Free Press on opening legislature with prayer

[Katie]

On the idea of removing prayer from the legislature, I think there is a way that conservatives can be convinced that removal is the best idea.

The truth is, prayer in the legislature is a big waste of taxpayer time, and if the Ontario legislature wants to spend time and money revising the prayer to be non-sectarian, then it's a waste of taxpayer money as well. Then, if the prayer is altered, then those that wanted to keep the Lord's Prayer will be being told how to pray by a multi-cultural body of representatives. In that case, it would be much easier to remove prayer altogether so that everyone can pray how they like, or not at all, before the legislature is officially in session. That way, everyone can have their prayer time before hand, and the legislature can get down to business.

[brian]

The Free Press printed the letter (with a couple edits), except they seem to have forgot to print our group name.  I couldn't really send it in anonymously as they have a form for sending it in as opposed to an email address that requires personal info.

Edit:  bad url

[trevor]

Yeah, I saw that. No worries, you did write the bulk of it anyway, and you're public relations, so... way to relate to the public.

I think this is the url: http://winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4128704p-4722240c.html

[brian]

yes, your url is the right one

[X]

Well, two people like you, Brian, and one does not.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4130433p-4723422c.html

Why scoff at faith?

Re: Prayer move the right one, Feb. 20.

Brian Latour finds it disturbing that many legislators believe in an eternal and almighty God and feels that scientific observation and rational thought should be what influences our politics. This rationale leads him to believe that to ban the Lord's Prayer is a good move. A wise (rational) person once said to me, "If I believe in an eternal and almighty God and there is one, I can have life after death and if there is none, well what have I lost! If I don't believe in an almighty God and there is none, I don't lose anything. But if there is one and I don't believe then I have lost a great deal." If someone believes that we should all strive to do good and make life better for all of us, why would someone scoff at those who believe in God and why would someone worry about the Lord's Prayer being said in our legislature?

JO BARKER

This one completely misrepresents the position and uses good 'ol Pascal's Wager.

However....

Ignorance towards atheism

Re: Who's against prayer? Feb. 16.

This letter included an "atheist friendly" version of the Lord's Prayer. In it, we saw a reflection of the prejudice and ignorance towards atheism that is still apparently acceptable within our society. While few newspapers would print a letter that openly associated a religious belief with Satan, evil, greed and pride, there are apparently no such qualms about branding atheists with such slander.

Theists have no monopoly on compassion, humility or generosity. Atheists are no more likely than any Muslim or Hindu to commit a crime. We are no more likely to be rich than any comparably educated Christian or Jew. There is no more humility in a theist claiming they "know" what God ordained as right and wrong than there is in an atheist who says we need to determine it as a society. Finally, of course we don't even believe in fantasy creatures like Satan, let alone worship them. Atheists generally have no desire to impose our beliefs on others. Our main concern is that religion should not be imposed on us, or our children. The discomfort we feel with a Christian prayer being an integral part of the government of our nation is not in the content of the prayer. The concern is that it symbolizes a "Christians first" attitude in Parliament which any non-Christian must view with some measure of distrust.

MARTIN SUTTON

and

A reason to believe

Kudos to Brian Latour (Prayer move the right one, Feb. 20) and the Winnipeg Free Press for publishing his letter. Regarding Who's against prayer (Feb. 16), a very old saying goes: Believe not because some old manuscripts are produced; believe not because it is your national belief; believe not because you have been made to believe from your childhood; but reason truth out, and after you have analyzed it, if you find it will do good to one and all, believe it, live up to it and help others live up to it.

JOSEPH LARAMEE

...are also two very good letters that make good points.
(are Joseph or Marti here?)

Having succeeded in starting some discussion, perhaps another letter covering Pascal and the fact that your letter was written on behalf of UMMASH.

[brian]

I don't know if we really need to refute Pascal's wager, as it is a rather silly argument to begin with and has probably been refuted more often than any other argument.  Also, Joseph's letter sort of refutes it.