(Photo/University of Maryland)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Last week, the student Senate of the University of Maryland voted to eliminate prayer from the school’s commencement ceremony. The student Senate voted 32-14 after a long discussion about having prayer at a public academic institution.
However, President Dan Mote overturned the student Senate’s decision to ban the commencement prayer. Mote cited the importance and tradition of the prayer as his reasons to exercise authority over the student Senate; a first for Mote since becoming President of the university in 1998.
For many people, a prayer of gratitude and a moment of reflection are an important part of our commencement tradition. – President Mote
This controversy comes after the school was involved in another controversy; defying the Maryland State Senate by showing a hard-core pornography film outside of an academic class. Some Maryland Senators had threatened to cut off public funding to the university if the film was shown. Consequently, the threat to cut funding wasn’t carried out even after the film was shown on campus.
As an alumnus of Maryland, I am beginning to wonder if any learning is taking place on campus. The only publicity that the school has received lately relates to nothing involving education.
The most outrageous arguments against prayer at graduation is that it could offend someone or that everyone doesn't share the same religion. Doesn’t the school teach tolerance and diversity?
Ken Holum, History professor and chair of the faculty/student university Senate, stated that “since it’s a state institution, why should we have religion? There should be a wall some say between the state and religion.”
The University of Maryland, which is a secular and taxpayer funded institution, has a Jewish Studies department. Didn’t Prof. Holum say that “there should be a wall… between the state and religion?” Where is he (or the student Senate) calling for the abolishment of the Jewish Studies department?
Couldn’t a Jewish Studies department offend Christian or Muslim students since there is no religious studies department for them at Maryland? If Maryland had a Christian Studies department, it would last for a day because the ACLU and their friends would denounce it using the same argument that the hypocrites in the student Senate are using to ban prayer.
I worked with Prof. Holum briefly in the History department when I was a student there. What I know now is that he has lost his mind along with the student Senate. If they allow a religious studies department to exist that is funded by taxpayers and then hypocritically cry out against prayer because of the First Amendment, then they should all be removed from their positions in the Student Government Association.
As the French writer and Nobel Prize winner Andre Gide said:
The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity.
Note: The author of this article, a Catholic, graduated one class short of the requirement for a Jewish Studies minor at the University of Maryland. The author supports the Jewish Studies department 100% and used it as a comparison.
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Comments
Amazing what some people consider to be ok--it's all relative I suppose. Perhaps hippies are the new middle class although their green-initiatives and lack of tax-paying may hamper their status some.
I went to MD and have to say, I don't think much learning went on when I was there either.
Prayer has no place at a state funded university; we must respect that venerable Wall of Separation between church and state.
Porn is irrelevant and something of a red herring, or more apt, red meat, for the guns and jesus crowd.
Portland: "we must respect that venerable Wall of Separation between church and state."
Then why hasn't Maryland gotten rid of its Jewish Studies dept? It's a double standard.
Portland--Are you mentally disturbed? Prayer has every reason to be in every university or any where else in this country for that matter. This COUNTRY was founded on the belief in GOD.
Porn has NO Relevance anywhere at all and is destroying the minds and hearts of the people that live in this country. It should never ever be shown in a university to students PERIOD! Only a sick twisted mind would even think that. How about a supposed "teacher" shows porn to YOU CHILD. Oh the outrage and Law-Suits would be neve ending not to mention the media attention, probably ending with child molestation charges against the teach. You need to get your proverbial head out of your butt.
Good reporting!
I am boggled that people think there is a similarity between forcing people to pray and allowing them to study religion. get a clue.
I dont think this is true because the movie was banned, and was not showed in the theater. Also, all the students who bought the ticket, were refunded later.
Catherine: The movie was at first cancelled, then it was shown in a classroom.
www.mtv.com/news/articles/1608725/20090407/story.jhtml
"The most outrageous arguments against prayer at graduation is that it could offend someone or that everyone doesn't share the same religion."
That's not an outrageous argument. Perfectly valid. Blacks would be offended by a part of the ceremony devoted to whites. Likewise, atheists are offended by parts of the ceremony devoted to theists.
There is no need to offend anyone.
There's a big difference between MANDATING prayer as part of a school's commencement ceremony for EVERYONE and having a VOLUNTARY Jewish studies program for those who CHOOSE to sign up for it. Forced participation in a group's religious rituals is a far cry from voluntarily studying a group's religious rituals. I assume students who participate in the Jewish studies program are not made to utter Jewish prayers or be circumcised!
