Jesus Calls for Removing Prayer from Market Place: Bearden Objects
Breaking News, 1st Century Jerusalem Times. Just outside Jerusalem today, Jesus of Nazareth caused alarm when he criticized those who were praying on the sidewalks of the city. Members of the Pharisee Protectionist Party (PPP) took offense, saying prayer had to be seen to be heard.
Speaking with great authority, Jesus further incensed the local religious zealots, calling them “hypocrites.†He told his followers to pray in their closets where God alone would be their witness, rather than on street corners, hoping to gain admiration for their goodness.
The much-beloved teacher said of those praying on street corners: “They have their reward.†Then turning to his disciples he said, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.â€
Rabbi Carl Bearden, a prominent member of the PPP and staunch advocate of street corner, coliseum, and chariot race prayers, pulled his robes of righteousness about him and hurried to the Sanhedrin where he offered a law that would forbid God from hearing any request made in private.
“All prayer must be done publicly, head bowed, eyes closed, with proper beginning and ending form, and among the largest group possible,†he said. “This is what prayer is all about,†he told members of the Sanhedrin, who rule on religious matters. “If people don’t see and hear us praying, how will they know we are good?†he argued.
It is yet to see who will prevail in this struggle, though at the present time the PPP has far more supporters than the Galilean minister.
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Giving Carl What he Wants
I've got an idea; let's just give Carl what he wants and we will put "fundamentalist Christian Prayer" right on the schedule with all the rest of the praying our children can do. Right between the day we have the children pray, "O Lord Ganesha of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns, please make all my work free of obstacles, always." in front of the statue of the Hindu deity Ganesh, and the day we teach the children the Great Peace Prayer of Buddha. (Sorry, I'm one of the ones who can't seem to make links anymore; it's http://www.dzogchenlineage.org/peace_prayer.html) That should make Carl really happy.
Has Carl ever bothered to notice this from the book of Acts?
Acts 17:24-25: "The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things."
In other words, God does not dwell in a shrine created for him in the Missouri Constitution. God does not give a rat's patoot if children pray in a school at precisely 8:40 a.m. every school day or not. God does not need Carl Bearden to act on his behalf. He will get along just fine no matter what Carl does, no matter where we pray, no matter even IF we pray or not.
Here's the text of the bill (copy and paste): http://www.house.mo.gov/bills071/biltxt/perf/HJR0019P.HTM
This thing makes me laugh. I did not know that jurors were being excluded on their religious beliefs. I wonder what that bit in there about praying without interference as long as it's not a disruption means. (Would bringing in that statue of Ganesh be a disruption?) Carl also drags in wanting to post the Bill of Rights in a school prayer bill, also. Huh?
I think in true Jonathan Swift fashion, we should give the guy what he wants. Then the first time a Catholic leads the prayer and mentions the Blessed Virgin, watch the Baptists howl. The first time someone does not end the prayer, "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen," watch a bunch of denominations howl. The first time someone says, "There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet," watch everyone gulp. The first time a Mormon mentions living as a family in the Celestial Kingdom, watch a couple teachers faint. I think it will be wonderfully entertaining and educational for the children and they should learn this valuable lesson about religion!
Bearden's School Prayer Tampering
Do we really need Rep. Carl Bearden to tell us where and
when to pray? Frankly, I think he should
get out of the way and let prayer proceed, unabated, as it has for millenniums
without his intervention.Â
 God does
not need Bearden’s pitiful protection scheme.Â
The Almighty has managed to stay quite near us through tribulations,
horrific sadness, and the most fearsome of circumstances.  He can
be found in foxholes, prison camps, orphanages, hovels, and on deathbeds around
the world.Â
No matter what Bearden
attempts, he can neither add or detract from the presence of God with his
pathetic political gimmicks. He only
belittles himself in thinking that he needs to do so . . . or could.