What did you think of Rick Perry's Day of Prayer? Was it a good idea, or was the whole concept inappropriate for a political to promote?

It was him being open about his faith. How could it be inappropriate? lol Odd that the modern ideas of "separation of Church and State" are starting to outright violate the original notions of it. lol

Prayer has every place in governmental societies. It's not insulting to anybody. The idea that it is, that's so ridiculous. lol Separation of Church and state does NOT mean locking religion in churches. Such a notion is actually the blatant violation of church and state.

Shale wrote:

Prayer has no place in the official government workings of a secular society (which the United States is supposed to be, according to our constitution).

It is an insult to the non-religious who do not subscribe to an entity that demands we pray to it (a form of totalitarianism)

Then why was this nation founded on the basis of faith in God? Ever notice that we have "In God We Trust" printed on all our dollar bills and other such references to God, like in the Pledge of Allegiance “One Nation Under God”?

Seems to me that there's no actual harm in praying--just ruffling the feathers of those who choose not to believe in God, so therefore, does the offense that they feel also make it right to kick God out of government and everything for that matter, just because they don't like Him? Double edged sword, there--aetheists don't like it when believers express their beliefs, and it's ok for them to whine about being offended, but if believers started whining, picketing and protesting about how aetheists were offending them with their non-belief and bitching about how it interferes with their "rights", that would sure start a shit-storm.

Here's an interesting thing I found online, regarding God and government:

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/g/god-constitutions.htm




The Fifty States Reference God in their Constitutions-Truth!

Summary of the eRumor
The email includes phrases said to be from the constitutions of all fifty states in the U.S....and all of them acknowledge God, an interesting fact in the midst of controversy over the separation of church and state.





The Truth
We checked them all and the constitutions of all fifty states reference God, mostly in their preambles.


A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

Subject: God in your state Constitution !!!!
THIS IS VERY INTERESTING! After you check your state(s), look at the last
sentence or two.
America's founders did not intend for there to be a separation of God and
state, as shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledge God in their
state constitutions:
Alabama 1901, Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the
favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following
Constitution ..
Alaska 1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to
those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land ..
Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to
Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas 1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful
to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California,
grateful to Almighty God for our freedom .
Colorado 1876, Preamble. We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence
for the Supreme Ruler of Universe .
Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with
gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy ...
Delaware 1897, Preamble. Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature,
the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the
dictates
of
their consciences .
Florida 1845, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to
Almighty God for our constitutional liberty ... establish this
Constitution...
Georgia 1777, Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection
and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine
Guidance . establish this Constitution
Idaho 1889, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to
Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings ..
Illinois 1870, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful
to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath
so
long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our
endeavors
.
Indiana 1851, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to
Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to chose our form of
government
..
Iowa 1857, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the
Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence
on Him for a continuation of these blessings ... establish this Constitution
Kansas 1859, Preamble. We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God
for our civil and religious privileges . establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth of grateful to
Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties...
Louisiana 1921, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful
to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy ..
Maine 1820, Preamble. We the People of Maine .. acknowledging with grateful
hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us
an opportunity ... and imploring His aid and direction
Maryland 1776, Preamble. We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful
to Almighty God or our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble. We...the people of Massachusetts,
acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of
the
Universe...in the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly
imploring His
direction ...
Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful
to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom ... establish this Constitution
Minnesota, 1857, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Minnesota,
grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to
perpetuate
its
blessings
Mississippi 1890, Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in convention
assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845, Preamble. We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence
for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness ..
establish this Constitution ..
Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God
for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ..
Nebraska 1875, Preamble. We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our
freedom .. establish this Constitution
Nevada 1864, Preamble. We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to
Almighty God for our freedom . establish this Constitution ..
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V. Every individual has a natural
and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own
conscience .
New Jersey 1844, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New Jersey,
grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so
long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our
endeavors
.
New Mexico 1911, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings of liberty ..
New York 1846, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New York, grateful
to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings .
North Carolina 1868, Preamble. We the people of the State of North Carolina,
grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil,
political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon
Him for the continuance of those
North Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852, Preamble. We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to
Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our
common
..
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble. Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to
secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty ... establish this
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall be secure
in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of
their consciences .
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly
invoking His guidance
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island
grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath
so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing
South Carolina, 1778, Preamble. We, the people of the State of South
Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this
Constitution
South Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to
Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties . establish this
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible
right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their
conscience...
Texas 1845, Preamble. We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging,
with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God
Utah 1896, Preamble. Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we
establish this Constitution .
Vermont 1777, Preamble. Whereas all government ought to ... enable the
individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other
blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ...
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI ... Religion, or the Duty which we owe
our Creator . can be directed only by Reason ... and that it is the mutual
duty
of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each
other
...
Washington 1889, Preamble. We the People of the State of Washington,
grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain
this
Constitution .
West Virginia 1872, Preamble. Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the
blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West
Virginia .. reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God .
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble. We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty
God for our freedom, domestic tranquility
Wyoming 1890, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to
God for our civil, political, and religious liberties ... establish this
Constitution .
After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one
is faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the
out-of-control federal courts are wrong!
"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants."
William Penn

Shale wrote:

Prayer has no place in the official government workings of a secular society (which the United States is supposed to be, according to our constitution).

