U.S. soldiers pray for safety on Baghdad streets

alertnet.org ^ | 01 Aug 2003 14:14:56 GMT | Cynthia Johnston

[Destro]

A BYZANTINE PRAYER FOR SOLDIERS

"O Holy Master, Almighty Father and Pre-Eternal God, Who alone made and directs all things; Who rise up quickly against the evil of the impious ones; Who, by Providence, teach Thy people preservation of Justice and the obliteration of the sword on earth; Who condescend to raise up military columns to help the people: O God, Who commanded the Forerunner John to say to the soldiers coming to him in the desert, 'Do not intimidate anyone... and be content with your wages':

We entreat Thee with compunction, that Thou gavest Thy child David the power to defeat Goliath, and as Thou didst condescend, through Judas Maccabeus, to seize victory from the arrogant pagans who would not call on Thy Name; so too, grant protection in righteousness and truth to these Thy servants against the enemies rising against them, and by Thy heavenly loving-kindness, strength and might for the preservation of faith and truth.

Condescend, out of Thy mercy, O Master, to grant them the fear of Thee, together with humility, obedience and good endurance; that they kill no one unrighteously, but rather preserve all righteousness and truth; that they may fear Thee and honor Justice; that they run in friendship to those who are scattered, extending thy love to those near them, serving the elderly with justice; and that their ranks fulfill all things righteously;

For thou art our God, and to Thee do we ascribe glory; to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen."

[Destro]

Compare the Christian soldier's prayer to that of a Muslim soldier's prayer to God.

The Turks' Prayer against the Christians

Eternal God and creator of all things, and thou O Mahomet his sacred and divine prophet. We beseech thee let us not dread the Christians, who are so mean and silly to rely on a crucified god. By the power of thy right hand, so strengthen ours that we may surround this foolish people, on every side, and utterly destroy them. At length fulfill our prayers and put these miscreants into our hands, that we may establish thy throne for ever in Mecca, and sacrifice all those enemies of our most holy religion at thy tomb. Blow us with thy mighty breath like swarms of flies into their quarters, and let the eyes of these infidels bedazelled with the lustre of our moon. Consume them with thy fiery darts, and blind them with the dust which they themselves have raised. Destroy them all in thine anger. Break all their bones in pieces, and consume the flesh and blood of those who defile thy sacrifice, and hang the sacred light of circumcision on their cross. Wash them with showers of many waters, who are so stupid to worship gods they know not: and make their Christ a son to that God who ne're begot him. Hasten therefore their destruction we humbly entreat thee, and blot out their name and religion, which they glory so much in, from off the face of the earth, that they may be no more, who condemn and mock at thy law. Amen.

[Destro]

The contrasts laid bare

[gridlock]

I understand that Cynthia Johnson may not share these particular soldiers' belief in god and the power of prayer. But to say that crosses and prayers are magic spells and lucky charms really misses the point.

We say a prayer every week in church of the safety of these soldiers. Does that mean that they are subjected to extraordiary dangers and are dependent on our superstitious incantations for safety?

[Destro]

I was disgusted with that disrespectful statement of the journalist as well.

[meenie]

One jounalists opinion is immaterial. Soldiers far from home all rely on prayer. The saying that there are on atheists in foxholes is definitely true. Their faith is what they have to sustain them. This journalist has lacked the necessary circumstance to make her a believer. The closer to death the closer to God.

[Destro]

I posted the prayers not to show that one religion or the other has the ear of God. I posted them because prayers and what is asked for in prayers tells you something about the society that spawned such prayers.

In truth--which civilization's soldiers prayer would be closest to what we secular Americans/Europeans consider civilized and humane expressions of military might?

[tet68]

God of our Fathers, known of old.
Lord of our farflung battle line.
Beneath whose aweful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine.
We Beseech thee O'Lord
protect us in the coming onslaught
and save our land from further
Democrat "Victories".

Oh Holy M-14 protect me and keep my family safe.
We are the guardians of our nation.
Amen.

[OpusatFR]

"Some rely on superstition, wearing pendants and crosses for safety."

Ok. That was insulting and despicable.

The scorn that is being heaped on those who trust in the Almighty is so palpable now that I am beginning to wonder about a whole lot about St John's Revelation. That's not something I ponder usually trusting in my own very trivial minute-to-minute existence.

[Destro]

Read my#2 and then my #7. Such a comparsion would help illuminate our journalistic illuminators.

[Texas_Dawg]

I was disgusted with that disrespectful statement of the journalist as well.

Thoughtful prayer is not, but wearing a cross in the belief it will keep you safe is definitely superstitious.

[OpusatFR]

I and many others wear a cross not as some petty talisman, but as a potent reminder that the wearer and bearer of the cross must never give scandal to it by uncharitable actions or other behaviors that would give lie to the message.

[Miss Marple]

From the Anglican Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[Texas_Dawg]

The scorn that is being heaped on those who trust in the Almighty is so palpable now that I am beginning to wonder about a whole lot about St John's Revelation.

It's to be expected though:

2 Timothy 3:12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

[Texas_Dawg]

I and many others wear a cross not as some petty talisman, but as a potent reminder that the wearer and bearer of the cross must never give scandal to it by uncharitable actions or other behaviors that would give lie to the message.

That's not superstition. Wearing it in the thought you will be rewarded with your safety is.

[OpusatFR]

Never met anyone who held that superstition, other than a witch-(nurse)practitioner wearing it along with some Wiccan star.

Never going to THAT clinic again...

That isn't very diverse of me, is it...

[Texas_Dawg]

Never met anyone who held that superstition,

I've seen it. Latin America is full of that type of stuff. At one of the cathedrals in Mexico City people walk on their knees in excrutiating pain for miles, weeping, to pray in front of (or to) a painting. One of the most bizarre rituals I've ever watched... and very sad to see.

[Travis McGee]

Sooner or later, we will either destroy the insane murder cultists, or be destroyed by them.

[Doe Eyes]

Do you think this is a common Islamic prayer? The only place I found it was at the site you referenced.

[Quix]

I learned recently of 2 interesting stories haven't been able to track down well yet. They were told by different people at the Sunday evening service when we prayed for the soldiers.

1) That there was a battalion in the European theater in WW2 that every member personally prayed the 91st Psalm at the beginning of every day. They didn't lose a single member during the whole war.

2) I think it was WW2--a home town of a company or some such of soldiers prayed the 91st Psalm in behalf of their soldiers from that area daily during the whole war. They didn't lose a single member from that area in the war.

Anyone have any references on either of these stories?

Blessings,