>>Isn't that simple and beautiful?:)

>Work for a company which hired a priest who believes in the Greek gods. Have him pray to Athena for wisdom before every company-wide meeting. Don't want to...........fine, don't. You may say it wouldn't bother you, and I might even believe you. But I think many who feel about religion as you do (or close to it) would have a s%$t fit.

I would welcome a priest who prayed to Greek gods, although I've never met one or heard of one. After all veriety is the spice of life. If I were a Christian, and I'm not, why would this bother me or threaten me?

>You want to include the words "Under God" when you recite the Pledge of Allegience. Fine. It's a free country. Insert the words whenever you feel like. But DON'T include them in an "offical" pledge to be recited by those who don't believe as you do.

Is the Pledge of Allegience an "official" document as the Constitution is? Has anyone been taken to court becauase a part of the Pledge of Allegience was violated by someone? If so, ok take that phrase out, although there are several references to a higher being in the nations historical and legal documents.

>A couple of years ago I attended a high school graduation in the middle of Nebraska. The ceremony began with an invocation (I object, but only mildly) which the minister ended with "We ask this in Christ's name." (I strenuously object). The validictory speech included a significant part which explained how the personal relationship with Jesus had helped mold the young man's life. He ended with a prayer. No problem for me. I've never been close to giving a validictory, but it seems to me that this kind of self-affirmation is relevant, although it might make me a little uncomfortable.

Why would it be uncomfortable? Did you feel he was try to preach to you or witnessing to you?
Or could it be that you were envious of what he had? Don't get upset just a thought....:)

>Now imagine that the validictorian came from one of the five Jewish families in the school district. Imagine also that his speech explained how the traditional Jewish veneration of learning had molded his desire to expand his intellectual horizons. Add that his study of Talmud had taught him reasoning skills that he was able to apply to his secular studies. Finally, imagine that he ended with a prayer, recited in Hebrew, which translates as "Blessed art Thou, o Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this happy occasion." Pretty innocuous, don't you think.

No. I would thank God (or my lucky stars) that I live in a country where we can say a prayer to any God we want without being persecuted ... most of the time. Of course we also have the freedom to not pray/worship at all.

It's his experience and he want to share it with others. I think it's cool.


>There are many would have no problem with such a speech. I'm pretty sure I can include you in that group. There are several others in this site I would also include. But I think the general reaction would be one of great anger.

If this type of thing angers them, I say they have other issues.
I get more angry at people who throw around the "F" word and "S" word gratuitously, especially in front of my young kids.

>Imagine if you were the minority (one of five Christian families in the district). Imagine that every public event started with the "Shema" (a deeply religous Jewish prayer). A former candidate for Governor of Iowa (a very conservative Republican) was asked a similar question at a meeting in a synagogue in Des Moines. He believed in prayer in school which reflected the majority beliefs of the members of the school district. When asked what he would do if a large number of Buddists settled in his school district and instituted chanting each morning, his imagination was not up to the task. "It could never happen."

Just judging from your account, I'd would say the good governor needs to expand his horizon.


>I have enough lack of faith in the reasonableness of the vast majority of religious folks across this country to believe that the majority reaction would be deep anger at being subjected to this infringement of their rights. Of course, they could simply move to a differnt district where they were the majority.

I don't think you're giving the good people of this country enough credit. Christianity has been the majority in this country for a long long long time. If it was a Islam majority, I think things would be a lot different. We wouldn't be having this conversation. Doubt if we would even have such thing as the internet.

>So, Sam, your answer is neither simple, nor beautiful.

Neither was yours. :)