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The decision to allow the football coach to pray publicly was, I think, the right one. There is a balance between establishment and free exercise and while I've never understood the need to make a big show of one's faith, praying after a game is hardly dangerous to the separation of church and state.
Good grief, though - CNN is blaring away about an erosion of that separation. I just see it as maybe the pendulum swinging a bit back away from "too hostile to religion".
I think if he is on his "own" time he can pray anywhere he wants. If he is on the company clock, he needs to follow the company rules.
I'm pretty sure silent, unannounced prayers get heard by the intended recipient...:please:...BenQuote:
Originally Posted by Mike
More folly to follow. They are already talking about the supreme Court taking away gay marriage, taking away the laws against segregation, it goes on and on. 2022 midterm fodder.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
I heard an editorial that stated the prayer was after every game (not spontaneous) and the school districts was concerned that there was pressure for the players to join in…. It was about the pressure to join, not the actual prayer..
Also what Mike sez.. GoldenRule, he who has the gold makes the rules..
Even as a fed, I was not prohibited from displaying religious symbols at my desk or praying while at work. I don't make a show of my religion because that's not how I was raised but nothing kept me from having silent prayer before a meal. Muslims had a room they could go into at work for their observances. So accommodation within reason seems to be OK.
Pressure to join is a tricky thing. If the guy just goes out there and does his thing, I don't think of that as pressure. Folks who are not religious might. This decision seems like a "one - off" rather than setting some new standard so I doubt it means a whole lot.
Think you might read articles from some "families" that felt pressure to "join in" the group.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
How they felt is meaningless. The only thing the law was addressing was the act of the coach. If we were to make laws on how people's feelings were hurt, well I don't think I want to go there.Quote:
Originally Posted by FredK
Good point, Honda.
This is kind of what I was alluding to. There is no evidence that the coach put any pressure on anyone to join in. He was not shown to have retaliated against those who did not. But people who are not religious are suspicious of people who are, especially when that person can affect their lives. To me, it is emblematic of how much we've changed as a country, to the point where we simply don't trust each other any more.
I must adamit, I thought it ineresting to regularly hear prayers in public when I moved to Utah. But, when I understood that's what the public expected and wanted, I grew to appreciate the thoughtful gesture. I do not recall hearing any complaints about that, as people seemed to appreciate it.
Hunter