Preachers and Politicians Praying

On a number of occasions, I have written about what seems to me to be the clearly unconstitutional practice of offering prayers at official political gatherings such as national congresses or state legislatures.

Obviously, what I thought about the matter made absolutely no difference and the practice continues unrestrained in Washington, D.C. and no doubt all of our state capitols.

In spite of the fact that the United States is most certainly not a Christian nation, Christians have more or less ruled the roost in many communities for many years, and have almost nonchalantly assumed the right to set the religious parameters for a variety of venues.

Thus, we have a long tradition of public piety. Preachers pray before legislatures, before school boards, before city councils, before county commissions, before football and basketball and baseball games, before rodeos, before races, before banquets, ad infinitum.

Preachers usually pray after hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning strikes, and other "natural" disasters.

In most cases the preachers doing the praying are Christians of one sect or another. And, the more conservative the sect, the more likely the prayer will conclude with the words, "In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord," or something to that effect as they believe that without the name of Jesus attached the prayer will be ignored by the guy in the sky.

Occasionally, a Muslim, or Rabbi, or other religious poohbah will be invited to say a public prayer, but that happens only in communities where they have a substantial constituency, or where they are known to be innocuous enough to offend no one.

It's all very inane. What is the purpose? Does anyone believe that a god is going to care that some display of public piety is made in his/her name? Is it necessary that a prayer be made before some kind of action can be effective? Are there going to be better laws because some guy in a collar or kippah said a few pious phrases? Actually, it would seem rather clear that prayers before a legislature meets may be detrimental to sound legislation being passed!

And have you ever opened your eyes and looked around when these prayers are being said? Oh, boy, a whole lot of folks are simply not participating and appear very bored and wish they could get it the hell over with so they could finish their business and go play golf.

Nathaniel Hoffman, of the Boise Weekly describes what happens in Idaho. "Every day at Idaho's temporary statehouse, broadcast over loud speakers, you can hear prayer. Sometimes it's the House chaplain recalling the travails of Daniel or perhaps dipping into a New Testament reflection. Or maybe it's the Senate's pastor asking for divine guidance in matters of state."

Hoffman says the prayers often end with some reference to Jesus.

He tells us that in 1983, the U.S. Supremes gave the thumbs-up to legislative prayer in Nebraska. They reasoned that "To invoke divine guidance on a public body entrusted with making the laws is not, in these circumstances, a violation of the Establishment Clause..."

There are a few legislators in Idaho that aren't happy with the Jesus stuff. And they've mentioned to the House chaplain that not all people share the same faith. His response was, "They don't have to listen."

Other lawmakers don't bother to come to the prayer session at all. And some work on their laptops while the exercise in piety is happening.

Hoffman, not a believer, says "We stand tall in the press gallery, heads unbowed, lips unmoving, emotions ping ponging between agnostic contempt and a desire to rip off our shirt, revealing a thick, imagined chest-sized Star of David tattoo."

I don't think that's probably the response our pious chaplains were hoping for. But, what do they expect when they push Christian prayers on people who are not Christian? And how does that glorify the one they claim to worship?

Again, I refer to the New Testament passage where Jesus says clearly and unambiguously that his followers should not be like the hypocrites who get a high by addressing the almighty in the public square. Rather, he says that his followers should pray in secret, like a closet, maybe, and God, who sees in secret, will reward them in secret.

[As the photograph shows, even Hitler made it a point to pray publicly!]

What about a religious Jew? Are there any guidelines for such a person?

Perhaps. The prophet, Micah, offers some advice which might still be appropos:

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" (MIcah 6:8)

There you have it: Do justly; love mercy; walk humbly with your God.

Nothing about prayer at all!

I have nothing to offer followers of other religions. Well, maybe this, the same advice I'd give to everyone: skip the praying. Get to work.