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Inaugural Prayers and Speech Are Contrasts In Civic Religion

By Howard M. Friedman

Pastor Rick Warren's invocation, Barack Obama's speech and Rev. Joseph Lowery's benediction at today's inauguration ceremony were fascinating contrasts in the tradition of denominational inclusiveness and civic religion. Prior to the inauguration, there was much speculation on whether Warren's invocation would be explicitly Christian. It was, well beyond the usual half dozen words at the end invoking Jesus. Warren ended his invocation (full text) with:

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Essa (ph), Jesus, Jesus, who taught us to pray, "Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." Amen.

Yet early on in his invocation, Warren attempted to include allusions to other faith traditions, though without specifically identifying them as such. He quoted a Biblical verse central to Judaism, saying: "The Scripture tells us 'Hear, oh Israel, the Lord is our god; the Lord is one.'" He immediately followed that with what was apparently a reference to the Muslim appellation for God as he said: "And you are the compassionate and merciful one." That was followed by: "And you are loving to everyone you have made"-- apparently intended to be a reference to the Christian notion of a loving God.

Obama, during his inaugural speech (full text), made a much more inclusive reference to the American religious landscape:

we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth...

Finally, as might be expected, Lowery's benediction called up images of the civil rights movement. As reported by USA Today, Lowery began with the first words of the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing: "God of our weary years,God of our silent tears... "

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 20, 2009 (boomark / email).