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?

Did we change your mind?

Night. :)

YABU. Councillors should not be forced to attend prayers. There should be separation between church and state.

I applaud him for doing what he did although I am not so sure that the human rights argument is necessary or even appropriate. However, religion should be a personal, private matter and we don't live in the Dark Ages any more so the Church has no right to interfere with public or state business IMO and prayers have no purpose or relevance in public life.

I have no doubt that if no pre-meeting prayer session existed already, no-one would seriously introduce one. Still think it's a storm in a teacup. Anyway, I hope this man's fellow councillors don't compromise his secular principles any further by, say, 'forcing' him to accept a Christmas present.

Believe it or not, the NSS actually has quite a few Christians and followers of other religions amongst it membership. The goal is not the abolition of religion, but the removal of religious privilege and the firm separation of church and state. Actually it's quite an equitable organization.

And anyone who suggests that British beliefs and practices are the result of a long history of Christianity really really doesn't know where most of the beliefs and practices of Christianity originate. (I'll give a hint, it's not the bible)

My computer's been disconnected since Friday... I wanted to just throw into this discussion a query to those who think that praying before making political decisions is good, or at best harmless.

Do we all think that it was good, or harmless, that Bush and Blair prayed togther ahead of launching the Iraq war? Having done so, they were convinced they were doing God's will.

Of course, no one can stop people doing this on their own time, but for politicians (opinionated, with a desire for power and rarely lacking in ego) the exercise of 'praying for divine guidance' is perhaps a dangerous exercise in seeking divine authorisation for doing what the heck they want.

They were breaking the law, and establishing one type of prayer in a position of power. Good one him, about time someone made a stand.

I was amazed so many councils in England said prayers. I thought it was just one cosy bunch of elderly Tories and was surprised it was so common. As an atheist I don't want compulsary religion to have any place in any state institutions. Those who wish to play can pray quietly to themselves before they leave for their meetings if they wish.