[Bella_Bru]

Just a question, but why couldn't the prayer just have included G-d? Jews and Christians both worship the G-d of Abraham, why wasn't that enough?

[honway]

Please see reply #4

[DannyTN]

Actually I think it should be acceptable that lawmakers skip the prayer if they are not comfortable with the prayer.

Because the problem is only going to get worse. I don't think the God of the Muslims is the same as the God of the JudeoChristian faiths. The Muslim God doesn't share the same characteristics. So it's not just the wording it's integrety of the whole prayer and who it's directed to.

[Servant of the Nine]

Just a question, but why couldn't the prayer just have included G-d? Jews and Christians both worship the G-d of Abraham, why wasn't that enough?

Because the Fundy Preachers were being petty and spoiling for a fight, just like the Jewish Senators.

SO9

[Rasputin_TheMadMonk]

"Christians both worship the G-d of Abraham, why wasn't that enough? "

Because that is not what he wanted to say. Maybe he didn't like the words used by the rabbi's, should they change the way they pray just because someone doesn't like one of the words?

Tolerence works both ways, if you are going to shove it down someone throat, expect to eat your own share.

And the word if GOD, not g-d, GOD, if you are going to reference the Christian deity, please use His name.

[muawiyah]

So, why couln't a Christian just give a prayer totally acceptable to everybody? Probably for the same reason you don't spell out God's name, eh!

If these politicians are going to invite in the preachers they are going to have to put up with what the preacher's say and pray, irrespective of their denomination (or other religiously significant differentiation).

Alternatively, one supposes all the invocation could be given by the various politicians on a rotating schedule. Or, maybe the Maryland House could just abandon invocations and prayer - it's about the smarmiest bunch of politicians in America anyway - way beyond God's, or Jesus' help.

Why anybody would wish to waste prayer on that bunch is beyond me.

[DaGman]

Some people are just compelled to force their religious beliefs on others. Doing that has been know to cause wars over the many centuries.

[JoeSchem]

Just a question, but why couldn't the prayer just have included G-d? Jews and Christians both worship the G-d of Abraham, why wasn't that enough?

Without knowing what the quantities G and d stand for, it is impossible to know whether the quantity G-d is enough.

[AnalogReigns]

Just a question, but why couldn't the prayer just have included G-d? Jews and Christians both worship the G-d of Abraham, why wasn't that enough?

Its very simple: Jesus claimed to be God, and specifically instructed that prayer be offered in His name. (John 14:13, 15:7, 15:16 16:19 & etc.) Praying in Jesus' name is an integral part of Christianity, from Jesus until today.

If Jews, Moslems or people of other religions don't like that: GET OVER IT. IT'S CALLED TOLLERANCE!

As a Christian I am deeply offended by neutral, ecumenical, namby-pamby prayers--they disobey the commands of Jesus, and they don't reflect reality...

[djf]

As best I understand it, here's why:

Christ, even though he was raised Jewish and called Rabbi by his followers absolutely rejected the faith.

He stated "A man is not defiled by what he puts in his mouth, but by every word that comes out"
A rejection of Jewish tradition.

When he healed a man on the sabbath, many were critical, and he said "Which of you, whose pig had fallen into a put on the Sabbath, would not save it?"
Thus rejecting jewish tradition.

He chastised the apostles for trying to defnd him at the Garden of Gethsemene, and healed the ear of a soldier who had been struck of.
Thus rejecting Jewish philosophy of "An eye for an eye"

Commenting on the hoopla of the religious festivals, he said "Don't pray in public. Go into a closet and pray."
Rejecting the traditions that went along with Jewish festivals.

He went to the temple, and overthrew the tables, crying "My house is a house of prayer and you have made it a den of thieves!"
Rejecting a traditional mode of financial support for the priests.
Remember, each of those tables paid a fee to the temple priests for a spot.


Finally, he continually referred to the Jewish elders and Priests as hypocrites and scoundrels, and a good study of his trial and Jewish law at the time undeniably proves he was put to death not by the Romans, but by the Jewish power structure.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Just a question, but why couldn't the prayer just have included G-d? Jews and Christians both worship the G-d of Abraham, why wasn't that enough?

Good question. Our currency says, In G-d We Trust.

[kkindt]

Why wasn't reference go God enough? Why did it need to include the name Jesus? Because we are "Christians" not Jews or Muslims. When we pray we always end our prayers in His Name because we believe there is no other mediator between God and man than Jesus. He is the one who is our High Priest. It is through Him and in His name we pray. If you will not permit us to end out prayers in His name then you deny us our freedom.

The God Christians believe in became a man and died for our sins on the cross and rose and is in Heaven interceding for us with the Father. We are Trinitarians - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three persons yet one God. Jews who do not believe this about Jesus believe wrongly about God. BUt they think WE believe wrongly about God when we end out prayers as Jesus taught us to. We both can't be right. I can see why Jews in a government situation don't want to join their minds and hearts to a prayer that ends this way - they don't have to do so. If I am present when someone prays to Allah - I won't bow my head to him because he is an idol but I could be present and tolerant of their constitutional right to pray to an idol without trying to deny them that right.

[Beacon Falls]

G-d? Which God? The God of the bible? The god that Satan worshipers use? The God of Sunshine? Maybe Thor, he was a Greek God right? God is a descriptive term and not a name. I know that the Jesus said that his fathers name should be halowed or made important, it's too bad that it has rather been ommited.

[Ferndina]

Dear Friend, Have you ever read in the New Testament where Jesus says, "ask anything in my name". I take him at his word a man who never lied, so when I pray, I ask it in the name of Jesus, apparantly this gentleman does too. I must say also that I am shocked at the tone of the majority of the replies, I would expect many of them to be on a liberal site but not FreeRepublic.com. I am praying for you all, in Jesus' name of course.