General Discussion

Silent3

(15,909 posts) Tue Jan 22, 2013, 11:30 AM Jan 2013

So now there's also a "post-inaugural prayer service at National Cathedral"... [View all]

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nbcnews.com/50548092/

...the Obamas and the Bidens are attending.

The praying and the god-bothering just go on and on, don't they?

Hey, I'm happy that Obama won. I didn't get so worked up about all of the religious trappings that I shut off my TV or anything melodramatic like that. I mostly very happy with Obama's inaugural speech.

I'm fucking delirious that it wasn't Romney up there giving a speech.

But if anyone can't see how the heavy ceremonial emphasis on religion, especially Christian religion, is a smack in the face of separation of church and state, can't see that it marginalizes non-believers, that "It's the President's day!" only excuses so much for what is also a day (or two, apparently) that belongs in large part to the public... that strikes me as a bit of willful blindness.

There aren't just a few nods to believers here and there, there isn't just a bit of the President making his own faith part of the proceedings -- the whole inaugural process is steeped in religious invocations and religious symbolism and religious ritual.

Don't let me forget to close with: "God bless you all! God bless the United States of America!"

135 replies

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So now there's also a "post-inaugural prayer service at National Cathedral"... [View all] Silent3 Jan 2013 OP

It does not annoy me. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #1

My prayer for today: I pray all these prayer services would stop. stopbush Jan 2013 #106

The President has the right to go to a church service. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #117

Maybe all these rich politicians feel guilty? leftstreet Jan 2013 #2

A prayer service @ the National Cathedral? Botany Jan 2013 #3

I'm not at all *shocked* Silent3 Jan 2013 #7

Isn't that the same kinda thing as Reagan National Airport? longship Jan 2013 #19

It is a beautiful building and close to Rock Creek Park too Botany Jan 2013 #61

About the National Cathedral - teenagebambam Jan 2013 #33

With all due respect we have the right to call our Cathedral whatever we want. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #81

+++++ CAG Jan 2013 #108

It's apparent that Obama's team decided to take the religion issue from Republicans PoliticAverse Jan 2013 #4

It might be a useful strategic maneuver... Silent3 Jan 2013 #11

i think this is it with a ribbon and a bow. Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #129

+1. Incredible. And incredibly religious. Today the govt+religious symbolism show continues... nt riderinthestorm Jan 2013 #35

Sure. Would be good to shorten prayers & limit them to a religious message. hooverville29 Jan 2013 #53

He went to church, that is all. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #82

They always say that at the end of speeches quinnox Jan 2013 #5

K&R There are no phonier words to me than "God bless the USA!" forestpath Jan 2013 #6

It's a tradition that dates back countingbluecars Jan 2013 #8

Good point. The ramifications would be metastatic.... JohnnyLib2 Jan 2013 #24

good idea cave on this easy thing. Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #130

I don't feel marginalized lunatica Jan 2013 #9

Let's see: Obama's a Christian and attends church with his family. MineralMan Jan 2013 #10

It's big, public, televised, scripted, choreographed event... Silent3 Jan 2013 #13

Turn your television off. MineralMan Jan 2013 #18

So if the President decided to make a big part of his celebration... Silent3 Jan 2013 #71

That is not what he did. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #87

So what does it matter that that's not specifically what he did? Silent3 Jan 2013 #89

I am not saying your arguments have no merit. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #118

And you can turn off the TV. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2013 #22

National Cathedral is not nominally Episcopal, it is enthusiastically Episcopal. kwassa Jan 2013 #125

That's true. It would have been more accurate to say The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2013 #128

So was JFK's funeral and the funeral of most former presidents in the "television" era onenote Jan 2013 #52

I don't like football-should I throw a pissyfit if the media covers Obama attending a football game? MADem Jan 2013 #63

hell yeah. MrsMatt Jan 2013 #99

Every Episcopal Church event is scripted. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #83

