AIBU to think this miserable bugger gives the rest of us atheists a bad name?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Victory on Council Prayers

Surely there was a way to let others say a simple opening prayer without accusing people of breaching his human rights, flouncing out of the council and then taking the matter to court?

Can anyone explain to me why anyone would actually feel the need to pray immediately before a local council meeting? Do you really think it will actually inspire anyone to take a different (more Christian?) approach to, say, approving the plans for someone's extension? Or cutting the budget for hanging baskets? I really can't see the relevance of prayer.

Secularism is what defends us from a majority forcing us to go along with its religious beliefs. Secularism is not atheist - in fact I think the religious should be its staunchest supporters. As an atheist, I think all praying is a stupid waste of time. Religious people think the majority of it is blasphemy! Surely that's worse?

It's not about that expat, it's about being seen to be the 'right kind of person' by others - mostly traditional influential politicians and elderly voters.

Because this is still a christian country and as a christian I would not be comfortable praying to Allah. Hence my suggestion that maybe it would be better to have the prayers before hand.

I am not a councillor so I am not even sure what the 'prayers' in the chamber involve. Are they praying to Jesus, is it the lords prayer?

This case is in Devon so I would think most of the councillors would be either christians or atheists so I think the Moslem aspect may be irrelevant.

i don't know what happens in other areas of Britain.

50% ish of councils still say prayers. All over the country. They are different in different places, but our are Christian, an involve Jesus-y God mumbo jumbo stuff.

So, this being a Christian country, how else should it rule our lives? Maybe the Church should still be in charge of all schooling, crime an punishment, social care...

The whole prayer in a work meeting is ridiculous. Pray in your own time. What is not to understand about that?

I know people of all religions an not one of them would pray in a meeting apart from in Nigeria.

sorry, d and s sticking on my keyboard.

I can't believe we pay councillors to pray? Why is this not common knowledge. Would you pay bankers or teachers to pray?

Yes it's true. I am an atheist an I'm paid to pray to a being I believe to be imaginary. Mental.

Hilarious ;)

Can you imagine the uproar on here if NHS staff were made to pray before performing operations?

Lol, oh I can't start your lifesaving op just yet, have to pray first. Oh, you need resuscitation, let me just ds's a prayer first. It's bollocks, pray is personal on private time not your employers time. I'm in shock.

We have prayers/quiet reflection as the first thing on our agenda at the Council meeting. Different faiths take turns to lead. Takes about 2 minutes and is usually about thinking about the needs of the community. Local government needs all the divine intervention it can get

Following the Bideford judgement, it will now not be a numbered item on the agenda but instead appear a note on the agenda along the lines of;

"There will be an opportunity for prayer/quiet reflection lead by XXX immediately before the commencement of the meeting at 7.05pm"

Plus ca change.

"oh I can't start your lifesaving op just yet, have to pray to a God I don't believe in first."

Madness.

MissBee, it does change things, because I won't have to leave the house for another 5 minutes, and neither will the public, which can only be a good thing - I've spoken to lots of (especially younger) members of the public who felt really intimidated and weird about everyone standing in prayer uring a public meeting.

expatpat you are being obtuse as I've already responded to your previous post. Just let it drop eh?

Well, most parties will have Group meetings before Full Council and will be in the building any way. Or most people will turn up at 7.00 for a 7.05 start.

If the public meeting doesn't start until 7.05 then techniocally there doesn't have to be admittance to the room until that point although I'm not sure I'll be barring the door trying to prevent eager crowds of council tax payers from getting into the council chamber to engage in local democracy

Ah, we have group meetings a few days before. And I suspect our prayer sessions will be at 6.55.

I would hate to have to sit through someone elses prayers and would find it exclusive.

Perhaps some of the people do pray in their heads whilst performing surgery. There are many christians in the workplace. Perhaps one of them may save your life at some point.

At the school where I work there is a prayer group who get together to pray about things before school (in their own time). Is this not a positive thing?

It's not a positive thing and it's not a negative thing. It's just a thing.

But they are not made to alemci. You seem to be missing the point.

I am not saying they shouldn't pray, just that I shouldn't have to join in.

It's a positive thing of if doesnt take 5 mins before you get down to work, i.e it's personal and in your own head at an appropriate moment.

I take your point Shag. Off to bed now. night :)