All right, this is just a working title, but I would like to get some brainstorming going here. I'm more than open to suggestions of what to call this thing. But I'd like to find a way that progressives could promote some positive, pro-diversity, inclusive messages while these National Day of Prayer events are taking place. Sure, there's a National Day of Reason, but that's not quite what I'm going for--seems to be primarily atheist/humanist, rather than a celebration of diversity. That's what the graphic at the beginning of this diary is designed to convey.
Anyway, some background...
I posted about the National Day of (Theocon) Prayer back on April 1. In that diary, I directed you to my Village Gate post from last year, Thoughts on the National Day of Prayer, where I shared my discoveries about how partisan and noninclusive this government-sanctioned event really is. Americans United for Separation of Church and state (led by minister Barry Lynn, don'tcha know) articulated some of their concerns about the increasingly political nature of the National Day of Prayer in National Day Of Prayer - Or Politics? They also share the words of Jefferson and Madison in Nourishing The Erroneous Idea Of A National Religion.
Here's the latest from Troy, Michigan...
Interfaith group backs out of Troy City Hall ceremony
An interfaith group that originally asked to be included in a National Day of Prayer ceremony at City Hall says it is backing out because of the exclusively Christian nature of the event.
The group includes Hindus, Muslims, Jews and members of other religions. The group decided that once it was excluded from the Christian-based event, a private event would be more appropriate, said organizer Padma Kuppa, a Hindu. The group said it has not chosen a site.
"I wanted to participate in something already existing, as in the National Day of Prayer," she told The Detroit News for a story Wednesday. "But once we were out of the confines of something already existing, we thought we'd be better off in a place of worship. "
Mayor Louise Schilling said she was disappointed in the way the controversy has divided the Detroit suburb.
"That day should be about bringing the different religious groups together in unity, not in tearing them apart," Schilling said.
Last week, the Troy City Council decided to allow the National Day of Prayer Task Force to hold its event from noon to 1 p.m. May 5 on the steps of City Hall, followed by the interfaith group from 1-2 p.m.
The decision came after the National Day of Prayer Task Force argued against an interfaith ceremony. The interfaith group had pressed to be included in the event.
The task force's Web site says participants in its events must support the Lausanne Covenant, an evangelical Christian declaration of belief.
No, they bloody well shouldn't be able to limit participation in that way, but I'm not really wanting to fight them. I don't want to come to their party, I'd rather have our own party, and make everyone welcome. (Gee, kinda sounds like something Jesus would do...)