Eboo Patel
THE FAITH DIVIDE

Eboo Patel

Patel is founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based international nonprofit that promotes interfaith cooperation. His blog is The Faith Divide.

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Who's Praying for Obama?

There is a remarkably diverse group of people praying for President-elect Obama around his inauguration.

Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the first openly Gay bishop elected in the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, will give the invocation at the inaugural opening ceremony on the Mall Sunday afternoon.

Rev. Rick Warren, a Southern Baptist and Evangelical, and Rev. Joseph Lowery, a United Methodist pastor and major civil rights figure, will both participate in the inauguration on Tuesday.

At Wednesday's prayer service, the National Cathedral will host Sharon Watkins (Disciples of Christ), the first woman to lead a mainline Protestant sect; Ingrid Mattson (Muslim), the first woman to serve as President of the Islamic Society of North America; Reform Rabbi David Saperstein; Conservative Rabbi Jerome Epstein; and Orthodox Rabbi Haskel Lookstein.

I can just imagine Obama leaning over to Rick Warren on Tuesday and introducing Gene Robinson, saying, have you two met? I really think you might enjoy getting to know one another.

Or at the Washington Cathedral breakfast, having a chat with Mattson, Saperstein, Esptein and Lookstein, thanking them for their solidarity in this celebratory moment and continuing, if we can all come together for this occasion, what else can we come together on? Let us join together to think about peace in the Middle East.

As the inauguration excitement fades and the prayer services come to an end, will these leaders continue to pray for Obama? More importantly, will they and will we continue to join together on common ground?

That is my prayer.

By Eboo Patel  |  January 16, 2009; 10:19 AM ET  | Category:  Interfaith Issues , Religion & Leadership , Religion & Politics
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I was happy that Obama included the hard-working, moral, and patriotic non-believers in his speech.

I hope that he includes us as he continues to tackle the problems of the country and world.

I hope you also think of us non-believers as you prayer for Obama.

I want to be on that common ground with the rest of humanity.

And if Obama's administration is able to make real progress freeing Palistine while protecting Israel and Palistine, I see no limits to what is possible.

Posted by: FRIENDENEMY | January 23, 2009 9:42 AM
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Are you still going on about masturbation and gay sex Lib?
Why are you so obssessed with it?

Posted by: ASTORIA | January 23, 2009 1:05 AM
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Athena, Athena, Athena,

Who said there was anything "twisted" about gay sexual activity?? It is simply an activity caused by a defect that biologically, physically and anatomically is mutual masturbation.

Posted by: CCNL | January 22, 2009 12:33 AM
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Bun-Bun,

We aren't talking about the acts. Frankly, I don't care who does what in their bedroom. It's none of my business. I don't think that people should be discriminated against because of who they love or what they do or do not do in the bedroom. It's nobody's business but theirs. If you can't get your twisted mind out of the gutter long enough to understand that, then I really feel sorry for you. Or you need to stop reading the Secret Diaries of Larry Craig and get out more.

Posted by: Athena4 | January 21, 2009 10:00 PM
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Athena, Athena, Athena,

To reiterate:

With respect to gay sexual activity, simply call it what it is i.e mutual masturbation. For some reason, you cannot accept the obvious. Is it wrong? A bit on the yucky side but of course it is not wrong as long as proper sanitation rules are followed.

Therefore why would one protest? That is akin to protesting against those who have diabetes.

Posted by: CCNL | January 21, 2009 2:20 AM
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Bun-Bun,

How was your day in DC protesting the Obama inauguration with your Westboro Baptist buddies? Or did you spend the day reading the Secret Diaries of Sen. Larry Craig?

Posted by: Athena4 | January 20, 2009 9:27 PM
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Good, i like it very much!
Выполнение дипломных работ на заказ http://stydentam.ru, помощь студентам.

