Re: Pennsylvania State House Invocation
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:16 pm
The point is not that a prayer at the beginning of a legislative session has to be an empty formality or a sham. The point is that once authorities determine what can be prayed then it has become at worst a sham and at best a formality. If I were to pray before legislative session (which I would chose not to do) my prayer would look much much more like the one Sandy's suggest above than Ms. Borowisc's prayer. But her prayer is her prayer, and doesn't have to sound like mine.
When we set ourselves up as the arbiters of what can and cannot be prayed we begin to insert our own beliefs, ideas, and inhibitions into the beliefs of others. Where is the stand for freedom of speech and religion that we don't like? Should not it be respected too? Should the new Muslim member and others also be allowed to pray according to their beliefs (yes) or should theirs be stifled as well? If so, then make it a clear and obvious formality. Let the legislature write up several innocuous blessings that won't offend a flea or a fly and let volunteers choose and read them. If they have prayer, let it be prayer.
Let not our stance on free exercise and speech be limited to what agrees with our own opinions.
When we set ourselves up as the arbiters of what can and cannot be prayed we begin to insert our own beliefs, ideas, and inhibitions into the beliefs of others. Where is the stand for freedom of speech and religion that we don't like? Should not it be respected too? Should the new Muslim member and others also be allowed to pray according to their beliefs (yes) or should theirs be stifled as well? If so, then make it a clear and obvious formality. Let the legislature write up several innocuous blessings that won't offend a flea or a fly and let volunteers choose and read them. If they have prayer, let it be prayer.
Let not our stance on free exercise and speech be limited to what agrees with our own opinions.