National Day of Prayer


A non-Christian's opinion of President Bush declaring a National Day of Prayer
The Mad Hathor at Infidels of Every Denomination writes a pretty good post about the National Day of Prayer.

Let's reframe it in more startling terms. Suppose that, instead of days of prayer, political leaders called for a national day of sex. (Let's go way out on a limb and pretend that we live in a society where sex is considered healthy and normal and where it is recognized for its ability, when consensual and desired, to offer a feeling of comfort and connection, a release of stress, and even physical health benefits.) Wouldn't it seem a bit shocking for a public leader to make a declaration that is so intrusive on something so private as one's sex life? Would it not seem rather presumptuous?

It becomes even more problematic when you realize that those leaders are really only talking about straight-up intercourse between heterosexual monogamous married couples. They might grudgingly include sex between unmarried hetero partners or masturbation, but even though they aren't saying it out loud, gay couples and polyamorous families and BDSMers and those who are celibate by choice or by circumstance and even some of those unmarried hetero couples are well aware that their sex doesn't count as far as this declaration is concerned. So what is put forth as a unifying experience for all Americans, in reality is deeply divisive, intrusive, and an unpleasant reminder that one group of Americans is unjustly favored over other groups.

Pretty well put. Hat tip to Jason Pitzl-Waters at the Wildhunt Blog.

I happen to believe that religion should have very little part in public life. Pay close attention to what I am saying. Individuals are religious, the State is not, and the public is not. Religion has to be a personal choice if it is to have any meaning.

Lest we forget, there are some pretty despicable people who have been religious. Religion can have a huge influence on individual behavior, but it does not guarantee morality.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Wed - September 14, 2005 at 04:52 PM  Tag


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