Also, Judaism is one of the few "religions" that is simultaneously a culture/ethnicity and a religion. You can have a Jewish atheist but not a Catholic atheist. Depending on the way the program is run, Jewish studies could be equivalent to African, American, or Chinese studies, rather than a religious program per se.
I think @emily had it right... it's one thing to offer studies in religion and another to force a christian prayer ceremony onto the entire graduating class.
Also, I think the title is rather misleading, the university did *not* denounce prayer, it only decided not to have the graduation class pray together. There was no statement suggesting that praying individually was wrong, just that it was wrong to force everyone into the prayer.
I don't get why some religious people feel the need to force their beliefs on the masses. Yes, I understand that THEY believe it's right to do that, but their need for public displays of ceremony is beyond me - isn't prayer and religious reflection best done in moments of quiet solitude ?
When religion becomes politics, it ceases to be spiritual. It's as if they abandon their beliefs in order to evangelize them.
Is offering a Jewish studies department considered prayer? I think you are confused. I took history classes at at Maryland university too and learned all about the history of Christianity. Is that ok? Your argument could be perceived as anti semetic and could easily offend - fyi.
Pretty scary dude. Thats why the world is in the shape it is today, not enough Prayer!
RT
www.privacy.pro.tc
I live the fact that democracy is abandoned when prayer is threatened.
The vote was 32-14. that's pretty clear cut wouldn't you say.
Does Sean support prayers to Satan in public venues (schools, government buildings, etc.) and stand up for freedom of religion for everyone?
Great article. I went to UMD as well and shared a poem in regards to my belief in the exclusivity of Christ in an open mic night. I was interrupted twice and a professor told me to get to my point. That didn't happen to anyone else who's poem talked about sex or drugs.
I thought MD claims to be a university, shouldn't it still adhere to the principle of trying to, "find the unity in diversity" as is the definition of university?
A big sigh for UMD.
Your argument doesn't make any sense. In the matter of prayer, the commencement is something that everyone can and should experience. If non-religious people want to participate, they are also forced to experience the prayer. That's the problem.
The example you use of Jewish Studies programs is the orange to the commencement apple, as people don't need to participate in the Jewish studies program in order to participate in the graduation ceremony. If they did have to participate in Jewish studies in order to participate in the graduation ceremony, then your argument would hold water. But that's not the case here. You took a History professor's broad, literal opinion and gave it more of an extreme meaning than I believe the professor meant.
You might want to consider writing on topics that don't reveal your bias in such a blatant manner. Plain and simple, prayer should not be allowed at events where everyone is welcome, because what is implied by prayer is that everyone who is a Christian is welcome, but non-Christians have to suffer through religious dogma just to get through the commencement. That's nonsense.
I'll bet if it was a Scientology prayer they wouldn't feel the same way or perhaps a Hindu invocation to multiple gods. It only seems reasonable when you are a Christian, if you are not it feels like you are in a creepy alien movie and you are the only one not infected with the virus.
So, I'm relatively uncomfortable with prayer. I don't like participating in it and I try to avoid gatherings where prayers and mentions of god are taking place.
So, for something like a school wide assembly, I would be happier if they left prayer out.
However, I'd be fine with the school funding prayer groups, elective courses on prayer, and so forth. Because, I think its great that schools can offer such a wide variety of things and help support students partaking in things they want to explore further.
But, just as I can see how most public schools in this country do not force students to participate in prayer during public assembly; while at the same time these same schools are allowed to teach things like history and culture of specific religions and most schools allow for school funds to go into student-run groups that do participate in prayer.
It seems pretty reasonable.
Also, what news organization in their right mind would report about students learning things? It's not news. I'm sure plenty of learning is going on -- just read the CVs of the professors and researchers to see how many students are listed on their publications or look at their graduate school rankings which often take into account the number of publications. It's not the ideal measure of education, but, it is a good indicator.
I'm not sure if you understand the difference between saying a prayer before an academic secular event, and having a department in a certain subject, which in the this case, Jewish studies would probably be the historical and social aspects of Judaism. Nobody is made to participate in these studies, you can choose to take a class. Also calling a professor crazy because you do not agree with his views, after you incorrectly label him a hypocrite is fairly ignorant. Finally university's aren't funded by taxpayers. That is what tuition is for.