ERMAHGERD! A prayer service at a cathedral! The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2013 #12

Way to miss the point. Silent3 Jan 2013 #14

Thanks for that great Jefferson quote! Lisa D Jan 2013 #15

agreed . i use that jefferson quote alot - i think the key phrase in what you said was leftyohiolib Jan 2013 #25

Just another way for our elected leaders to divorce themselves from governing. sadbear Jan 2013 #16

And that's exactly why this has no place in government. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #21

That is not what is happening with our president, or at that service. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #85

saying prayer in a public space doesnt violate the "separation between church and state" leftyohiolib Jan 2013 #17

Why Don't You Save All That Outrage For Things That Count? Paladin Jan 2013 #20

Amen (so to speak) Jeff In Milwaukee Jan 2013 #23

Nicely Put. (nt) Paladin Jan 2013 #26

+1 leftyohiolib Jan 2013 #28

Thank you! cherish44 Jan 2013 #94

So how much energy do you think I used on this post? Silent3 Jan 2013 #32

I Gave My "Pick Your Battles" Talk To My Teen-Age Daughters, As Well. Paladin Jan 2013 #51

The energy to post a little online is minimal... Silent3 Jan 2013 #55

No one is forcing you to watch. appleannie1 Jan 2013 #27

"is a smack in the face of separation of church and state" NCTraveler Jan 2013 #29

The OP makes it clear that I'm talking about way more than this one prayer... Silent3 Jan 2013 #37

Your op brought up its constitutionality. NCTraveler Jan 2013 #62

How has the Prez's religious views affected you policy wise? Inkfreak Jan 2013 #30

Oh noes!!!!!! Will the butthurt never end?????? (nt) Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #31

Kneejerk reaction which totally misses the point... Silent3 Jan 2013 #34

ofercrissake... go back to bed. lamp_shade Jan 2013 #36

I think I heard MSNBC say this has been a tradition since George Washington -- gateley Jan 2013 #38

And so? Silent3 Jan 2013 #40

So I view it as harmless. Maybe it's meaningful for those who attended. I don't have to watch gateley Jan 2013 #48

The tradition of people who want to attend a church service the day after Inauguration Day onenote Jan 2013 #49

BREAKING NEWS: Religious People Attend Church Service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WilliamPitt Jan 2013 #39

And you really think I'm expressing shock at religious people attending church? Silent3 Jan 2013 #43

Sure sounds that way. Not shock, really--more like IRE. MADem Jan 2013 #66

And if there were a dearth of women featured in the inaugural celebration... Silent3 Jan 2013 #70

That's a bit of a reach, since there was not a dearth of women featured, now, was there? MADem Jan 2013 #72

How hard do you work to miss the point? Silent3 Jan 2013 #73

No need to get rude and shirty, now. Your point was not taken because it was not valid. MADem Jan 2013 #77

Yes, Muslims and Buddhists should be annoyed. Silent3 Jan 2013 #78

Funny how they aren't, though. MADem Jan 2013 #79

Not too long ago not many gay people would have complained about not being able to marry Silent3 Jan 2013 #90

I didn't know marriages took place on the inaugural platform. MADem Jan 2013 #91

Again I can't figure out if your outstanding ability to miss a point... Silent3 Jan 2013 #95

I don't miss a thing--least of all your strained efforts at conflation. nt MADem Jan 2013 #97

If you thought I was conflating marriage with anything... Silent3 Jan 2013 #98

You were the one that drew the parallel, not me. nt MADem Jan 2013 #101

The parallel wasn't with marriage, however. Silent3 Jan 2013 #105

Your "point" pardon the pun--is not taken. MADem Jan 2013 #110

National Cathedral marries same-sex couples. kwassa Jan 2013 #126

Great points! MADem Jan 2013 #134

If you watched the service you would know there were members of many faiths other than Christianity. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #88

And if you read what I wrote you would have noticed the word "nearly" Silent3 Jan 2013 #92

