Comments on: Invisible Atheists Keep Jesus Out of Pennsylvania House

By: Jwana22

Jwana22 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:26:35 +0000

I applaud Rev. Stoltzfoos for what he did. There is so much hypocrisy in people that is so unreal. Anytime there is a crisis in this country, we all know what to do and who to call on. Think about the Persian Gulf War and 9/11. Rather you believe it or not, Jesus Christ is real, and is very much alive. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:26 Then God said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…So God created man in his own image,in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”. Also note, in order to get answers to your prayers, you have to use the name of Jesus.

By: Shawna

Shawna — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:19:55 +0000

The fact, though, is that he was ASKED to recite a prayer. They chose him. Him. Isn’t it the people who chose him that we should be upset with? Isn’t it offensive to ask for a pastor’s prayer at all?

To ask someone to say a prayer, and then reject them when mention who they’re talking to, is crazy.

I think Stoltzfoos was right for not doing it. He said himself, “It’s OK, it’s fine, I’m not the guy for this.”

By: Elsa

Elsa — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:33:34 +0000

I’m from Pennsylvania. When we went to observe a trial in high school, I found out that when the court swore witnesses in, they used a long, convoluted version of the oath that talked about at length about God and about being “judged on that last great day.” At least in my hometown, it’s considered normal.

By: Demetrius Of Pharos

Demetrius Of Pharos — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:32:48 +0000

@ Heidi:

Why would anyone mention Eliza Dushku or Lexa Doig in a legislature meeting?

By: Siamang

Siamang — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:27:50 +0000

I disagree a little, NG.

I don’t think it’s “bigoted” to offer a prayer, any more than any particular type of speech that emphasizes any point of view that isn’t held unanimously.

If a politician gets up to the podium and says “I am a democrat, and support our president” it’s not bigotry. It’s just his opinion.

Now, I think that prayer at the head of a government function is inappropriate for other reasons. One being that I think it risks breaking the establishment clause. Two being that only certain kinds of prayers wind up actually being allowed, and that’s viewpoint discrimination.

But I don’t think it’s “bigoted” for him to pray a sectarian prayer, whether it’s at church or before a session of the House. It’s irrelevant to government business. It’s viewpoint discrimination. It’s (IMV) neglectful of a wide swathe of Americans whose beliefs never seem to get allowed their time before a body that their taxes and national service make possible.

But to claim it’s bigoted is to claim that any opinion spoken on is bigoted if it’s not all-inclusive. That way lies political correctness so rampant that we dare not speak our opinions about religion either, lest we be tarred as well.

Best to leave religion out of government meetings altogether.

By: Neon Genesis

Neon Genesis — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:44:03 +0000

While I think it’s clearly wrong to have these prayers at all at a secular event, the Rev actually has a point. Either don’t say the prayer at all if you don’t want to discriminate or if you’re going to discriminate, you might as well go all the way with a full-fledged Christian prayer. But don’t pretend that you’re being inclusive with prayer when you’re discriminating against the 15% of Americans that don’t believe in prayer or God. Not only is it bigoted to non-believers, not to mention polytheists and God believers who don’t believe in prayer, but it makes you look hypocritical. Besides, didn’t Jesus say not to be like the hypocrites who pray in public to be seen by others but to pray in private? I don’t recall Jesus ever saying “thou shalt say non-denominational prayers that pretend to be inclusive but really aren’t in secular events.”

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:17:59 +0000

Just stop praying. Read an secular poem, play a song, or start with a “hey guys, let’s start!” This is not that very difficult.

By: Victor

Victor — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:09:07 +0000

If God is capitalized, it is a reference to Yahweh, and therefore a specific god. “Powers that be” may be vague enough, but really I see no reason to do any sort of prayer. Anyone can do a prayer before their work day easily enough and they know it. They make a show of doing it in plain view to inch their religion into the public consciousness. Cheap marketing is all it is. Pathetic.

By: Buffy

Buffy — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:16:07 +0000

Typical egotism on the part of that type of Christian. They presume everybody does or should believe in and worship their God/Jesus. That’s why they’re perplexed that a prayer in Jesus’ name is considered sectarian, and actually believe a giant cross on public property is “secular”.

By: Erp

Erp — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:12:33 +0000

I have heard liberal Christians use mother at times instead of father in prayer as many conceive of God as both mother and father.

Whether this usage has or will show up in government prayer, I don’t know.