I'm a UMD student and pretty much everything that FOX news is saying is wrong(big surprise), the showing of the porn was threatened by the state and so a private group of students showed it. THIS MEANS THAT IT WAS NOT A UNIVERSITY SPONSORED EVENT. Furthermore, I don't see the problem with them showing porn, its not like they are letting minors into the theater (if you can find any on campus). The other problem with Mr. O'Donell's argument is that the university s choosing porn over prayer when they are two completely separate and unrelated events happening around the same time. I don't even understand why the showing of pirates 2: Stagnetti's Revenge even made it to the news considering that this is the THIRD time that UMD has shown porn at the Hoff Theater. Also, prayer shouldn't not be mandatory, I guess I'm really impartial either which way but Christians do need to accept the fact that they are not the majority in a liberal University like UMD. Also if you are actually worried about the school not having prayer you shouldn't be because the student government has no power. The president of the Unviersity, Dan Mote, also overturned the vast majority decision of the student government. The University actually slips things past the student government all the time, its almost as if the student government is there to keep students thinking that they have power when they really seem to have very little as clearly shown in this case.
"what's going on here" I think you're getting your information confused. This is a University. Last time I checked there were no minors attending. Even if there would be any, probably steps would be taken into consideration to prohibit them to view the movie.
As far as porn being sick, that's an opinion, your opinion. People love posing their opinions as facts. Keep your piehole shut.
Religion is a choice, not a mandate. Prayer should not be forced upon. If a student wants to pray, there is absolutely nothing stopping them if they want to do it. They can arrive 5 minutes before class and do it, or even during class. Doesn't take that long to pray. And if prayers are mandatory, you should do it for all the religions, no matter how small or large, that are represented within the university. Also, United States was founded on a secular constitution, during the Enlightenment Age. This left little room for Christianity, period.
With regards to the Jewish Studies Dept, like another poster above said, there is a difference between forcing prayer, and allowing people to study religion by choice (choice is the key word here).
The argument about the Jewish Studies program is entirely baseless, and it would be better for those advocating prayer to abandon it without further comment. The fact that one can choose to take a class in Jewish Studies is not at all on the same level as sitting down at a university-wide function and having to listen to a Christian prayer (or any prayer for that matter, considering that there are more than enough people out there who justifiably believe that prayer is wasted breath and annoying to boot- recent estimates place the number of atheists in the country at around 15-20%, kind of makes one wonder why we don't have an Atheists Studies Department).
And for those who believe that porn is leading to the downfall of our society, it would take a much larger number of rapes, sexual assaults, etc. for that to have any credence, based upon the known numbers for porn watching in this country. Also, how would one account for historical per capita numbers for such crimes as well, considering the fact that in, say, 18th century London, there were more per capita rapes than in 21st century New York City? I can't imagine the argument being that there was more porn in circulation then (although there certainly was a good bit around, they just didn't have the good fortune of the digital age to help them out).
So what is the issue? The students exercised what little legislative democracy they are given to eliminate a mandatory prayer at an all-students event. This is very different from a voluntary *cultural* studies program. Students aren't required to take Jewish Studies courses (or Women's Studies for that matter). Students wouldn't have been prevented from praying at Commencement. Prayer wasn't banned. The motion was to eliminate an organized prayer led from the podium. Suppose your university president was a follower of the ancient Egyptian god Osiris. Would you want your student to be led in a prayer by school officials to the god of the underworld who weighs your soul at death? My point is that not every student is a theist, let alone a monotheist, not to mention a particular domination of Protestantism. What is comfortable to you at this all-inclusive official event might not be comfortable to the students next to you.
I can't help but laugh at this article, and all those who live in such dark, closed minded worlds. It sounds to me like you are anti-democracy, so in the words of your constituents... WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA?!
Julia: I took many Jewish Studies classes and it's a religious program (many rabbis are teachers). If the school had a Christian Studies dept it wouldn't exist long. Taxpayer dollars are being spent to fund the Jewish Studies dept, which I'm fine with, but the student Senate doesn't bring that up. Instead they attack school prayer, which the President allowed because the student body supported the prayer.
Dave T: There isn't going to be a "Christian prayer" at commencement, it is an interfaith prayer.
