Public Prayer
So Annie and I were having a very nice time at her aunt and uncle's 4th of July party when it suddenly came time to say grace before dinner. The 50 or so people gathered around the pool and took hands and her uncle said some things.
Annie and I, both being atheists, decided to stay inside and not participate. I, in particular, think that it's disrespectful to participate in religious ceremonies if you are an unbeliever, so when I do have to I make sure to neither actively participate nor be disruptive. For instance, at a church wedding, funeral, or baptism, I'll bow my head, but I won't repeat the prayers or even say "Amen." After all, I'm pretty sure that if God does exist, he doesn't want me faking it.
Anyway, after the prayer had started, our absence must have been noticed, and so Annie's dad came inside and pretty much told us that we were being rude by not participating. Not wanting to cause a scene, we sheepishly went outside and took our place in the circle, with 100 eyes trained on us. The prayer then continued and concluded by singing "God Bless America." Annie and I pretended to sing along. Annie and I both felt sufficiently chastened that the remainder of the evening was marred.
This sort of thing is exactly why I absolutely abhor the idea of government sponsored prayer. Look at what happens when peer pressure is brought to bear against unbelievers. Imagine the greater coercion and imposition on free-will if the pressure is exerted by government.
But I'm also confused, frankly. Why is it that Christians often want to compel the participation of unbelievers or heretics? I mean, isn't part of the point of Christianity that you freely except it and embrace Jesus Christ as your savior? Someone who has been coerced into participating isn't exactly letting Jesus into his heart, now is he?
Maybe this just can't except the idea that someone sincerely does not believe, and that such a belief can be as sincere as that of someone who does believe. Maybe they think of the prayer as a communal, not a religious, activity. But then why must it have religious content?
I truly don't have the answers to these questions. I can only hope that people of faith can come to respect those of us who live moral lives, but do not abide by any particular creed.
2 comments:
I think the biggest problem with Christianity (but probably the reason it's as big as it is) is that it's basically ingrained in the religion that it's every christian's responsability to "save" those that don't believe. I don't think much of religion in general, but that's one of the very worst aspects of it, I think. Leave people alone, dammit!
This isn't some missionary thing, where people really don't know the religion - we all know about Christianity and have chosen not to follow it. It's the same as when you see a PSA telling you not to download music or something - unless you were a moron, you already knew it was wrong, and decided that you didn't care. Somebody telling you "Care! Care, dammit!" isn't going to change your mind.
Adam is right. The most frustrating concept of Christianity isn't just that you're a heathen for not believing (like in Islam and other happy/fun religions) but that you must be saved from your heathenism. Can't they just let us burn in their hell? I'm fine with that, why aren't they?
Sorry that you had to experience this.
By the way, I now have a blog, cause of you. Guess my fasscinating and original url? Yup, mattpemberton.blogspot.com
Post a Comment