, just goes to show how far our government is removed from sticking to its original founding policies.

This statement makes me wonder how much you have studied American history. Many of our presidents, including Washington and Lincoln, have spoken publicly about our need to turn to God for help in times of trouble and they were speaking of the God of the Bible.

The fact that Obama supports the National Day of Prayer is one of the few things he has done that I agree with.

[Jack]

This statement makes me wonder how much you have studied American history. Many of our presidents, including Washington and Lincoln, have spoken publicly about our need to turn to God for help in times of trouble and they were speaking of the God of the Bible.

Neither Washington or Lincoln were instrumental in drafting the "original founding policies" RedDaze referred to.