JG: If you would've read my article, you would've seen that I'm not anti-semitic as I was in the Jewish Studies program at one point (see the bottom of the article).
CuriousGuy: I'm sorry to say that there will be no Satanist clergy on hand for the commencement. But there will be clergy from many different faiths.
Dan Schell: You aren't thinking straight. There will be no forced conversions taking place at commencement, simply an INTERFAITH prayer. If you don't like it, you don't have to pray. Just like you don't have to stay quiet for a moment of silence anywhere else or sing the national anthem.
Secular dude: The prayer will actually be interfaith, not just Christian.
Greg: UMD is funded by taxpayers whether you want to believe it or not. Why do you think the school caved (at first) to threats in the Maryland Senate to withhold funding if a porno was shown? Because the taxpayers overwhelmingly fund the STATE INSTITUTION of education. Wise up.
Scott: The prayer isn't mandatory, the school isn't saying "pray or no diploma." Christians and other faithful students ARE a majority at UMD. Why do you think President Mote reversed the student Senate's decision? Because Mote didn't want to offend the MAJORITY of students who supported the prayer.
Me Child?: No one is being "forced" to pray. The student Senate argued that there shouldn't be prayer at UMD because it's a public college and there is a separation between church and state. Why is there then a Jewish Studies dept? You could use the same argument against it.
KH: Again, the prayer is NOT a Christian
prayer, it is an INTERFAITH prayer.
Brian: Cultural studies are "voluntary" at UMD, you are FORCED to take a 'diversity' class to graduate. Don't shout out points that aren't true.
#1 Two totally different events on an adult population where they can make their own ADULT choices.
#2 Separation of Church and State.
#3 US Non-theist population is around 20%. The Christian population is under 75%. If you look at universities. You will see the Islamic population is at least twice that of the normal population. Same goes for Jewish, and non-theist typically. The huge majority of the people not going to college are Christians.
Sean: OK, so your rational argument in the original article is based on the converse fallacy of accident. The students wanted to ban organized prayer led by school officials because of separation of church and state. Therefore, the students should have wanted to ban anything related to religion on campus (i.e. Jewish Studies). The students are wrong because they didn't apply the general rule that *you* extrapolated from their specific issue. This is a fallacy.
Example: I am against knifing strangers in a bar. Knifing is cutting people. I'm not *wrong* about that because surgeons cut people and I'm not against surgery also.
The better argument you made is that the students at commencement don't need to participate, the prayer is interfaith and intended to be benign to most people, and it is a tradition that does not need to be changed. Valid points. This is the basis argument from the university president who vetoed the measure. Why wasn't that in your article?
Why rely on a knee-jerk emotional appeal to anti-Semitism? The article reads like you think that Jewish Studies should be eliminated at UMD because UMD doesn't have a seminary school. You need to revaluate your own emotional motivations if you want to work in journalism. Then again, what passes for journalism these days... you are probably doing just fine.
Brian: I did use the tradition and non-voluntary prayer argument in the article, I wrote that President Mote said it. I didn't use it in MY argument because I wanted something new.
Please don't call me an anti-Semite. You are lowering yourself to the group of people who call others a "homophobe", "racist", or "sexist" because they are against gay marriage, illegal immigration, and abortion.
If you would've read my ENTIRE article, you would've realized that I took many Jewish Studies classes, enjoyed them, and that I support the dept. 100%. I just used them as a comparison to the student Senate's point.
For the record, I didn't shout. Furthermore, I'm not a fan of mandatory diversity training either. The political-correctness movement unifies the far-left and far-right in the belief that people have a right not to be offended. They don't. The amusing thing is that they violently disagree on what they are offended about!
You are correct that the students aren't forced to pray, but silence during a publicly led prayer connotes assent. This is why a moment of silence has replaced prayer in many secular settings where attendance is mandatory or universal. It's not an unreasonable position.
The position that that the students at commencement don't need to participate, the prayer is interfaith and intended to be benign to most people, and it is a tradition that does not need to be changed is equally reasonable.
Why the outrage? The system at UMD worked. The motion was vetoed. The commencement hasn't changed. The administration and the student senate both had reasonable positions on different sides of an issue and it was resolved.
Nowhere did I call you an anti-Semite. That wasn't my intention. My apologies if you read my response that way. I was questioning the fallacy of your basic argument and the wisdom of the emotional appeals you make by bringing in the Jewish Studies extrapolation.
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