Atheist gives the invocation prayer in New York.

Castiel

Castiel

Castiel

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http://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/jul/15/atheist-invocation-new-york-prayer-ruling

An atheist is set to deliver the invocation in a western New York community whose town board won a US supreme court decision upholding its right to open meetings with a prayer.
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I think this is great, anyone with any belief, religion or philosophy is free to apply and give the invocation when opening their town meeting. Seems such a small thing, perhaps our local parishes could do the same.
 
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I thought there was a deliberate separation of state and religion in America?

Doesn't the Town Hall count as an embassy of state?

edit:
oh so this makes it non religious or something?


I remember something about our own councils banning prayers before a meeting, too christian or something.
 
There is separation of Church and State, not religion and State. "In God we trust" for example.

Many towns open their meetings with the oath of allegiance followed by a prayer, usually Christian...this one however allows anyone of any faith (and none) to lead the invocation. Its a tradition, which is why the a Supreme Court ruled in favour of it.
 
Great idea I came across a similar building when I was travelling, it was mona vale Sydney called Baha’i Temple, house of worship open to all faiths.
 
But I like traditions like that :(
if a cultural heritage is Christian (and America is still mostly Protestant/Catholic/HappyClappy) then dropping that tradition is subtly undermining that backbone and historical connection.

Athesists would probably say that is the point, but I don't regard atheists as actually adding anything to a culture, it's essentially subtractive in nature.

I don't listen to the Queens speech, but I'd regard it as important to retain as a cultural artefact.
 
Castiel said:
There is separation of Church and State, not religion and State. "In God we trust" for example.
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A bad example, "In God We Trust" was added to bank notes in 1956. Just under 200 years after their constitution was written. It's first usage as a motto wasn't until 1862.
 
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estebanrey said:
A bad example, "In God We Trust" was added to bank notes in 1956. Just under 200 years after their constitution was written. It's first usage as a motto wasn't until 1862.
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It's not a bad example, it's become a tradition that, like the invocation at Council meetings, survived a legal challenge on a similar basis. It an excellent example as it both illustrates a similar legal position and also that the separation of Church and State in the US constitution, is not the same as a Separation of Religion and State as the poster suggested.
 
Town supervisor William Reilich said Monday a variety of views have been represented during invocations, citing the instance of a pagan Wiccan for one.
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fair enough tbh... if they allow an open platform then why not...

though I really do hope they get a few Jedi and some flying spaghetti monster worshipers too
 
sports_brah said:
Try living in an inner city centre to see how brilliant "change" is. Done it in a few cities now, and I'm whole heartedly against it.

Don't blame you for living in Wiltshire.
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I've lived in quite a few Inner Cities, especially in my youth as I grew up in part of Los Angeles. they are different, but not in a bad way.
 
I live very close to some very mixed communities, despite being in Surrey, hah. You've got to embrace it. I know it's not quite on topic, but I love going round asian shops (Indian/Pakistani and further east) and seenig all thec ool stuff they've got!
 
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