Prayer Always a Part of America

cecilg,
congress has been ALL THE WAY OVER that line since it's inception. below is an excerpt from something i'm writing:

To the dismay of Jefferson and Madison, the first session of the First Congress of the United States began with a prayer. This ritual has been performed nearly every morning in Congress ever since. This daily ceremonial breach of Jefferson’s wall of separation is not specifically permitted or prohibited by the Constitution, and was not really a problem until July 12, 2007. About the prayer offered that morning, historian David Barton laments, it “was never in the minds of those who did the Constitution, did the Declaration [of Independence] when they talked about ‘Creator.’” Barton is president of “Wall Builders” – not as in “wall of separation,” but as in “wall of Jerusalem.” The problem for Barton, Baptist, is that after more than 30,000 consecutive Christian morning prayers, congressmen were forced to hear a Hindu prayer. Congressman Bill Sali (R-Idaho, Evangelical) agrees with Barton and believes a Hindu prayer should never have been allowed. He says, “That’s a different god” and ominously, that it “creates problems for the longevity of our country.”

The secular nature of our Constitution has made America the paradigm for religious freedom around the world. But the one thing Reps. Sali and Goode would like to change about our Constitution is the secular part. They would prefer a Christian version of an Islamic state where Hindu prayers and Muslim Congressmen are not allowed, where diversity means Protestants and Catholics. Fortunately, Jefferson and Madison knew people like Sali and Goode. Had they given them more control over our religious freedom, we wouldn’t have any.

("goode" is (was - he lost!) virginia rep virgil goode who objected to keith ellison taking his ceremonial oath of office on the koran.)

Chuck said..National Day of Prayer as MANDATED by Congress. Exactly what is in that MANDATE? Is it mandated that we pray on that particular day (an perhaps are free NOT to pray on other days)? What exactly is the MANDATE?

Why do we need to set aside one day as a national day of prayer? In this country people who wish to pray are free to do so at any date, time, and place that they choose. They are also free to NOT pray.

Does Congress believe that Americans need to pray? If this is the belief, then Congress has moved very close to endorsing religion (not necessarily A religion) and that is close to voiding the boundry between Church and State.

chuck,
i hope you don'y think the god of thomas jefferson is ANYTHING LIKE the god of christianity.

chuck, you said,
"Whether President Obama chooses to bring people into the White House or not, it is still for all Americans a day in which we can give thanks to our Creator for all the blessings and bounty we have in this nation."
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people are free to pray to whatever god on whatever day they want. the idea of a national prayer day is just the govt. pandering to people like you.