Здесь есть все про егэ 2009 http://ege-na-5.ru - лучшиеварианты егэ всех годов, результаты егэ 2009 http://ekzameny.net

Posted by: flex1 | January 20, 2009 8:13 PM
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Victoria, Victoria, Victoria,

Before spouting off too much, keep in mind that your "mythical, pretty, wingie, talking thingie aka Gabriel was gay. And where would Islam be with gay Gabriel?? A "foundation-crushed" religion is exactly where it would be and actually is!!!

And we did address the gay reviews to Athena Paganplace who continue to list said defect in their commentaries and we simply note the obvious about gay sexual activity as being simply mutual masturbation.

Posted by: CCNL | January 20, 2009 4:17 PM
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OBAMA!
OBAMA!!
OBAMA!!!

Posted by: ASTORIA | January 20, 2009 1:31 PM
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Leave it to Lib (CCNL) to reduce every conversation to the lowest most prurient level possible.

LIB LIB LIB,

What about the constant mental mastrubatory spermatazoa you ejaculate all over this blog?

"With respect to gay sexual activity, simply call it what it is i.e mutual masturbation. For some reason, you cannot accept the obvious. Is it wrong? A bit on the yucky side but of course it is not wrong as long as proper sanitation rules are followed."

Truly it appears that you speak from long experience.
(Thanks Athena)

Posted by: ASTORIA | January 20, 2009 1:29 PM
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Athena, Athena, Athena,

Respect is gained by Common Sense, Reality and Truth. Religions that believe in spells, "pretty, wingie, talking thingies", 24/7 "blood" rituals, guilt trips and/or selling the keys to the afterlife fail miserably in both categories.

No one is denying anyone Freedom of Religion (at least not in the USA). But one is obligated to point out the significant stupidity in today's religions both historically and theologically.

And we "slam" beliefs not individuals.

With respect to gay sexual activity, simply call it what it is i.e mutual masturbation. For some reason, you cannot accept the obvious. Is it wrong? A bit on the yucky side but of course it is not wrong as long as proper sanitation rules are followed.

Posted by: CCNL | January 20, 2009 11:23 AM
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I'll respect your right to Freedom of Speech when you respect the rights of Pagans and Moslems to Freedom of Religion. And that means not slamming me, Paganplace, Victoria, Jihadist, Arminius, or anyone else. Although I might make an exception for Mean Spider.

In the meantime, I suggest that you 1) stop reading all of the slash stories in AdultFanfic.net and 2) go down to DC and protest the inauguration with your buddies the Westboro Baptist Church. They're just as hung up about gays as you are.

Posted by: Athena4 | January 20, 2009 12:24 AM
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Paganplace, Paganplace, Paganplace,

The anatomy and physics of gay sex only comes up when you text like it is something other than mutual masturbation. It is what it is.

Posted by: CCNL | January 19, 2009 11:57 PM
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I mean, do you have any *idea* how sad it is you seem to spend so much of your day trying to hurt people of other religions and orientations, all cause you can't admit what you do with your hand in your pants, CCNL?

Pathetic.

Posted by: Paganplace | January 19, 2009 9:59 PM
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This is what's pathetic, CCNL, you're willing to lay waste to entire peoples over words, but a simple thing like human love and affection is all just 'theory' to you, isn't it?

There's a reason there were prostitutes in service to the Goddess once upon a time, CCNL.

Cause of you.

Posted by: Paganplace | January 19, 2009 9:49 PM
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Oh, and the word 'lesbian' is entirely about the love poetry of Sappho, who dwelled on the isle of Lesbos and was referred to as the 'Thirteenth Muse' in her time.

Posted by: Paganplace | January 19, 2009 9:17 PM
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Again with your 'masturbation' thing, CCNL. Has anyone ever actually *kissed* you, as hard as that is to imagine? Cause I think there's something you're just not understanding, here.

Posted by: Paganplace | January 19, 2009 9:12 PM
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And gay sexual activity is somehow not mutual masturbation? Tis obvious from any view, that it is.

