Conservative religious groups are criticizing President Obama for what the Associated Press called his “muted” observance of National Prayer Day Thursday. “At this time in our country’s history, we would hope our President would recognize more fully the importance of prayer,” said Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of National Day of Prayer Task Force, which organizes the prayer day festivities. The Family Research Council said Obama’s decision to not have a big White House prayer event constituted a “de-emphasis on prayer.”
Also a de-emphasis on silly walks.
I think this is actually a case of religious conservatives having cut off their noses to spite their faces. Putting aside for a moment the question of whether it’s appropriate for the White House to be involved in encouraging prayer, this particular occasion has evolved in a way that almost guaranteed its demise.
The Bush White House had National Prayer Day run by a conservative, evangelistic Christian group. The mission statement on the Task Force’s Web site states that “in accordance with Biblical truth,” the Task Force seeks to, among other things:
“Foster unity within the Christian Church”
“Publicize and preserve America’s Christian Heritage”
“Glorify the Lord in word and deed”The event became a showcase for religious conservative Christians to lead the nation in prayer…
Eight years of public butt-kissing doesn’t make ritual and superstition automatically part of the Constitution.
37 Greg Allen
“A president could easily believe that a day of prayer is constitutional but not personally participate some times.”
You do not salute the man, you salute the uniform. If the Office of the President of the US believes in what they are saying, then that Office should put its money where its mouth is and lead by example, else its called hypocrisy. What else does the President say he’s for but doesn’t really mean it? There’s no way to tell.
RBG
When did this blog become the Alfred1 show? What’s with the obsession with pedophilia? I keep expecting him to start going on and on about our Precious Bodily Fluids…
(Don’t bother your parents with it, kids, just Google it.)
#77
What, no Flying Spaghetti Monster on your list?! Heretics! May his noodly appendages smite you a good one!
Yeah, what is Alfie the Ignorant’s obsession with pedophilia? Is he trying to tell us something? Next he’ll be saying that he’s playing the naked movie star game with Chuck Norris underneath the car wash on the corner of Sepulveda and Marine in SoCal. Is this the McMartin Pre-School hysteria all over again? Maybe he was one of the deranged little kids that made up the whole story in the first place. That would explain a lot.
#126- I share your outrage. Aaaargh me maties!
#125- I do not avoid women, Mandrake. I do deny them my essence.
It’s fun observing rational people trying to have a conversation with irrational ones. It’s like different levels.
It’s sorta like watching an episode of COPS intervene in a domestic disturbance.
# 106 bobbo said, “We will well served when religion is studied only as a cultural artifact.”
That’s been tried in several countries. The result was 10’s of millions slaughtered.
Hi-Ho-Paddy-OOOOoooo==Why not blame war on sauerkraut or vodka?????
Silly person, I pass gas in your general direction!
#122 – BubbaRay,
Just to further your cagematch plug, I want to make sure everyone is aware that it is a forum, not a blog. If you don’t like the content or feel some important topic is not covered, start your own threads!! It’s a forum. Anyone can start threads there!
#125 – Uncle Patso,
I keep expecting him to start going on and on about our Precious Bodily Fluids…
Great reference!! No need to google for me. I just re-re-rewatched that the other night. Purity Of Essence indeed!!
#123, Gary
The Eight “I’d Really Rather You Didn’ts”
The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
#133 Mr. Fusion, those are principles that completely undermine nearly every purpose for which religion was invented.
Excellent principles indeed!
Yeah, I prayed that the ultra conservative rabid Christians would do that thing where they vanish and leave all their earthly belongings behind. I can get behind that.
I’m sick of the arrogance.
#133 – Mr. Fusion,
Funny … I never noticed that FSM switched from decimal to octal …
#131, Scott, thanks for the additional Cage Match info. Correct, anyone can start a topic as long as they are registered. That’s what makes it fun.
Mr. Fusion, thanks for the gospel of the FSM. Enlightening!
Gary, Scott, & Ray,
Hey, It’s on the internet, it must be true!!!
#138 – Scottie
>>Funny … I never noticed that FSM switched
>>from decimal to octal …
He didn’t. “Eight” is not an octal number. That numbering scheme only goes up to seven (including zero, that’s eight numbers). So he’s still decimal.
All hail the FSM.
#139 – MM,
Dang!! You’re right, of course. Why didn’t He start His numbering with zero. Maybe even FSM is not all-perfect.
#130 – MistaBobbolina
>>Hi-Ho-Paddy-OOOOoooo==Why not blame war on
>>sauerkraut or vodka?????
As part of my new program, sticking up for Paddy-Rambo, allow me to answer that question.
He doesn’t blame it on sauerkraut or vodka, because those who eat sauerkraut or drink vodka generally do not view those who eat cole slaw or drink rum as morally inferior, intellectually challenged, and dishonest. At least not to the extent that they’re willing to slaughter 10’s of millions of them.
That’s generally not the case with militant atheist evangelizers, who often view those whose spiritual beliefs differ from their own to be a problem, whose only solution is The Final Solution.
All too often, in the kingdom of the militant atheist evangelizers, life is cheap. Dirt cheap.
Mustard & Scott,
Captain Mosey was given ten tablets of stone with the “I really wish you didn’ts”. Only he dropped two so we’ll never know what “didn’t” we are afoul of. Or not.
The general theme seems to be, If your ass puckers when someone does it, then turn your back and ignore them. It just ain’t none of your effen business in the first place.