Protesting the National Day of Prayer as an Assault on Religious Freedom
Ways Freethinkers Can Protest the Intrusion of Religion into Government
COMMENTARY | The National Day of Prayer (NDP) for 2011 is on May 5, as it is designated to be on the first Thursday of May. ReligiousTolerance.org notes the annual event began in 1952, flush in the middle of the Red Scare and McCarthyism, when proclamations and slogans were added to the American fabric to counter the perceived threat from "godless" Communists.
Originally, the congressional proclamation, signed by President Truman, didn't specify a day. Ronald Reagan amended the proclamation to slate it for the first Thursday in May. Some may cite mentions of prayer by presidents predating 1952, but they were not specific calls to pray on a given date.
Livingwithoutreligion.org reports one in six Americans currently has no religious affiliation, and almost 11 percent are identified as secular. Of the people claiming religious affiliation, many of those are not practicing, but merely claiming the faith. Still, the majority of Americans are religious, some fanatically so. They are free to pray every single day of the year.
Why, then, a National Day of Prayer? It's no more than political grandstanding, a hammer wielded by the religious right to back up their clout in political circles. No one is saying religious leaders cannot declare a nationwide day of prayer every single day of the year if they so choose. Where they cross the line is in coercing government acknowledgment.
Since the 1980s, the NDP has become powerful enough to demand participation. From local officials through governors and on up to the president, conservatives and progressives alike proclaim the day. In the first case to pander to their base, in the second because they are afraid of that same base.
The NDP was ruled unconstitutional last year, but the decision was essentially thrown out, according to Americans United, when an appeals court declined to hear the case because a three-judge panel said the plaintiffs did not have standing. That's not to say, as NDP backers would have you believe, that the constitutionality was upheld. It's a recent trend in federal courts. Rather than take on the question with its obvious church-state conflations, they dismiss over standing.
This year, I will be attending one or two NDP events, and will simply hold signs up. I won't try to agitate the crowds, just simply state my case. I have several ideas what to put on a sign, and I'm listing them here for others to consider.
The theme for this year, according to the National Day of Prayer Task Force, is "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." Prayers will be centered on that, so protests can be also.
"A Mighty Fortress is God," then why does he need City Hall?
Keep government out of churches! - And churches out of government!
What if I pray from the Koran, Talmud, Vedas, Kojiki, Tao te Ching, or Satanic Bible?
If America is a "Christian Nation," where do I live?
Separation of Church and State is not a myth
If God lives in a Mighty Fortress, pray at his house, not the statehouse!
It's Cinco de Mayo, lighten up and have a cerveza!
Remember, the reasons for protesting against the National Day of Prayer aren't to take on religion itself, but the exercise of religious power and influence in the public square.
Originally, the congressional proclamation, signed by President Truman, didn't specify a day. Ronald Reagan amended the proclamation to slate it for the first Thursday in May. Some may cite mentions of prayer by presidents predating 1952, but they were not specific calls to pray on a given date.
Livingwithoutreligion.org reports one in six Americans currently has no religious affiliation, and almost 11 percent are identified as secular. Of the people claiming religious affiliation, many of those are not practicing, but merely claiming the faith. Still, the majority of Americans are religious, some fanatically so. They are free to pray every single day of the year.
Why, then, a National Day of Prayer? It's no more than political grandstanding, a hammer wielded by the religious right to back up their clout in political circles. No one is saying religious leaders cannot declare a nationwide day of prayer every single day of the year if they so choose. Where they cross the line is in coercing government acknowledgment.
Since the 1980s, the NDP has become powerful enough to demand participation. From local officials through governors and on up to the president, conservatives and progressives alike proclaim the day. In the first case to pander to their base, in the second because they are afraid of that same base.
The NDP was ruled unconstitutional last year, but the decision was essentially thrown out, according to Americans United, when an appeals court declined to hear the case because a three-judge panel said the plaintiffs did not have standing. That's not to say, as NDP backers would have you believe, that the constitutionality was upheld. It's a recent trend in federal courts. Rather than take on the question with its obvious church-state conflations, they dismiss over standing.
This year, I will be attending one or two NDP events, and will simply hold signs up. I won't try to agitate the crowds, just simply state my case. I have several ideas what to put on a sign, and I'm listing them here for others to consider.
The theme for this year, according to the National Day of Prayer Task Force, is "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." Prayers will be centered on that, so protests can be also.
"A Mighty Fortress is God," then why does he need City Hall?
Keep government out of churches! - And churches out of government!
What if I pray from the Koran, Talmud, Vedas, Kojiki, Tao te Ching, or Satanic Bible?
If America is a "Christian Nation," where do I live?
Separation of Church and State is not a myth
If God lives in a Mighty Fortress, pray at his house, not the statehouse!
It's Cinco de Mayo, lighten up and have a cerveza!
Remember, the reasons for protesting against the National Day of Prayer aren't to take on religion itself, but the exercise of religious power and influence in the public square.
Published by Jeff Musall
Jeff Musall has a passion for writing, a knack for frank and informed expression, and a desire to engage the minds of readers. He is an avid sports fan across the board and loves good competitions. His work... View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentIt's interesting that Atheists like you have many more myths than just evolution. That this country was founded by Deist and Atheists, The Red Scare and McCarthyism and separation of Church and State. With the collapse of your beloved Soviet Slave Empire all sorts of American and Soviet files were declassified proving that everyone Senator McCarthy said was a security risk was a security risk. But then, since you are incapable of logical thinking, your world is founded on all sorts of malicious fantasies including the idea that an Atheist minority should have the right to dictate to the theistic majority. I deplore the fact that you have stopped using your Dodo bird avatar. That was truth in advertising if there ever was any.
That first slogan is a double-edged sword. The radical religious answer is he doesn't, let the churches make the rules.
political grandstanding indeed!
Interesting that those who constantly imply that the government is illegitimate are the same who want government's sanction and validation for their beliefs.
You have some very good points -- and some funny banners! As a Christian, I don't feel we need a special "Day of Prayer" since we should be comfortable praying every day. It's sort of like those who only go to church on Christmas and Easter -- if you need a special day, you don't understand the basics of Christianity, or any other religion for that matter. Oh, and my favorite sign is "It's Cinco de Mayo, lighten up and have a cerveza!"