Do we need or want a National Prayer Day?

[Minor Axis]

The answer is no.


Controversy regarding National Prayer Day when a Wisconsin Judge rules it unconstitutional. Of course the conservatives are jumping all over it as Sara Palin pronounces all of our founding fathers were "believers'. But she forgot a couple of things (if she ever knew them, any surprise?). Also note, Obama supports a National Prayer Day.



From Wikipedia:National Prayer Day.

Issues of government involvement with religion are often disputed because of the Establishment clause in the First Amendment. While the free-exercise clause allows for this type of event to be organized by non-governmental bodies, the U.S. Congress may not pass any laws enforcing religious observances.[9]

The contention was brought to attention by one of the Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson. On January 23, 1808 he wrote on the topic:

"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."[10] ”

In 1822, James Madison wrote:
“ "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."[11]

Here is Newsweeks take on the issue.

 

[Accountable]

The answer is no

 

[Peter Parka]

Why not? Just let people use it to pray to who they want to. Dear Satan...ect
Personally I'd use it to pray to the landlady at my local pub, directly, to give me another beer.:thumbup

 

[hart]

No....

 

[Dana]

^^^^^^^^

 

[Minor Axis]

Why not? Just let people use it to pray to who they want to. Dear Satan...ect
Personally I'd use it to pray to the landlady at my local pub, directly, to give me another beer.:thumbup

The government is not supposed to pressure the public into religious acts. Of course there is a lot of things it's not supposed to do, but does, right gang?

 

[Azazel]

​

 

[Minor Axis]

I knew you would be on board with this.

 

[porterjack]

seems nobody thinks it is valid

 

[Alien Allen]

I don't see a big deal

If you are against that then maybe we should eliminate the boat load of other stupid ideas though

The list of days are endless

 

[hart]

I don't see a big deal

If you are against that then maybe we should eliminate the boat load of other stupid ideas though

The list of days are endless

Oh AA don't you like sweetest day? :sarcasm

 

[Dana]

​

:24::24::24:

 

[Minor Axis]

The worst thing about a National Day of Prayer is that conservative forces in the country are using this (religion) as a litmus test for perceived political advantage as usual.

 

[Accountable]

Litmus test? I don't follow, but I do agree that religion, like abso-fucking-lutely everything else, is seen as fair weapon in political war.

 

[Minor Axis]

Litmus test? I don't follow, but I do agree that religion, like abso-fucking-lutely everything else, is seen as fair weapon in political war.

I'm surprised you don't immediately perceive what I'm trying to communicate. :humm:I'm saying as far as the Republican Party is concerned, if you are not religious enough, if you don't lash out at any restriction on religion, then not only are you not conservative enough, you are in league with the Devil (also known as the Democrats) and need to be driven out of the country, or shot if it's convenient and can be done so without directly implicating the NRC. That litmus test.