[Illbay]

If there was no way to make a prayer that would be acceptable to all involved, I might see your point. But in this case there are points of congruence between Christian, Jew and Muslim.

Even Buddhists and Hindus use the generic term "God" to mean deity.

A prayer to God would have been appropriate.

[DoughtyOne]

Illbay, tollerance means that you do not get to set the standard. Neither do I. Neither do the Jewish men in question. Neither does the state if they have invited the man to pray. If what he wanted to say was offensive to society as a whole, I think a correction should have been reasonable. In this instance that clearly wasn't the case.

[saradippity]

I personally think the Our Father is the perfect prayer,it's simple,to the point,covers a lot of essentials and was recommended by Jesus. Additionally,it never mentions the name of Jesus and takes less than 30 seconds to pray.

I think too many "blessings" or invocations are taken as an oppurtunity to present one's own material from a furnished pulpit/podium to a captive audience.Nevertheless,I think that a country or nation that does not publlicly acknowledge a dependence,a gratefulness and a reliance on God's justice and mercy is destined for the dustbin.

So what do you think about just saying the Our Father,everyone will know in advance what's coming;those who don't like it can block it,remain in their own thoughts or substitute their own prayer.

[CCWoody]

If there was no way to make a prayer that would be acceptable to all involved, I might see your point. But in this case there are points of congruence between Christian, Jew and Muslim.

Even Buddhists and Hindus use the generic term "God" to mean deity.

A prayer to God would have been appropriate. ~ Illbay

Mormon, your foot is slipping! A prayer to God without making such a prayer in the name of Christ is a prayer to nobody. It would be as if I was praying to block of wood or perhaps the "doublemint twins".

Of course, I'm not the least bit suprised that most people find this offensive. The Lord never was interested in being domesticated.

Woody.

[Marysecretary]

Sorry, Illbay, I'm not praying to my "divine parent," and I don't expect any other Christian to do so either.