General Discussion

MineralMan

(150,576 posts)

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

Tue Jan 22, 2013, 11:45 AM

Jan 2013

Joe Biden is also a Christian and I assume he does the same.

This service is nothing official. It is a service for the President, Vice President, and their families, along with whomever else attends.

It doesn't compel anyone in any way. You are not required to attend, nor are you required to pay any attention to it at all. In fact, it imposes nothing on you or anyone else.

I'm an atheist, and have been since 1965. I recognize that our Presidents and other officials may well have religious beliefs, as do a sizable proportion of the country's population. Why would I be bothered with their attendance at this religious service? What does it have to do with me at all.

I believe you are stretching the separation of church and state to the breaking point. If the President is a religious man, I don't mind if he attends a church service. Why do you?

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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