Religion & Law

While many think President elect Obama made a mistake in inviting a polarizing preacher like Rick Warren (of course, there are many who are worse and his emphasis on the poor is laudable) to deliver a prayer at the inauguration.  Gays and lesbians reasonably feel insulted when a preacher who has compared same sex relations to incest and bigamy (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/22/AR2008122201848.html?hpid=opinionsbox1) is invited to lead the nation in prayer at a vital public event.  I realize that many on this site espouse Warren?s views, but, for all their many fine qualities, they should not lead a prayer at the inauguration either.

There is another aspect of the inauguration that will receive less commentary, but it should not go unnoticed.  If the coming inauguration is like the inaugurations of George Bush and Bill Clinton, the preachers will make their prayers in the name of Jesus Christ.  In a ceremony that should have the function of bringing a divided nation together, the implicit message will be sent that Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists are outsiders, not full fledged members of the polity.  No evangelical purpose will be served; indeed, non-Christians will be alienated ? as they should be. Christian prayers at a government ceremony like the inauguration are unnecessary, insensitive, and counterproductive.