Prayer at Public Functions

[LeonaS]

I remember a thread recently about the controversy over prayer at the start of a football game. This was forwarded to me today and it's purported to be something Andy Rooney said about it. I can''t swear thart it's truly a quote of Mr. Rooney's, but whoever said it I think makes some good points:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America and Canada, countries founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit.

When in Rome . .. .

But what about the atheists? Is another argument.

What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.

[nebula]

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[Matthew 18:3]

Just because some court tells me there's no prayer at the start of a game, or at any other public gathering doesn't stop me.

Beware of practicing you piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 6:1

I will always say a prayer of forgiveness towards those who don't acknowledge Christ and give thanks to him for the bounty of enjoyment everyone will receive.

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-16

[Shiloh62]

Amen, Leona, when I want to pray, I am going to pray no matter what. If someone tells me to stop praying, or I will throw you in jail, I'm going to pray. And if they threaten to kill me, then they had better be ready to pull the trigger, cuz im not stoppin.