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True Faith Not An Empty Ritual
I have no objection to prayers by clergy at presidential inaugurations, though I think the real threat lies not in any compromise of the integrity of the state. Neither the government nor the First Amendment itself is imperiled when the Deity is invoked on public occasions.
But I think it's important to ask why that is the case. The reason this custom represents no threat is that inaugural prayers, with rare exceptions, tend to be performative and perfunctory, lacking in substance - so bland and anodyne as to be meaningless. It's decoration, more often than not, like a floral centerpiece on the dining-room table.
My faith is precious to me. It's vibrant and vital; it prompts me to do things - to act with kindness and to respond with graciousness - that I might not otherwise do. It reminds me to be a peacemaker, to care for "the least of these" and to love my enemies. In short, it's anything but anodyne.
The real danger with inaugural prayers, in my judgment, is that the faith is diminished by what many Americans see as an empty and perfunctory ritual.
By
Randall Balmer
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January 13, 2009; 11:46 AM ET
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Posted by: tom_k47 | January 14, 2009 3:50 PM
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Only the Virgin of Guadalupe can show us the way out of our spiritual morass.
Posted by: Schwartz1 | January 14, 2009 12:04 PM
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Oh, look. Another religious leader - surprise, surprise - who doesn't see anything wrong with promoting religion at the most significant civil ceremony that's held in the United States, despite the clear prohibition of the mixing of church and state by the First Amendment.
All the eloquence in the world - and the religious leaders on this blog certainly offer barrelsful - do not change the law as agreed by the super-majority of the citizens of the US when the Constitution was founded.
The sad thing is that no one (read: the media) calls these leaders to task when what they are doing is blatantly calling for the violation of foundational US law. Such calls are clearly immoral, yet these leaders are able to continue to claim moral superiority regardless of the recklessness of their statements.
Posted by: besamo805 | January 14, 2009 2:03 AM
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I suppose that's fair enough, there, Reverend, until someone decides the solution is to try and make these things a 'religious test' for office.
I'm... Obviously a Pagan. I have no objection to seeing these ceremonies and being able to say, 'Hey, our Christian friends here in America are praying for good stuff, isn't that nice.'
It gets not-so-nice when it turns into an exercise in territory-marking and backhandedly elevating Christians above others in our country, and often, even, threatening those of us who have different Gods or ways, yet still believe we can all get together and be America.
There are places where government endorsement of religion is very nasty.
A President choosing to pray is not one of them, in my book.
FDepending, of course, on who gets included in those prayers and how and by whom.
Oops. Politics.
Pardon if a lot of things which are moralstic 'theories' and pawns in authority games to *you* happen to also be my life. A loyal American citizen's life.
If you don't want people to feel threatened by Christianist moves, well, then, *you speak clearly* And don't forget I'm America, too. Whether you think your God likes it or not.
See where this goes?
Posted by: Paganplace | January 13, 2009 5:05 PM
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Amen