I sat on a City Council for one three-year term. While an active LDS, I also used to be a teenage atheist. The existing prayer that one councillor or another would offer at the beginning of council meetings was, IMHO, too sectarian for a city that had a wide range of beliefs among its citizens. So I carefully drafted a prayer that would work for everyone; even as an affirmation for the agnostics/atheists on the council. One paragraph of "We are grateful for..." and one paragraph of "May we...." I think that's a line that governments should follow; if ANYTHING ever makes it appear that a municipal, state, or federal government is establishing ANY religion, then that is in DIRECT opposition to the US Constitution and one of the most important reasons this nation was founded in the first place. We on the "religious" side of this issue MUST ALWAYS remember that.
Terry StimsonAugust 12, 2013
Very helpful article in that it gives encouragement that we don't have to just roll over on every mention of Jesus Christ or God be taken out of public meetings in public places. Thanks to Ashley for the research and sharing the encouraging rulings.
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Robert SlavenAugust 13, 2013
I sat on a City Council for one three-year term. While an active LDS, I also used to be a teenage atheist. The existing prayer that one councillor or another would offer at the beginning of council meetings was, IMHO, too sectarian for a city that had a wide range of beliefs among its citizens. So I carefully drafted a prayer that would work for everyone; even as an affirmation for the agnostics/atheists on the council. One paragraph of "We are grateful for..." and one paragraph of "May we...." I think that's a line that governments should follow; if ANYTHING ever makes it appear that a municipal, state, or federal government is establishing ANY religion, then that is in DIRECT opposition to the US Constitution and one of the most important reasons this nation was founded in the first place. We on the "religious" side of this issue MUST ALWAYS remember that.
Terry StimsonAugust 12, 2013
Very helpful article in that it gives encouragement that we don't have to just roll over on every mention of Jesus Christ or God be taken out of public meetings in public places. Thanks to Ashley for the research and sharing the encouraging rulings.
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