This morning an Internet rumor that the National Day of Prayer had been cancelled by President Obama went viral. The rumor is only partially correct, Obama has canceled the White House service recognizing the National Day of Prayer. He has not, however, cancelled the National Day of Prayer itself.
The news is actually old, since the announcement was made last year. The LA Times explained the news last May under the following headline:
Obama ends Bush-era National Prayer Day service at White House
On the first Thursday of May, dedicated as the National Day of Prayer, President George W. Bush hosted an ecumenical service in the East Room, a big public endorsement of evangelical Christians. (This event is different from the National Prayer Breakfast, held outside the White House gates every year on the first Thursday of February.)
President Obama opted not to have a service in the White House this year.
"Prayer is something that the president does every day," explained White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, adding that Obama will sign a proclamation to recognize the day. "I think the president understands, in his own life and in his family's life, the role that prayer plays."
Apparently the current rumor picked up steam among evangelical Christians on Facebook. The attempt was and is being made to paint President Obama as being irreligious, in order to smear and demean the President. Yet the fact remains, Obama continues to identify himself as a Christian.
Obama's choice to end the National Day of Prayer service is a welcome move. Religious services do not belong in the White House, which is, after all, the people's house. The ideal would be to cancel the National Day of Prayer all together, since our nation has no business endorsing prayer of any kind.
The National Day of Prayer service was started by George W. Bush. It was an openly evangelical Christian affair, and was highly inappropriate for an official White House function. It was offensive to all non Christians.
Christians must learn that not everyone subscribes to their silly superstition. Their superstition has no business being privileged or even recognized by the federal government.
While it is regrettable that an intelligent and wise man like President Obama would profess faith in such superstitious non-sense; it is nevertheless comforting to know he will not hold a National Day of Prayer service at the White House.
For interested Oregonians, follow the link for information on the Oregon State National Day of Prayer
Comments
We are the only country I know of which is afraid to let Christians have any rights while everyone else who comes here has all rights. Go to India and insist on killing a cow so you can get a big steak and see where it gets you. Not everyone in India is of the Hindo faith but the majority are and historically the country is, so that's the rule that's followed. We would sell our souls to the devil (might have already) to protect someone's beliefs. If you don't want to be around Christians, don't come here.
Go **** yourself *** hole
That's what Jesus would have said?
once this life is over, you will know the truth about God. It is then that you will want to change you mind. To bad it will be to late. I hope you change your mind before it is to late.
I will be praying for you because you are someone that will obviously bust hell wide open when you die.
spoken like a true "christian"
"Christians must learn that not everyone subscribes to their silly superstition. Their superstition has no business being privileged or even recognized by the federal government."
I'm surprised you can type at all with that self-unit lodged in your throat. Does it hurt your back?
But we are supposed to be a CHRISTIAN nation!!! It seems that now, the only people they are NOT concerned about offending is the Christians.
Your problem is that even though Christians founded this country. They still showed that they were tollerant. The amendment freedom of religion? We ad Christians have a right to practice out religion as much as you have a right to have no God. If you choose not to prarticipate, fine. We will. Just as you might choose to go to a gay rights rally I will not. You preach tolerance, but gane none when it comes to Christians. You need to learn to practice what you spew. I would say preach, but I'm sure that also would offend you.
I couldn't agree with you more! We ARE a CHRISTIAN nation and I AM A CHRISTIAN but nobody cares if they are offending ME!!!! I actually cried as I read this story!!!!!! I just finished reading a book called "Under God" by Toby Mac and Michael Tait about America's Founders. And the difference between our nation now and then BREAKS MY HEART and I whole heartily believe it WOULD BREAK OUR Founders hearts and the hearts of those who fought for their Civil Rights in the 1960's!!!!! As soon as I finished reading this HORRIBLE article I immediately prayed for President Obama and the person who wrote this article and I will continue to pray for them!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!! I am a 31 year old female and I DO NOT conform to the lies my generation has been taught!!!!
It concerns me that we are finding ourselves living in a society that sems to tolerate all forms of freedoms but do not afford the same to Christians. This surely must grieve the Holy Spirit as we have allowed and are allowing the demoralization and removal of Christ from the very foundation of what our country was founded upon. Wake Up America!! Our God is a God of love but he will not be denied. There will be a day soon when judgment will come. May God have mercy on us and our nation.
Lol @ these comments. Gandhi said it best, when he said he likes our Christ, but not our Christians, they are so un-Christ-like.
Nobody's persecuting the Christians. They have the same rights as everyone else. Quit throwing irrelevant arguments about what other governments do, in this country we do not recognize any religion officially by the government.
Bush placated the religious right too much, and I'm glad we have a President, that although I don't share his religious beliefs, acts sensibly in regards to people of all beliefs.
