I received an e-mail from The Interfaith Alliance last week noting a concern that Focus on the Family has taken over the National Day of Prayer, establishing a shibboleth whereby Jews, Muslims and even non-fundamentalist Christians can participate, but only on an outsider status. The National Day of Prayer will be held May 1.
At first I shrugged this off. I’ve never attended the National Day of Prayer, figuring such acts of civil religion were political rallies in disguise. A liberal, I figured I wasn’t welcome anyway, and could pray as easily at home.
But the next day I read an article on the front page of the New York Times that Vladmir Putin is establishing the Russian Orthodox Church as the official religion of Russia. Russian officials have shut down gatherings of Methodists and evicted Seventh-Day Adventists from their church.
Now, America isn’t Russia. James Dobson may have the hubris of Putin, but not the power. Still, I couldn’t help perceiving a disquieting parallel between the two events. If nothing else, it’s clear by now there are those in this nation who would establish a litmus test for faith.
And so, this year, I decided I’m not going to take it in silence anymore. I’d like to propose a state-wide boycott of the National Day of Prayer. While it’s true most of us haven’t attended in the past and wouldn’t attend anyway, such tactics have never stopped Dobson and his ilk from boycotting Disneyland.
This way, we can all not attend together.
Are you with me? Are you willing to just stay home on the National Day of Prayer? You can pray or not pray, as you choose. I ask only that you spend a few moments in reflective empathy, imagining what it’s like to be the member of a religious minority or any other outsider who’s shunned. It’s what Jesus would do.
At first I shrugged this off. I’ve never attended the National Day of Prayer, figuring such acts of civil religion were political rallies in disguise. A liberal, I figured I wasn’t welcome anyway, and could pray as easily at home.
But the next day I read an article on the front page of the New York Times that Vladmir Putin is establishing the Russian Orthodox Church as the official religion of Russia. Russian officials have shut down gatherings of Methodists and evicted Seventh-Day Adventists from their church.
Now, America isn’t Russia. James Dobson may have the hubris of Putin, but not the power. Still, I couldn’t help perceiving a disquieting parallel between the two events. If nothing else, it’s clear by now there are those in this nation who would establish a litmus test for faith.
And so, this year, I decided I’m not going to take it in silence anymore. I’d like to propose a state-wide boycott of the National Day of Prayer. While it’s true most of us haven’t attended in the past and wouldn’t attend anyway, such tactics have never stopped Dobson and his ilk from boycotting Disneyland.
This way, we can all not attend together.
Are you with me? Are you willing to just stay home on the National Day of Prayer? You can pray or not pray, as you choose. I ask only that you spend a few moments in reflective empathy, imagining what it’s like to be the member of a religious minority or any other outsider who’s shunned. It’s what Jesus would do.
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