From the Greeks:

"The ancient Greek rhetorician Lucian used "Lesbian" as an adjective to refer to female homosexuality, but the most common term used by ancient writers was Tribade, which could mean either a masculine woman, or a woman who has sex with another woman. This term continued to be the most common word used in medical literature in up to the 18th century in Europe.[3] The word meant "rubber", on the assumption that female homosexual practices involved sexual stimulation by rubbing together both the genitalia of two women,[4] and referred to sexual practices rather than the modern concept of sexual orientations.[3]"

Posted by: CCNL | January 19, 2009 6:45 PM
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" ValerieLooper

"Ok, so Obama is a sinner, has weaknesses in his character, and is making some mistakes."

It's hardly a 'weakness of character' to admit one smokes while not claiming to be a 'virtuous nonsmoker' and still protecting the tobacco industry from having to admit what they put in the commercial ciggies.

It's also hardly a weakness of character to ignore the likes of CCNL, who feels entitled by his God to label the lives of American citizens as involving 'masturbation' as both a bad thing and apparently all he knows about sex to begin with.

Conservative Christians were invited to the party.

If they want to call queer Americans 'masturbators,' the only people they can shame are themselves.

Have some rope.

Posted by: Paganplace | January 19, 2009 4:51 PM
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"What and not express my right to Freedom of Speech!!!"

Well, CCNL, 'Freedom of Speech' doesn't mean you're 'Free to be an abusive authoritarian eedjit troll ' without getting called on it.

In some ways you're performing a public service, but don't mistake that for anyone laughing *with* you, if you know what I mean. :)

Posted by: Paganplace | January 19, 2009 4:41 PM
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Ok, so Obama is a sinner, has weaknesses in his character, and is making some mistakes.

All that tells me is that he needs all the help he can get. I'll take prayers from any person of good will, and from any faith.

Posted by: ValerieLooper | January 19, 2009 12:12 PM
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BO’s record to date:

· addicted to nicotine,

· leader of the Immoral Majority taking over for the Clintons,

· invited a preacher to speak at the inaugural who is historically and theologically flawed and who hates mutual masturbation,

· invited another preacher to speak at the inaugural who is also historically and theologically flawed and who is a mutual masturbator,

· nominated Bill Richardson to be Secretary of Commerce. Richardson withdrew because he is being investigated by a federal grand jury for granting illegal state contracts,

· nominated Timothy Geithner to be Secretary of the Treasury even though Mr. Geithner has filed erroneous tax returns for many years.

Posted by: CCNL | January 19, 2009 1:24 AM
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Athena, Athena, Athena,

What and not express my right to Freedom of Speech!!!

Posted by: CCNL | January 18, 2009 11:54 AM
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Bun-Bun - your guy lost. Get over it.

Posted by: Athena4 | January 17, 2009 8:06 PM
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I suppose it's my hope, Mr. Patel, that we'll in fact see *more* cooperation after these ceremonies: it's my hope that the ceremony itself keeps a good interfaith tone, despite Warren's presence. I've really kept to a wait and see attitude about this particular aspect... And hope, too, the day isn't spoiled for me with too much exclusionary language.

I expect I'll be celebrating, regardless.

Posted by: Paganplace | January 17, 2009 11:29 AM
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And now we introduce you to the new leader of the Immoral Majority i.e. the new President of the United States of America, "Boooo Obama"!!!!

Prayers will not help him or anyone else as a matter of theologial fact:

"Nothing is determined in advance: in
nature there is chance and determinism; in the world of human activity there is possibility of free choices.

Therefore the historical future is not known even to God; otherwise we and our history would be merely a puppet show in which God holds the strings. For God, too, history is an adventure, an open history for and of men and women."

Father Edward Schillebeeckx from his book, Church: The Human Story of God,
Crossroad, 1993, p.91 (softcover)

Posted by: CCNL | January 16, 2009 3:00 PM
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