It is an insult to the non-religious who do not subscribe to an entity that demands we pray to it (a form of totalitarianism)

As far as I know this wasn't an official government function, it was private.

He can pray if he wants to.

Shale wrote:

Oh yes, I have noticed that travesty. In fact I remember when there was a pledge of allegiance without the goddamn deity reference. It was put in during the McCarthy anti-communist era when we were in a cold war with the godless Soviets.

As far as the In God We Trust on our money, that was put in at various times, most notably the Civil War years or shortly thereafter. A lot of religious ppl didn't want that, remembering Jesus taking a coin and entreating "Give unto Caesar what is Caesars"

Our founding fathers tried to create a separation of church and state, but in the age of enlightenment there was still a strong presence of archaic beliefs that had to satisfy the masses.

These little additions are much more recent than a lot of people realize. "In God We Trust" has more to do with Francis Scott Key & the seldom sung verse of The star Spangled Banner than with the founding fathers who were not christians but deists.

Quote :

During 1814, Francis Scott Key (a.k.a. Frank) had an eventful September. "Traveling under a white flag, Key met with both an enemy general and admiral, recovered a war prisoner, became a war prisoner, watched a historical bombardment, lost a night's sleep, and wrote" what eventually became the American national anthem: The Star Spangled Banner. 1
The final stanza reads:

"And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

In 1864, the words were shortened to "In God We Trust" and applied to a newly designed two-cent coin.



http://www.religioustolerance.org/nat_mott.htm

The cold war & McCarthy era factored in as well.

Quote :

In 1956, the nation was suffering through the height of the cold war, and the McCarthy communist witch hunt. Partly in reaction to these factors, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution to replace the existing motto with "In God we Trust." The president signed the resolution into law on 1956-JUL-30. The change was partly motivated by a desire to differentiate between communism, which promotes Atheism, and Western capitalistic democracies, which were at least nominally Christian. The phrase "Atheistic Communists" has been repeated so many times that the public has linked Atheism with communism; the two are often considered synonymous. Many consider Atheism as unpatriotic and un-American as is communism. The new motto was first used on paper money in 1957, when it was added to the one-dollar silver certificate. By 1966, "In God we Trust" was added to all paper money, from $1 to $100 denominations.

Shale wrote:

Oh yes, I have noticed that travesty. In fact I remember when there was a pledge of allegiance without the goddamn deity reference. It was put in during the McCarthy anti-communist era when we were in a cold war with the godless Soviets.

As far as the In God We Trust on our money, that was put in at various times, most notably the Civil War years or shortly thereafter. A lot of religious ppl didn't want that, remembering Jesus taking a coin and entreating "Give unto Caesar what is Caesars"

Our founding fathers tried to create a separation of church and state, but in the age of enlightenment there was still a strong presence of archaic beliefs that had to satisfy the masses.

The "Give unto Caesar. . ." reference is one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted things in the Bible, but the best explanation I've seen of it is that it basically means pay your Earthly debts as well as your spiritual debts. The money is the Earthly part, where we must abide by the rules of our societies, and Caesar had every right to receive tax money since he was the emperor in charge. Rendering unto God what is God's means give God the respect, attention, relationship--whatever, He requires and wishes to have with us.

In other words, it is possible to live in the world and follow it's rules, but also to have a relationship with God where His input can help you live in the world and not become consumed by it.

Therefore, to kick God out of our lives and governments, seems to me sort of adding to and compounding problems and issues. If something (i.e., like God) give you hope, makes you happy, wants to make your life better, then why turn against that? Personally I'd rather have God in my corner, rooting for me.

If people got a problem with government officials expressing their religious faith and thus try to stop them, then they are the intolerant ones. The founding fathers wanting a separation of church and state to protect religious from GOVERNMENT, not government from religion. And it always amazes me how somebody who doesn't want religion intruding on government has no problems with the government trying to push a church around.

The dirty little secret is that radical anti-religion atheists don't want a separation of church and state as much as they want their beliefs to be held paramount over all. Those who disagree with them should stay in their churches while they shove their secular values down everyone's throats.

Whatever. I'm not afraid to banter and haggle with God. Nothing wrong with prayer.

A government without God is a government doomed to collapse.

^^so...what if we had a government with "god" but that god was called "allah"? Same rules apply?

Shale wrote:

Unless we are a theocracy then "god" has no place in a secular government. The founders of this republic saw the strife such governments in Europe did by having official state religions - whole wars because Catholics or Protestants oppressed the other.

a million times

Trying to box religion into the Church is what is the true violation of church and state separation.