Atheists & Agnostics

Boomer

(4,265 posts)

25. I don't understand the need for prayer

Sun Mar 17, 2019, 07:51 AM

Mar 2019

Government meetings are like business meetings: there is an agenda and purpose to the gathering. And that has nothing to do with religion. For me it's discordant because it's irrelevant. If I'm attending someone's funeral, I'm not surprised or disturbed by a prayer, but when I attend a government meeting, a prayer just seems out of place and a non sequitur.

I feel the same way about hearing the national anthem at a sports event. Hello, NOT RELATED.

A pledge of allegiance makes sense at a government meeting, more so than a prayer. If you're about to launch a discussion concerning government business, then reminding everyone what that government is all about is relevant. A little melodramatic, perhaps, but at least in the same conceptual bucket.

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why shouldnt govt meetings start w a prayer? [View all] mopinko Mar 2019 OP

Separation of church and state. onecaliberal Mar 2019 #1

That is all that needs be said. old guy Mar 2019 #2

Indeed. onecaliberal Mar 2019 #3

it should be, but it isnt. mopinko Mar 2019 #4

Ayuh! 2naSalit Mar 2019 #8

Because it offends me, but not too much. elleng Mar 2019 #5

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results rickford66 Mar 2019 #6

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, needledriver Mar 2019 #7

ok, let me be less obtuse. mopinko Mar 2019 #9

AHA! elleng Mar 2019 #10

Drafting: elleng Mar 2019 #15

great start. mopinko Mar 2019 #19

was just gonna say that!!! elleng Mar 2019 #21

It's insulting to non-Christians. Irishxs Mar 2019 #11

what if it isnt only christian prayer? mopinko Mar 2019 #12

Pointless exercise Cartoonist Mar 2019 #13

Because Protestants simply don't understand PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2019 #14

I didn't think of it until now Lordquinton Mar 2019 #16

i had a friend, a good lefty, who was elected alderman of a small town. mopinko Mar 2019 #17

also, they have been inviting other faiths. mopinko Mar 2019 #18

Inviting other faiths isn't the right solution. PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2019 #22

unnecessary and useless. mopinko Mar 2019 #23

I think all government meetings should start with a prayer, in fact many prayers. rurallib Mar 2019 #20

It's the word separation that was carefully chosen and it's correct. defacto7 Mar 2019 #24

I don't understand the need for prayer Boomer Mar 2019 #25

It's useless, divisive, and not government. LakeArenal Mar 2019 #26

Because the taxpayers have to pay the cost of the lawsuits! yortsed snacilbuper Mar 2019 #27

Jeebus's advice, yortsed snacilbuper Mar 2019 #28

I do not want public officials to take their information Thunderbeast Mar 2019 #29