National Day of Prayer -- thoughts?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

Since it's specifically right wing Christian sponsored, should I:

a)Copy the Treaty of Tripoli, highlight the part that says "The United States is not in any sense a Christian Nation" and pass out copies?

B) Take my prayer beads and start chanting in Sanskrit (Buddhist/Hindu chants)

C)Stay the hell in the closet here in Redneckistan because they might open up a can of Righteous Christian Whoop Ass on me for daring to question their thought monopoly on the locals?

:shrug:

[Toucano]

1. Couldn't care less

Got bigger fish to fry.

[Oregone]

2. National Day of Pretend

(Pretend and Pander for votes)

[OneAngryDemocrat]

3. KJV Mat 6:5-8

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites : for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen : for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.


But you'd have to accept Christ as an authority on the subject of prayer to take Him at His word on the matter.

Most Christians don't.

[Radical Activist]

4. When did it become right wing christian sponsored?

It's a very long American tradition, even before it was on a set day, and the observances I've seen have been accepting of many faiths besides Christians. I'll bet national day of prayer event organizers in many cities would welcome a Buddhist or Hindu prayer if you arranged it as part of the program.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

6. It is definitely right wing christian sponsored now.

The Pres of the National Day of Prayer Task Force is one Shirley Dobson, married to Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Seriously hardcore right wingers. They do not want any non-Christians leading any meetings.

There is a group that is calling for an Inclusive National Day of Prayer, and there are a few of those being held in major cities, but I'm 150 miles from anywhere big enough to be that liberal. This is part of my culture shock from moving from the fourth largest city in the country, where I grew up, to a little town of 1400 people represented by one of the stupidest, most reactionary Republicans you could imagine. And we have LOTS of Congresscritters like that -=- Joe Barton, Louie Gohmert, etc. etc.


Official Policy Statement on Participation of “Non-Judeo-Christian” groups in the National Day of Prayer:

The National Day of Prayer Task Force was a creation of the National Prayer Committee for the expressed purpose of organizing and promoting prayer observances conforming to a Judeo-Christian system of values. People with other theological and philosophical views are, of course, free to organize and participate in activities that are consistent with their own beliefs. This diversity is what Congress intended when it designated the Day of Prayer, not that every faith and creed would be homogenized, but that all who sought to pray for this nation would be encouraged to do so in any way deemed appropriate. It is that broad invitation to the American people that led, in our case, to the creation of the Task Force and the Judeo-Christian principles on which it is based.


I live in Redneckistan, where most people have never met a Jew and probably not met very many Catholics, let alone people of more exotic beliefs or non-belief. We have Babtists, Methodists (The richest church), Ass of God, Church of Christ(No music, please), Cowboy Church, Missionary Baptist for the black people, and assorted little bible thumper churchs that are non-affiliated.
Nothing I would even consider a liberal Protestant, and I was raised Presbyterian and graduated from a Presbyterian college.

:shrug:

[trotsky]

7. I wonder how an "Inclusive" Day of Prayer would include non-believers?

Hahaha, oh, I'm kidding of course. Who gives a shit about non-believers!

[Goblinmonger]

10. It's not "a very long American Tradition"

It started in 1952. That's less than 25% of our history. And it started as a response to the godless communists. And it is a bullshit violation of the 1st amendment and I am constantly amazed that all progressives don't see that.

[pokerfan]

16. a couple of Founders weigh in

"Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it. ...civil powers alone have been given to the President of the United States and no authority to direct the religious exercises of his constituents." (Thomas Jefferson, 1808)

"There has been another deviation from the strict principle in the Executive Proclamations of fasts & festivals, so far, at least, as they have spoken the language of injunction, or have lost sight of the equality of all religious sects in the eye of the Constitution. Whilst I was honored with the Executive Trust I found it necessary on more than one occasion to follow the example of predecessors. But I was always careful to make the Proclamations absolutely indiscriminate, and merely recommendatory; or rather mere designations of a day, on which all who thought proper might unite in consecrating it to religious purposes, according to their own faith & forms. In this sense, I presume you reserve to the Govt. a right to appoint particular days for religious worship throughout the State, without any penal sanction enforcing the worship." (James Madison, 1822)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Prayer#Controversy

[NanceGreggs]

5. National Day of Thoughts ...

... prayer?

[darkstar3]

8. As one who grew up in Rednickistan, I say keep your head down.

There is absolutely no room in The Republic of Jesusland for someone who hasn't "accepted Jesus as their personal lord and savior." While I despise such bullshit, this is definitely a situation where you should "go along to get along." Remember, you ARE grossly outnumbered and outgunned.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

12. Wait till I put gargoyles on my Gothic Revival House!!!!!

Dark-sided!! GAAHHH!!

Bwahahahah!!! I think I need a fence and a big assed weathervane on my widow's walk too. Maybe the Big Bad Wolf or the Wicked Witch?

Gates with Foo dogs???

It's a genuine 1882 gothic revival with square nails and wooden pegs in the windowsills. I'm getting the doors replaced and the windows renovated.

Eventually we'll get to the weirdness. I don't want Bates Motel or Addams Family darkness, just a few weird things on a fairly light colored house. I think your average all-clothing-hair-and-lipstick is black Goth is stupid.

I saw a lovely light fixture that is a 3 foot long pole with a flying bat at the bottom, holding a lantern in his mouth, but my parlor ceiling is not high enough for that, dammit!!

www.rejuvenation.com Search for "DRAKE"

[Meshuga]

9. This year it falls the day after "Cinco de Maio"

In other words, we can honor the Latinos of Arizona by eating lots of Mexican food and drinking lots of Mexican beer today so we can have a nice "National Flatulance Day" tomorrow to warm up the official holiday.

[struggle4progress]

11. I've managed never to actually notice the so-called "National Day of Prayer"

It's the sort of thing I file under "political blowhards blowing hard"

[laconicsax]

13. I don't see why we don't also have a National Day of White Pride.

About 80% of the US population is white, so a National White Pride day is completely reasonable. It wouldn't discriminate against non-whites because it doesn't require anyone to be white; it just acknowledges those who are and sets aside a day for them.

Funny how patently racist these arguments for the National Day of Prayer are when you change "prayer" to "white."

[Angry Dragon]

14. I would say that if they need a day to remind them to pray

I would question if they are truly a christian

[laconicsax]

17. ...

:eyes:

[rrneck]

15. How come it can't be

a national dance naked around a fire and fuck day?

[deutsey]

18. I'd be interested in helping to start such a day

Is there a committee or something I can join?

:evilgrin: