People should stop fearing prayer

Q: Did the Pentagon do the right thing by disinviting evangelist Franklin Graham from a National Day of Prayer event next week? Should government officials decide who can or cannot speak at such an event? Should the government proclaim a National Day of Prayer? Was a federal judge right to rule it unconstitutional?

The Pentagon was correct in disinviting a divisive Franklin Graham to speak at a military function for members of many faiths, and no faith. Rev. Graham's words were not only distasteful and hurtful, but they actually reflect similar statements made by both Christian and Muslim preachers against each other and against other religions. In all such cases, these statements say more about the narrow mindedness of the speakers' beliefs than about the traditions being denigrated.

As for a National Day of Prayer, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb's ruling that it is unconstitutional is consistent with the narrow way she has interpreted various issues that have come before her over the years....and it is short sighted. I would have simply changed the name to a Day of Prayer and Reflection. Prayer, inner reflection, and meditation are practices that the vast majority of Americans do at one point or another in their lives, many on a regular basis. This includes atheists such as those who follow non-theistic forms of Buddhism, as well as countless people who have no sectarian religious affiliation whatsoever. Judge Crabb, like many who dislike religion, has a very narrow view about the subject. She claimed that the day serves no "significant secular purpose." What, then, is the "significant secular purpose" of Christmas? Not only is it a religious holiday recognized by the government, but it is specifically Christian, while prayer is not limited to any religion and is far more inclusive. Does not a day of prayer or reflection that inspires people to think about a higher reality or even a sense of unity and goodness serve the purpose of helping to bring people together for at least a short period of time? Should this not be one of the goals of any government, religious or secular?

The main consideration should be that the government passes "no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Acknowledging a National Day of Prayer does no more to establish a religion than President Obama's acknowledgment of September 25th last year as National Day of Prayer for Islam did to establish of Islam as the nation's religion. It seems that many members of the U.S. government seem far more concerned these days with avoiding offending Muslims than they do offending those of other religious traditions, including Christianity. This should not be the case in a country that prides itself of the attempt to treat everyone equally.

If more Americans took a bit of time out of each day to contemplate goodness, compassion, non-violence, and truth, our country would be in much better shape than is currently the situation. Let people pray in the name of God, Jehovah, Krishna, Allah, Buddha, the Easter Bunny, or simply in the name of goodness. If it helps them to reflect on something beyond than their own ego and selfishness, is this not a good thing?

People who are afraid of prayer have a misguided concept of what it actually is. Prayer can have an uplifting effect on people. It does not have to be directed to a divine personality for it to be effective. Studies have shown that people who pray and meditate regularly tend to be happier and healthier. There has long been an acknowledgment in the medical community of a connection between the body and the mind, the health status of one tending to influence the other. In short, a positive mental state often helps improve the physical being. Prayer that brings about a feeling of peace and calm can thereby lead to an improved sense of self, and this can have positive effects on the health of the society at large. Typically, when people are praying or meditating, they are less likely to be thinking hateful thoughts and more likely to be having caring and compassionate thoughts. In the late 1990s, a study conducted by the Health Education Authority in England suggested that prayer can benefit a person's mental state as much as a visit with a psychiatrist.

The judge's comments suggest that she, as many like her, narrowly associates prayer with sectarian religious affiliation. Many like her see morality and ethics in a similar way, and thus believe anything to do with prayer, morality, or ethics is, by its nature, connected with sectarian religion and should have no connection with any aspect of the government. This is as inaccurate as it is unfortunate. Prayer and inner reflection require neither a sectarian religious affiliation nor a personalized divinity. People do these because they get a sense of inner peace from their efforts. Would not the entire country be better off if more people spent at least some time on a regular basis finding a sense of inner peace? I think there would be less division and hatred in the world. It might even bring some peace to the halls of Congress.

By Ramdas Lamb | April 29, 2010; 5:30 AM ET Save & Share:
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Mr. Lamb,

You said, “Acknowledging a National Day of Prayer does no more to establish a religion than President Obama's acknowledgment of September 25th last year as National Day of Prayer for Islam did to establish of Islam as the nation's religion.”

Proclamation 5017, National Day of Prayer, 1983 says, “Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, May 5, 1983, National Day of Prayer. I call upon every citizen of this great Nation to gather together on that day in homes and places of worship to pray, each after his or her own manner, for unity of the hearts of all mankind.”

This is not acknowledgement. This is advocacy.

Posted by: PaulAM1 | May 5, 2010 5:33 PM
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"People should stop fearing prayer"

But they should not stop fearing the ignorance and superstition of the people who want to enforce their "prayers" on others via legal edicts.

Posted by: PSolus | May 2, 2010 8:58 AM
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Prof. Lamb,

"As for a National Day of Prayer, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb's ruling that it is unconstitutional is consistent with the narrow way she has interpreted various issues that have come before her over the years....and it is short sighted."

In no way is it shortsighted. It is you who are short-sighted, or more correctly, obviously ignorant ofthe US Constitution.

"I would have simply changed the name to a Day of Prayer and Reflection. Prayer, inner reflection, and meditation are practices that the vast majority of Americans do at one point or another in their lives, many on a regular basis."

Changing the name is not the issue. The fact that the law can be and has been interpretted by many (not just Justice Crabbe) to possibly violate the Establishment clause (in that its wording CAN BE interpreted to have the US GOVernment either Mandating prayer or granting permission for citizens to pray) is enough reason for her to force it to be reviewed by the Supreme Court. And IF you actually bothered to read waht she said, she is actually ASKING that the higher courts review the law and make that determination. She is saying: "Hey this law is not writtten as clearly and constitutionally sustainably as it could be, and therefore needs to be clarified."

"Judge Crabb, like many who dislike religion, has a very narrow view about the subject."

Nothing that she wrote could lead an intelligent person to presume that she dislikes religion. Only a fool would make that assertion.

"Many like her see morality and ethics in a similar way, and thus believe anything to do with prayer, morality, or ethics is, by its nature, connected with sectarian religion"

Prayer IS exclusively connected with religion, Morality and ethics are not.

Posted by: compchiro | May 1, 2010 6:05 PM
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I would be cautious. Prayer and meditation are different. Prayer does reflect that we are subject to an objectified reality, meditation closes the gap of the subject and object.

Ramdas Lamb

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People should stop fearing prayer

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