Public Prayer

Politically active Evangelical Christians continue to insist that there is a right to public prayer. They rely, in great part, on the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which provides for Freedom of Religion.

Specifically:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" (emphasis added)

Many authorities, including the Supreme Court, have interpreted this to mean not only the freedom to practice your own religion - or none - but also the freedom to avoid involuntary exposure to other religions and their practices. The case put forward by these Christians is, hypocritically, entirely secular since it relies on a document that specifically rejects the primacy of any religion or sect.

The level of noise and unpleasantness would be markedly reduced if they were to take into account the words of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in Matthew 6 verses 5-6:

6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6:6 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.