Remember what Jesus had to say about prayer

I went to the King James Bible and remembered the Sunday school lessons of my youth.  In the book of Matthew, the words of Christ are repeated on two issues, hypocrisy and prayer.  In Matthew 6:5, Jesus said, “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.”

If public prayers are said to curry favor with dominionist religious leaders and to assist in re-election, those prayers are hollow and false. A private prayer in a moment of silence or before the meeting would be preferable. How then do we pray consistently with the court orders without denying Christ?

Christ provides the answer in The Lord’s Prayer, the most memorized and repeated portion in the Holy Scriptures. Nowhere does He instruct the disciples to mention His name.

Court orders specifically say that prayer to “God” or “our Father” will be constitutionally permissible. I defy any Christian to argue that Jesus’ own instructions on how to pray are insufficient.

Folks need to stop thumping their Bible and start reading it. There is no need for Christians to alienate other religions and stamp public meetings with an exclusionary invocation. We are too strong for that.

At Arlington and other cemeteries there are Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, Hindus and atheists interred who fought, and died for this country.  How do we honor these dead? The answer, “E Pluribus Unum,” Out of many, ONE. Use the “Lord’s Prayer,” but better yet, why not a moment of silence, for each citizen, believer or non-believer to pray to the deity of his or her choice, or merely meditate and collect his or her thoughts. We have a broad enough tent for everyone.

— Todd Paris

Salisbury

Right thing to do on Pride

To Mayor Woodson:

After reading the article in the Salisbury Post, on Wednesday, May 20, I wish Salisbury Pride had considered me speaking on their behalf.  My comments regarding you issuing a proclamation marking June 20, 2015 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Day would have been very brief: “Do it because it is the right thing to do.”

— Ralph W. Ketner

Salisbury