On Public Prayer

There is a great deal of controversy swirling around the official  recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by the United States.  The move of our embassy from Tel Aviv has occasioned a great deal of uproar and violence.  Was this the right time to make such a move?  Should other issues have been discussed, negotiated, resolved in connection with the recognition?  I leave that to you to determine.  But of this I am sure.  The religious leaders who offered prayers at the ceremony marking the opening of the embassy didn't in any way represent me nor most of the clergy I know.

Here is what upset me: at least one of the clergy who prayed at the event has a history of being anything but ecumenically or interreligiously minded.  Islam, he has said, comes from the "pit of hell" and Jews? They don't stand a chance of being saved unless they accept Jesus as their Savior.  So he says.  I realize this is a view held by many Christians, even though I don't subscribe to it myself.    It is certainly their right to believe that way.  But really, is there no recognition of irony here?

I guess all  this just points to the reality that the separation of church (or synagogue or mosque or temple) and state is essential for a pluralistic nation such as ours.  How we interact with other nations should recognize and be sensitive to religious issues, but our international relationships need to be grounded in sound diplomatic principles, not religious beliefs. For as a nation we do not hold a set of commonly accepted religious beliefs.  By constitutional definition.  Maybe the best bet is to avoid such public prayers at governmentally sponsored events all together--for how can they ever represent all Americans, when some of our fellow citizens don't even believe in prayer?