Cinema ban on the Lord's Prayer

[Leafitout]

Surely if anyone finds this advert offensive they can choose not to watch it. I can't see the problem with showing it.

I know that some members of my family pray for me. They are very religious and I am totally sure that they pray for me to find the light again, as to them this is very very important. We have agreed not to talk about religion as much as we can avoid the subject. It is a little difficult, but not impossible.

What goes on in their heads is a mystery to me, as are the contents of my head to them. Generally I prefer it that way!

I am asking you not to pray for me.

By your definition of prayer. Prayer is different for different people, as you know. Some religious people do not pray at all some offer their every waking thought to 'God'.

I am asking that you refrain from praying for me. I don't know you.

I would also ask you not to patronise me about Christianity, I am not coming to this thread without any knowledge or experience of Christian faith or practice.

If you are the type who offers every thought/act to 'God' in prayer I would request you at least consider the effect this may have on others and that you do not expect this aspect of your faith to be respected or protected by law.

Capsium, if somebody said to you, face to face "I do not want you to pray for me" what would you say?

Offred How would you know I was praying for you, if I didn't mention it Offred? You don't believe prayer has any power anyway, so how does my silent/private prayer affect you?

I'm not offended by it but if cinemas aren't supposed to push religions then it seems odd. I know itd be in the tabloids and tv news had it been a ad promoting terrorism, sorry Islam. (I am muslim btw). So those saying the Lord's prayer is harmless would you say the same if there was an ad about a muslim charity followed by a link to a mosque for dawah purposes I highly doubt it.

I'm also not offended because lets be honest even in non denominational schools Christianity is fed to the children, I send my kids to such schools but come Christmas for many weeks its fed to them. Come Easter also.

But it doesn't anger me, because even though we are a secular nation it is still very much a Christian ethos, so I expect it, and there;s nothing evil about basic Christian manners and morals, they are applicable to all religions and those who don't follow religion too.

btw the ad is not beautifully shot, it does look depressing in colour much like british soaps

Capsium, if somebody said to you, face to face "I do not want you to pray for me" what would you say?

I wouldn't know would I?

That isn't the point.

I am asking you not to pray for me.

I am asking you to be conscious of other people's beliefs.

You will do whatever you do, no-one can stop you.

Bertrand, I expect I would respond with an 'Understood'. However it has not been said to me.

And would you then not pray for that person?

Wow, only getting back to this thread just now seems it's moved on some what! I can't even find the posts or points I was going to clarify for bert and ego ah well, as you were!

Offred you are asking me to change the way I frame my (most often private) thoughts.

No I am asking you not to pray for me.

If you refuse that request you should be aware that your way of practising your religion puts you in conflict with others.

Capsium, if you're proposing to pray for someone, do you check with them first whether they want it?

Bertrand I probably would pray for or least about that person. It would be a situation that would most likely affect me, so my prayers would concern this.

Gruntled no I don't check with people whether they want me to pray for them. Do you check with people whether they want you to think about them? Do you check with people every time you talk, in complete confidence, about them to another person?

Ego I only pray to the (Christian) God that I believe in. If I do no believe in what/who I am praying to it is not a prayer.

Wow, this has really kicked off.

Personally if someone has asked you not to pray for them, then you absolutely respect their wishes.

It broke my heart to attend my FILs secular funeral as I was genuinely concerned for his soul (im catholic) but i had to respect that and keep my views to myself as that was his wish.

That is a good point you make Ego. Myself i haven't a problem with a Muslim praying for me, or a Hindu, Catholic whatever. That might be because i think we all worship the same God, just a different interpretation - surely thats the only thing that can make sense. I have been told (by a vicar friend) that view is not correct however. But I only see prayer as an act of kindness from whoever is doing the praying.

When my father died he had made no representation of what he wanted in the event of his death. I did have to persuade the priest that he would have wanted the last rights as he was very mindful of acting against someone's wishes. My dad was unconcious and suffering form alzheimers so i had to make the decision for him, but it wasn't without difficulties.

Ego, I would agree you have sinned. Because the bible tells us we are born into sin and only repentance will redeem us.

If I prayed for a Hindu I would pray to the one true God of the bible.

Who are these people who would insist someone does not pray for them in private? How weird does this get?

All those things are your choices capsium. I'm just expecting you take responsibility for the consequences of those choices;

Conflict with others, inevitable lack of respect for your practising of your faith, lack of protection from the law for aspects of your faith that impinge on others etc

Those consequences are not a demonstrable lack of respect for Christianity. They are reasonable limits on the practising of religion necessary in a diverse society.