Public prayers overlap into others’ beliefs
by Chris Taylor, managing editor

     Just the other night I happened to be at a local high school football game. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, does it?
     But it was what happened when the game was over that completely amazed me.
     After the game, the players and coaches from both teams gathered in the center of the field and began to pray.
     My first thought was that since this was a school-sponsored event, this action was a direct violation of the Supreme Court ruling on school prayer.
     On the other hand, I also was somewhat pleased to see such defiance in the face of the government.
     One thought, however, really disturbed me. Did the people praying ever think that other people at the game might feel uncomfortable around prayer? My guess is no, and that seems to be at the heart of the whole problem of prayer in school.
     When a group of people decide to pray, whether in protest or as a show of faith, they don’t ever think about the people who aren’t of the same denomination or religion.
     These spontaneous group prayers can exclude and alienate people by making them feel like outsiders. If you don’t go along with the rest of the crowd, then you stand out. People notice if you don’t pray when they do, and some take great offense, normally.
     The outsider gets blamed for wanting his beliefs respected also, thereby causing bad feelings between the two groups. I have to wonder if that thought has ever occurred to these people who feel the need to express their faith.
     Another problem I have with such public display is that I always thought prayer was a private, personal matter. I never pictured it as a performance to put on in front of a crowd.      I think public prayer cheapens its effect. When you do something publicly that is normally a private act, you open yourself up to criticism.
     The people who want to pray publicly get extremely offended when they are criticized. What they don’t realize is that they have brought the criticism on themselves.
     No one has a problem with prayer or a belief in some supreme being. Most people do have a problem with public displays of what should be private actions.
     You’ll find people who get offended by public displays of affection, grief or self-expression, so why would public prayer be any different?
     If I wanted to burn the flag and then did so in my own backyard, nobody would care. But if I go out to city hall and torch Old Glory, then an angry mob would soon form.
     I think that most level-headed people don’t mind prayer. They just don’t want to be held hostage while a group performs for a captive audience.
     If prayer is that important, then do it in the privacy of your own home. Pray all you want. I wouldn’t dare stop you. And if the government ever tried to stop you, I’d be the first to step up to fight with you.
     One thing I can’t live with is an oppressive government. However, when you force your beliefs on someone else or alienate those who don’t share the same faith, well then, you’ve become somewhat oppressive also.
     Always keep in mind that one day you could end up the minority, and perhaps someone else’s beliefs could be forced on you.