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We Need a New Etiquette for Prayer in Public
We've entered a moment in our cultural and national history where we need to have a conversation about the etiquette of religion in public.
It's been a long time since I was asked to invoke God in prayer in a public and secular event. Is that because as New Yorker I live, as an Evangelical friend says, in Babylon, not America? Or is it that there are just fewer occasions in this country where there's a gracious consensus about imposing prayer on an audience that may include many who haven't chosen to be prayed at, or over, or to?
I think it's definitely the latter.
We've entered a moment in our cultural and national history where we need to have a conversation about the etiquette of religion in public.
To say the obvious, however, the inauguration of a president will likely tilt heavily toward the expectation of prayer or God's name for some time to come.
In the case of the President's oath, there's a strong precedent of choice. Barack Obama has made his choice to add the "so help me God," and that's consistent with his political practice of engaging faith communities and talking straightforwardly about his own adult religious choice.
As for the pastors who will pray, the choices are a bit less individual, and all ears will be tuned to see what Pastor Rick Warren and the Rev. Joseph Lowery will do. The same goes for Bishop Gene Robinson at the event Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial. How they resolve to maintain their own integrity and to do justice to American spiritual diversity--including non-believers--may tell us more about that etiquette conversation we need to have.
I love the story told by a colleague who was invited to pray at a city council meeting, and told, too, to abide by complicated guidelines against "sectarian" prayer and a number of other perceived potential offenses. He stood at the podium, reminded the councilors of their guidelines and said simply, "I've already prayed for you and for the business that you have to conduct. My congregation regularly prays for you and other elected leaders that you might be given the wisdom and courage to pursue justice, peace, and the welfare of those you are elected to serve."
Then, turning to leave, he quickly added, "Thanks. Good to be with you. And blessings on your work."
Not a bad model. Will we hear something like it this weekend?
By
William Tully
|
January 20, 2009; 8:18 AM ET
| Category:
Interfaith Issues
,
Religion & Politics
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Posted by: ats0j8 | January 25, 2009 2:20 PM
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"so help me dear friends to sow God's Seeds in each and every field, of Heaven's onto EArth, of Kingdom's into Hearts", and so it is.
Posted by: congratulations | January 21, 2009 1:21 AM
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"so help me God to sow good"
Posted by: congratulations | January 21, 2009 1:14 AM
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Maybe he should have done what presidents did in the 1700's and 1800's--not have a prayer at all.
u c they believed in separation of church and state.
Posted by: tlusk58 | January 20, 2009 8:20 PM
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A fundamental tenet of most Christian churches is that non-Christians will suffer for all eternity. If you think about it, that makes Christian prayer just kind of creepy for non-Christians.
So, when Rick Warren prays at inauguration, it bothers me. If the Dalai Lama were to pray at inauguration, that wouldn't bother me.