Lol, Christians are tolerant? Then why are your churches, your lobbies, and your group of religious followers voting against gay marriage? If you're Christian, you don't have to get married to someone of the same sex. Its what it allows other people, flexibile in their beliefs or not the same as yours, to do. You could still live by your Bible and the others could live by their beliefs. But no, you fight tooth and nail to deny people equality because of what YOUR book tells YOU how to live. Then many of you go around and try to attest (despite evidence that says otherwise) that we are a Christian nation (complete with the implication that your religion is better than others, and others better "remember their place".
I was with you through half of your article. It was actually journalism. Your spiteful editorial at the end of your article was the equivalent to a "live in the basement of your mom's house" blogger.
Prayer is the only thing that can save this country, not you or President Obama. In fact, its people like you that are allowing this country to "go to hell in a handbasket". We are "one nation under God" and if you don't like it, then move.
1988 Act of Congress setting the observance on the first Thursday of every May....
THEREFORE, it would take ANOTHER Act of Congress to dismiss the National Day of Prayer all together...
Listen Christians, live by example!!! Think and Discern!!!
Mr Stone, while I do not agree, I can understand some of what you say since it is your opinion. However, when you state "Christians must learn that not everyone subscribes to their silly superstition. Their superstition has no business being privileged or even recognized by the federal government."
While I do not agree with some Christians on current events, to call it a superstition, is highly arrogant. You have probably read some ancient writings and believed you were reading the actual text or that it was actually written then. No other manuscript from antiquity has more substantial proof than the bible. So while you may not agree with it please do not call it a silly superstition. Many people more intelligent than you or I have believed.
I rather be silly now and not be wrong at the end.
Also it does not sound like you know your history.
"The National Day of Prayer service...is offensive to all non Christians." This could have been a decent report, but it is statements like this that turn your report into biased polarizing editorial. It's illogical, unfounded, and untrue.
I agree with TZ. I was with you half way through the article and then you just became silly. Christianity is not a silly superstition...it is a religious belief! If you believe in anything you wouldn't want someone to call it silly.
No argument, but to those who do not believe...in the end we'll all see who's God.
This is journalism? Your biased approach to the material immediately removes your credibility as a writer for anyone who knows about writing. Ever heard of pathos? It's a shame that this article is at the top of the choices for the google search on this subject.
Isn't it amazing how Mr. Stone says a prayer service has no place at the White House, yet I wonder....how did Mr. Stone feel when Obama allowed the Muslims to hold a day of prayer on the capital grounds? Have people, such as Mr. Stone, forgotten that journalism is unbiased? This man is a joke.
No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency. - George Washington
Although I do agree that our constitution calls for seperation pf church and state and also gives us freed of speech, I wil say I highly offended you choose to call prayer a silly superstion. I pray I not alone on this view .
Isn't it amazing how many are offended by Christian services and beliefs but tell those same people that they will not be able to take paid time off from work because Christmas (Christ's celebrated birth day) has been cancelled or Thanksgiving (our forefathers giving thanks to God for His gifts to them) has been cancelled or Good Friday/Easter (the crucifixtion and raising of Christ) has been cancelled and hear them squack!! "Why, you can't do that! It's not fair!" You can't have it both ways people! Maybe you would all like to work on Sundays too! We take sundays off for religious reason originally. Wake up people! You can't have it both ways! Give up those paid holidays and weekends and then maybe people would believe you to be sincere. Until then, quit pushing YOUR beliefs or non-beliefs on everyone else. If you don't like the services don't attend them but allow those of us who do have the opportunity! NOT having Christian services in the White House OFFENDS ME!!!
It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution. - James Madison
You obviously have done no research whatsoever regarding the Christian faith, and, if by some mystical chance you have, have completely closed your mind to your beliefs. If you really want to dismiss the Christian faith as "superstition", I highly recommend "Examine The Evidence", by Ralph Muncaster, as he is a former atheist who converted to Christianity after years of research trying to DISPROVE the Christian faith, only to realize the historical proof and validity of the Bible. I ask you to read that book, or any of his other works, with an open mind, and then get back to me on this "silly superstition". Best wishes and God bless
Proverbs 3:5-6
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. - John Adams
I don't think christians have to do anything to demean Barack he's prety good at that himself. I also think that although he has his own religious beliefs he deliberately tries to opress any public expression of Christianity.
I thank God that I have lived to see my country indpendent and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It depends on her virtue. - Richard Henry Lee
We can still have God's protection if we pray for our government and all our people..Don't forget to also pray for everyone else in the world too. God is in your life if you let him be, nobody can stop that, not even the president!
Wait a minute. If it's the people's house as the author states, and a majority of people in this country believe in God then it does belong in the White House. Perhaps this "intelligent and wise man" can stop working on taking the things that American's cherish away and start working on something that will put those same Americans back to work.
Silly superstition? It is all part of a value system, but in your commie world values are not important. I fart in your direction.
Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. ... [R]eason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. - Thomas Jefferson
I read this article in order to get "another side" of what I've been reading about Obama cancelling National Prayer Day. Now all I'm thinking is that we should all pray for the author.
You conservatives in your little tin hats crack me the hell up. DO NOT legislate to this red blooded American from your hypocritical pulpit. In fact the sooner we take your f'd up religion OUT of OUR government the better off we ALL will be. You do NOT own the government. We ALL do.
If it were not for the providence of God and the men who believed in Him this country and the freedoms we have enjoyed would not exist. It is most unfortuntate that God who gave us life and the blessings this country has experinced is not always given the respect He is due.
What do you mean our nation has no business endorsing prayer? Our nation was founded on Christianity. And as far as the National Day of Prayer being offensive to non christians, your article is offensive to me, a Christian.
Do you see some bias in this article!!?? The reputation of this news site has just been degraded. Just report news; don't add erroneous opinions.
This original article says that the observance of the National Day of Prayer in the White House is not "ideal" and that it was actually offensive to Non Christians. Well I say "That's just too bad for you!!!" "As a Christian I feel you all (non Christians) are being offensive to US! Christians are being the ones to have all of our rights taken away. This Nation was built on a trust and belief in God. This is why every other country is taking over our country. We were told that these things would come to pass...And they are now happening. Just like the Bible told us it would, the signs are all happening. More and more people are dying. God is readying His world for His coming!! I can say that all of you non Christians will wish you had taken His words to heart. God is giving everyone more chances to turn to Him! You need to wake up,and prepare your life for His coming! It is not God's wish for anyone to perrish, but have ever-lasting life with Him in Heaven. Prayers for you all!
I know you wrote this dribble just to get a rise out of the Christian community. I am sorry for your soul.
I am a Christian... and THIS DOES OFFEND ME. This nation was founded under God, and that's how it should stay. Sadly the ignorance and unwillingness of so many people to admit that there is a God because that would mean they would have to change their life and answer to someone in the end is pulling this country down. If people would take time to actually read the Bible they would see that there is no way to logically deny it. Everyone can choose what they believe... That includes people choosing to be Christians.
Our Founding Fathers recognized the need for religion, virtue and morality for this country to survive. They also recognized the part God's hand played in the Revolution and creation of the Constitution. Obama, this author, and many other progressives lack any sense of morality or religion and hold themselves accountable to no one. It is a me first mentality which plagues our society and this author clearly has no regard for his readers as he knew the majority of them would be christian. I would even submit that he intended to anger his readers (why bold face the most insulting parts?). Not very responsible or christin-like is it? Who knows what personal inadequacies cause him to do this. All we can do is be good citizens to each other and pray that things improve. God bless all. And to the author, pick up the Bible or a history book, and you may be enlightened and break free from your ignorance. I'll pray for you.
First off, A group getting a permit to have a rally on the capitol grounds that was in no way sponsored by the president or the administration is just not at all equivalent to a president holding a prayer service in the east room of the White House.
If you guys and gals want to get together and pray any minute of any day in this country, it is certainly your right. If you want to get together and get a permit and do it on the steps of the capitol, heck you can surely do that too. Plainly and simply, our government should never ever be in that business.
Take all of your righteous indignation and stuff it, it just not christian at all.
If I'm right then I go to heaven. If I'm wrong the same thing that happens to this author happens to me. So good luck and I hope you will see the light before its too late.
BigDuke, the president does have the right to practice his religion and hold a prayer service in the Whitehouse. Your discomfort with it does not trump other's rights to practice or to recognize the role religion has played in our history. Things are so messed up today because any scintilla of religion has been erased from government. Government cannot force others to practice a specific religion. Recognizing the Creator and paying respect to Him does not violate the Constitution.
Jesus instructs in the book of Matthew to pray in a private place. A White House prayer logically than cannot be Christian, nor a prayer God would honor, as it violates Christ's instructions explicity. As far as Christianity being a silly superstition, expect hostile and hateful reactions whenever you question people's socially endorsed belief systems. The hate that spews from the alleged Christians on sites like this is disheartening---"You don't think like me and you call what I believe silly superstition so I hate you." That is not a Christian way to respond. Michael stone is more of a Christian than the people who call him names and claim they are.
Jimmy, please provide a cite re Matthews gospel. I'd like to confirm that. The author's antagonizing his readers isnt very christian. A prayer can cover all religions without being christian. No one ever said to pray a christian prayer, its simply National Prayer Day.
Andy, the White House is not the president's house, it belongs to all of us, Christian, Muslim, and Pastafarian alike.
BigDuke, regardless of whose "house" it is, the president lives there. A person may practice religion in their home, at a church or even on a public sidewalk as long as they are not violating any laws. You are widening the scope of the Establishment Clause.
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