PDF (Public Display of Faith)

Whether for or against it, religion has a way of making people behave stupidly, even in small and inconsequential ways. For example, A Canadian man has gone to court claiming that as a member of a city council, he is greatly distressed by the practice of saying The Lord's Prayer before meetings. Really? Although he may be right in his position that this is a violation of the principle of the separation of Church and State, it's more of a "technical' violation which doesn't amount to a significant transgression. It's very difficult to take him seriously when he claims that this is something that is a burden on him.

On the other side of the question, Missouri voters have overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to establish the "right to pray" in school and other public places. As if there had been a ban on that or it had been particularly difficult for people to do that. The trouble with laws like this one is that they encourage and embolden people to act in a proselytizing manner that can turn public life awkward for those who don't share those beliefs or simply prefer to keep them private.

Though one shouldn't be so sensitive as to be offended by any display of religious faith, believers should not engage in public displays of their faith that amount to ramming them down other people's throats.

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