Comments on: Prayer at Graduation

By: Barry Arrington

Barry Arrington — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:08:35 +0000

JDN, if you have the floor you can whatever you want about religion. I do not have a right to be shielded from viewpoints with which I disagree or even offend me deeply. Neither do you.

By: JDN

JDN — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:46:51 +0000

So are you saying that if I wanted to I could go to a public event and make a speech about how religion is a waste of time and you wouldn’t complain about it to your government and claim it was against your rights?

By: Barry Arrington

Barry Arrington — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:41:24 +0000

JDN, you seem to think the United States Constitution gives you the right never to feel uncomfortable when the majority express themselves in religious terms at public events. Let me undeceive you. It does not.

I continue to be astounded that this post is on the FT blog. I would have sooner thought that Richard Dawkins would allow a six-day young earther a forum on his website. That spinning sound you hear is RJN turning in his grave.

By: JDN

JDN — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:32:44 +0000

I stumbled across this site when searching if prayer was legal at graduations. My high school held it’s graduation Friday and was called to prayer twice, and each was title the invocation and benediction. I wasn’t surprised as it happens every year and something similar had happened to another local school.

At their school they have multiple children who are religions other than Christian and were still called to prayer despite the fact that it wasn’t right.

I, as an atheist, was a bit taken back and this proved to me just more to the slightest as why I made my decision to be one.

Many of you who have posted above me have stated that you didn’t care about the feelings of the others as you don’t believe in their religion.

Whether you do or do not is not the problem. The problem is as Americans they have the exact same rights as you. You’re no better than they are nor do you have more rights.

By: Dan Thalmann

Dan Thalmann — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:39:56 +0000

And God would say “please don’t pray to me if you are in a public forum.” ?
Ridiculous.
I never thought I’d have to have a debate like this on a blog like First Things.
It’s like people are falling over themselves to dispute religion on here to make it more acceptable to the world. Whatever. I have plenty of other blogs to read. See ya.

By: Peter Speckhard

Peter Speckhard — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:27:26 +0000

The problem with prayers at public events is simply, to whom exactly are we talking? Prayer is a private thing unless believers are gathered– families around the dinner table or betime, congregations in worship, or Christian friends coming together for some purpose or responding to some need. Otherwise, the prayer (which is by definition talking to God) simply becomes making a speech to everyone under the guise of a prayer. The prayer becomes about the fact of the prayer rather than something addressed to God. It is all envelope and no letter. There is no need for prayer to be aloud apart from leading people in worship at home or at church. What can you say to God in a giant auditorium full of people that you can’t say to Him silently? Why do you have to pray in front of everybody unless they’re gathered for worship? Prayers at civic events are generally as pointless and annoying (because they aren’t talking to God on behalf of the people gathered in faith, they’re talking to the people) as prayers in which people share news, like when everyone can offer a petition and someone says “please be with my neighbor’s close friend who was driving into town last night and got into a bad accident and nearly lost her life…” and everyone is hearing about this for the first time and thus not actually praying about it. Not being God, I don’t want to be prayed at.

By: Twilya L'Ecuyer

Twilya L'Ecuyer — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:00:31 +0000

In our world today our battle should be against so many things, but a high school senior praying publicly is not it. A Baptist minister praying in his own church is not. Faith is important and a large part of what got the student to where she is to date is a direct result of that faith. GOOD FOR HER.
Our founding fathers created a beautiful document that allows us to all worship freely, but it did not ban public displays if faith. Jewish Christian values are reflected in our laws, so why not on our lips.
As for displays of public faith… I tolerate public chantings about football teams and etc. with endless nausea. I DON’T CARE NOR WILL I EVER. I have filed no complaints, but most times would like to.
As for my Catholic Christian views, had the student been Muslim, I would appreciated her exercising her faith without feeling the need to agree or disagree with her. Even though, I strongly disagree. I know my Lord and Master.

Your discomfort is with your own uncertainty about your faith. If I were you, I would deal with that before it is too late.
If you don’t want to pray, don’t, just roll your eyes and cough as so many do, but get over yourself in the process.

By: Dan Thalmann

Dan Thalmann — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:31:12 +0000

My snap judgment is that if the valedictorian wants to pray, that is her prerogative. Good for her for continuing to find importance in her faith.
The pastor probably saw an opportunity to pray with people who may never otherwise have heard a prayer. He’s a minister, that’s his job. I support him. Whether or not he “should have”, I don’t really care.
I’ll never be opposed to Christian prayer in any forum or context. I honestly don’t care if it is not politically correct.
My understanding of our country’s founding intent is that the government should not force a specific religion, but they should also not impede it. I’ think they’ve dong a fantastic job lately of doing everything they can to impede and it is our job as Christians to continue to attempt to get the Word of God back out to the masses. They sure need it!
This should be one of our First Things.
I also don’t feel too bad if this commentary offends Muslims and Hindus (I doubt any are reading this blog). I don’t accept their “religion” as an okay alternative to Christianity and I’m not interested in being worldly enough to accommodate them. When I die and stand in judgment, I don’t think Jesus will get on my case for not being politically correct regarding non-Christians at high school graduations.

By: Barry Arrington

Barry Arrington — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:30:54 +0000

No, Mr. Satlzman, I beg to differ. If you simply meant Christians should be more sensitive in their dealings with persons of other religions, then you failed to convey that message. You actually wrote that Christians should be compelled by law to remain silent in the public square. That your post is on the FT blog continues to astound me.

By: Russell E. Saltzman

Russell E. Saltzman — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:06:46 +0000

Yes, JB in CA has it right. That exactly is what I was getting at. St. Paul says be prepared to give a “quiet” defense of the hope that is ours. In-your-face prayer, rudely imposed, doesn’t qualify.