You weren't even talking about the service--you were complaining about the Inaugural platform in MADem Jan 2013 #96

Are you upset that religious adherents were invited to give a benediction onenote Jan 2013 #113

I'm bothered there's much of anything pro or con about religious beliefs... Silent3 Jan 2013 #115

The woman who gave the benediction was not even a minister, either. MADem Jan 2013 #124

I see your point. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #122

He's arguing about the Inaugural platform in this subthread, even though the thread topic is the MADem Jan 2013 #93

I agree about the Inaugural ceremony was too Christian based. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #116

Well, the invocation was tied to the Civil Rights Movement and MLK. MADem Jan 2013 #123

And this bothers you because......??? nt. OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #41

There is PRAYER at a CATHEDRAL? OMG, the horror!!! Odin2005 Jan 2013 #42

You really think I'm expressing shock at religious people attending church? Silent3 Jan 2013 #44

I'm an Atheist and find the over-the-top outrage annoying Odin2005 Jan 2013 #47

And my OP was "over the top" to you? Silent3 Jan 2013 #50

Go call the WHAAAAAAAmbulance. Odin2005 Jan 2013 #59

Such provocative insight Silent3 Jan 2013 #69

You certainly didn't pull it off. Son of Gob Jan 2013 #114

Not that big of a deal. Jenoch Jan 2013 #45

Glad to see them practicing their Freedom of Religion - lynne Jan 2013 #46

Too often these 'prayers' become just another speech. If you're gonna pray--pray. hooverville29 Jan 2013 #54

Yeah, that silly Martin Luther King Jr. should have shut up and prayed instead of doing that speechy onenote Jan 2013 #57

Humans express depth of commitment through tradition. immoderate Jan 2013 #56

Somehow other countries elect secular leaders... Silent3 Jan 2013 #58

I agree with you. But this is America. immoderate Jan 2013 #64

Which countries? Really, I'm interested in the short list. MADem Jan 2013 #65

So now you're going to make the standard... Silent3 Jan 2013 #67

Now? Now? Like this shocking event has NEVER happened before? Where have you been hiding?? MADem Jan 2013 #60

I did complain before. Silent3 Jan 2013 #68

You needed to have started your complaining over two centuries ago. MADem Jan 2013 #100

As long as they don't base any policy decisions on Christianity, I'm just indifferent. Chorophyll Jan 2013 #74

It doesn't bother me. nt Raine Jan 2013 #75

I share your reaction DavidDvorkin Jan 2013 #76

If you are against the prayers at the inaugural ceremony you have a point, but the service in the hrmjustin Jan 2013 #80

This is like the Islamic FUndies who get upset at drawing muhammed or wingnut Christians JI7 Jan 2013 #84

Just like it... Silent3 Jan 2013 #102

doesn't matter, it's the stupidity of it JI7 Jan 2013 #109

This is not at all parallel... Silent3 Jan 2013 #111

at least the church is a more appropriate setting liberal_at_heart Jan 2013 #86

I guess this starting with George Washington nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #103

Could you just get over it? It is what it is. Don't watch. gateley Jan 2013 #104

Pointless retort Silent3 Jan 2013 #107

You're right. I just shouldn't have responded. Sorry. I'll check out the link. gateley Jan 2013 #132

I see how this could be annoying, but... onpatrol98 Jan 2013 #112

This message was self-deleted by its author Union Scribe Jan 2013 #119

Washington Nat'l Cathedral has been desecrated by an underground parking garage Leopolds Ghost Jan 2013 #120

What are you talking about? kwassa Jan 2013 #127

I'm not sure I understand your criticism Leopolds Ghost Jan 2013 #131

The problem with being an atheist sometimes seems to be treestar Jan 2013 #121

Harrison re-enacted Washington crossing the delaware or something like that at his inaugural. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #133

As a long-time atheist myself, I actually laugh like hell that Obama is "out-Christianing" the Nay Jan 2013 #135