I find it increasingly hard to swallow the fact that the right to freedom of speech is being taken from Christians by a group of non-believers who want the public mention of God to become illegal.    Why are we letting this happen to our once-great Christian nation? 

Because we are silent.  We allow it to happen.  My suggestion is to find our voice.  If we attend a public function such as a football game, a commission meeting, or a school board meeting and the speaker mentions the “moment of silence” instead of prayer, we should use that opportunity to say “Our Father” and continue with The Lord’s Prayer.  I could almost promise we will not be reciting that prayer alone.  I dare say the majority will join in. 

It is time to stand up for The One who laid His life down for us.  I will be doing that in public from this day forward whenever the opportunity arises to do so.  Won’t you join me?

Lanette Stratton

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Will someone please explain to me why a moment of silence is so offensive?  I grew up Catholic - went to Catholic schools most of my life - went to Mass almost every day during that time.  My Jewish classmates were not required to go to Mass - for obvious reasons.  

If I am of Jewish faith preparing to appear before the City Council which begins with a prayer to Jesus Christ, it might bother me.  Likewise as a Catholic, if there is a prayer before a City Council meeting based on the Jewish faith it might bother me.  

So I'll ask it again - what is so wrong with taking a moment of silence?  It seems to cover everyone - and nobody is offended.  It feels like an appropriate solution.  Am I missing something?

George Parker

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As best as I can tell, George, you have an over-abundance of common sense and are only missing hypocrisy and self-righteous indignation that others seem to have in excess.

Herb Montgomery 

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If you take a look at history you will see many persecutions of Christians and other religious groups. Some of the people who came to the new world (now the U.S.) they came for religious freedom. Nations and governments have long persecuted people for their religious beliefs. All you have to do is read the bible and look at the story of Daniel who prayed with his window open and was thrown into a den of lions for it.

In today’s world there are still countries that persecute people who do not believe the same as the national religion. All you have to do is take a look at the news and see that Iran wants to wipe Israel off of the face of the map to see this.

I think when our founding fathers created the constitution they were very wise to put in place the rights that we have for religious freedoms. They foresaw the need to keep government out of the business of religion. 

I am a Christian and can pray to God and Jesus whenever and wherever I want to without disturbing anyone else. As a matter of fact while at a restaurant with my step son yesterday we said prayer before we ate no different than what we do at home. If we offended anyone in the process nothing was said.

If a politician wants to have prayer to god, Muhammad, or whoever they worship before a meeting, then they have the freedom to do so. They don’t have to do it in open session and maybe they shouldn’t. After all I don’t think we ever want our government to tell us who or how we can worship.

A moment of silence is just fine with me because it leaves it open for anyone to pray to whomever they want to.

Mike Cox

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Mr. Cox, in fear of sounding like a broken record, a  review of the websites established for the US Office of the Chaplain of the House and Senate (established via Article I, Section 2, of the US Constitution) may demonstrate that religion and prayer was--and still remains--a fundamental public exercise conducted within the halls of our government for some 223 years. 

Open prayers began during the First Continental Congress.  Subsequently, the first elected representatives of our new nation immediately created and designated the the US Office of the Chaplain of the House and Senate.  Designated clerics have conducted open prayer before every session of the House and Senate since 1789.  Despite repeated challenges by atheists, the US Supreme Court has continued to validate those prayers and positions constitutionally as an integral part of this nation's distinguished heritage, traditions, and precedence.

Those who continue to challenge religion and prayer before public meetings and/or other events are simply trying to rewrite the history of this nation and the measured and documented  intent of those who founded it. 

Mya Lane

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As a Christan I am tired of seeing other Christians misrepresent our faith as intolerant and full of bigots. We should not try to force our prayers on others who may not share our beliefs. Instead we should encourage them to seek Christ by showing the love and respect that He offers through His disciples.  

A moment of silence serves everyone equally. I encourage other Christians to remember this passage: Matthew 6:5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." 

Brittany Golden
Hixson

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This again?  

I was raised in a very very fundamental 'religious' home and church environment where prayer was like a reflex. Prayer at public events was commonplace. If a football player got hurt in a game, his team and the opposing team bowed on bended knee in prayer.  Many clubs and organizations opened their meetings with prayer and so did government. 

Okay, we know this history. We know that the law has changed.  If Christians have a complaint, we have to temper it with the fact that we elected the leaders that put the laws in place, or maybe we did not vote? Oops. 

Two things bother me. When I go to public events sometimes, I am surrounded by people cursing. That makes me miserable.  But, it is their right to free speech.  In the past I have heard the advice to begin talking about God in that situation. The problem is having the guts to do it. Add to that the possibility of starting a fight over the 'rebuttal.' I'm not sure what would happen. 

My other problem is that the people who want prayer removed don't seem to attack it when there is a national tragedy such as 911, public shootings, plane crashes, etc. When the president and newscasters appear on television and ask for prayer, I don't see lawsuits or crowds of protesters. They wait, like predators. 

It was recently back in the news that there is an attempt to remove a piece of wreckage from 911 that is in the shape of a cross.Someone wants it removed from public.  I don't think that idea would have had a chance when 911 was fresher and prayer for that horrible tragedy was echoed everywhere.  Someone would have stomped that group in the ground. 

I think that Christians [me, us] and those seeking removal of pretty much anything religious from the public environment are both gutless and spineless.  Oh, please, please, please, don't "offend" anyone. Lets make everything equal and fair. Good idea, but never mind that's totally impossible.  Society is not a 'fair' environment by any measure.  Not in any instance.  I hope you never have to live outside in nature. What a rude awakening that would be. 

Let me offer a slice of the black book for your consideration: "Woe unto the nation that forgets God [not god or gods]."  Not Christians or churches or religions, they have their own judgments to face."Woe unto the nation [collective]." 

Ted Ladd
East Ridge