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Moment of silence instead of prayer
Last Updated: June 04, 2015

Public high school reunions are secular events, so to include a Christian prayer in the program as is done in Valley Center is offensive to people of other faiths as well as to Christians who take the Sermon on the Mount seriously.

It would be more appropriate to have a minute of silence so people can pray their own private prayers if they wish, instead of being compelled to listen to a sanctimonious sermon parading as pious prayer, a prayer that ends with "in Jesus name WE pray," arrogantly assuming the role of speaking to God on others' behalf without their permission or input.

When I try to voice my concerns with the banquet organizers, I am told the prayer is a tradition and the majority want it, end of discussion, and I should stop trying to impose my beliefs. They never even hear the suggestion for a minute of silence instead of an imposed prayer. I am told if I don't like it I can come late after the prayer, leave the room during the prayer, or just not come at all.

So I don't attend the reunion to avoid the confrontation my religion would require of me.  But still I suggest the prayer be preceded by a disclaimer stating that because of tradition and majority rule the prayer is exempt from Jesus' teachings given in the Sermon on the Mount, including the part in Matthew chapter 6, verses 5 and 6, where he instructs us to not be as the hypocrites who love to pray standing in the synagogues and on street corners to be seen of men, but to go into our closets and pray in secret.

Then end the prayer with " in Jesus name and in defiance of his teachings I pray."

Or you could just have a minute of silence.

— Earl Dill, Valley Center




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