Comments on: London council in religious row after ‘banning prayer for poetry readings’ http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/ The official Derren Brown Blog Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:25:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: spiderabc1 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/#comment-60694 spiderabc1 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:24:59 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=12879#comment-60694 Why on earth do they pray? If I was there my offence would be due to others disrepect of my belief. Pot kettle I suppose. Nobody should be insulated so it would be best left for personal time. People have no reason to ask a deity for something as greed is a sin and what exactly can folk be thankful for to a god? Why in a work setting are emotions free to be expressed in a Christian form? Councillors and Mayors etc. should be impartial. Why on earth do they pray? If I was there my offence would be due to others disrepect of my belief. Pot kettle I suppose. Nobody should be insulated so it would be best left for personal time. People have no reason to ask a deity for something as greed is a sin and what exactly can folk be thankful for to a god? Why in a work setting are emotions free to be expressed in a Christian form? Councillors and Mayors etc. should be impartial.

]]> By: Don http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/#comment-60689 Don Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:30:11 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=12879#comment-60689 They can have a prayer if I can sacrifice a goat. Deal? They can have a prayer if I can sacrifice a goat. Deal?

]]> By: RicH http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/#comment-60639 RicH Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:43:18 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=12879#comment-60639 I think it is overdue for the world to have a non-religious atheist country. and where else can it occur but the carribean islands like a small one in the bahamas. unused otherwise... in the story time will run back there was at least one island where capitalism was learned why not have both capitalism and atheist place for a studied atheist society in the bahamas.. the court case is about a society issue.. it could be settled by making such a place .. those who in their diary are atheists or the like are allowed in. for those who aren't their families and friends there is the hotel atlantis in the bahamas.. I think it is overdue for the world to have a non-religious atheist country.
and where else can it occur but the carribean islands like a small one in the bahamas.
unused otherwise… in the story
time will run back there was at least one island where capitalism was learned
why not have both capitalism and atheist place for a studied atheist society in the bahamas..
the court case is about a society issue..
it could be settled by making such a place ..
those who in their diary are atheists or the like are allowed in.
for those who aren’t their families and friends
there is the hotel atlantis in the bahamas..

]]> By: Peri http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/#comment-60638 Peri Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:12:42 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=12879#comment-60638 It does seem inappropriate to me... even as a religious person. I'd object even if the prayers etc at the beginning of the meetings were of my religion (which they wouldn't be anyway, but that's beside the point). The council is meant to represent everyone in its area, and the only way to ensure that exclusion of any group is not implied is to omit prayers of any kind altogether. Religion should not play a part in politics, either at a national or a local level. It does seem inappropriate to me… even as a religious person.
I’d object even if the prayers etc at the beginning of the meetings were of my religion (which they wouldn’t be anyway, but that’s beside the point). The council is meant to represent everyone in its area, and the only way to ensure that exclusion of any group is not implied is to omit prayers of any kind altogether.
Religion should not play a part in politics, either at a national or a local level.

]]> By: Tony http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/#comment-60634 Tony Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:43:19 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=12879#comment-60634 Fiona, I think you'll find that the vast majority of atheists pursue an "anti-faith agenda" with an awful lot less fervour than most religious people do the opposite. I am staggered to find that this goes on in at least one council, let alone in the numbers suggested in the article. If I was attending council meetings, I would have a huge problem with this as well. The reason I care is that I would be offended by the assumption that I believe in this rubbish. Fiona, I think you’ll find that the vast majority of atheists pursue an “anti-faith agenda” with an awful lot less fervour than most religious people do the opposite.

I am staggered to find that this goes on in at least one council, let alone in the numbers suggested in the article. If I was attending council meetings, I would have a huge problem with this as well. The reason I care is that I would be offended by the assumption that I believe in this rubbish.

]]> By: Stephen http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/#comment-60633 Stephen Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:22:53 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=12879#comment-60633 Fiona: religion is an exclusive mechanism, i.e. the faith in which the prayers are offered excludes all other religions as well as the non-religious. Rather than having a meeting that is seen to be exclusive to one faith, it would be more inclusive to leave religion at the door and to include all those present and their electorate, no matter what faith, colour or creed. Fiona: religion is an exclusive mechanism, i.e. the faith in which the prayers are offered excludes all other religions as well as the non-religious. Rather than having a meeting that is seen to be exclusive to one faith, it would be more inclusive to leave religion at the door and to include all those present and their electorate, no matter what faith, colour or creed.

]]> By: Berber Anna http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/#comment-60625 Berber Anna Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:54:08 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=12879#comment-60625 Fiona: Because it implies that the meeting will be held in the spirit of the religion of those praying, which seems awfully non-inclusive towards anyone of a different faith or no faith. Prayers belong in religious services, not in meetings of what should be a secular organ (as government should favour no single religion). Fiona: Because it implies that the meeting will be held in the spirit of the religion of those praying, which seems awfully non-inclusive towards anyone of a different faith or no faith. Prayers belong in religious services, not in meetings of what should be a secular organ (as government should favour no single religion).

]]> By: Fiona http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/#comment-60622 Fiona Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:24:02 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=12879#comment-60622 I do not undertsant the fervour with which some atheists appear to pursue their anti-faith agenda. If you have no faith, then frankly why would you care let alone be offended by the saying of a prayer? I do not undertsant the fervour with which some atheists appear to pursue their anti-faith agenda. If you have no faith, then frankly why would you care let alone be offended by the saying of a prayer?

]]> By: Jess xxx http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/#comment-60620 Jess xxx Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:17:36 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=12879#comment-60620 Starting meetings with a prayer does seem fairly pointless ("Oh Lord, please deliver us from our despair, as we listen to these pricks witter on and on and on endlessly, amen" ;) ) but I don't see it as a massive issue. Provided they're not going round crossing peoples foreheads with holy water while their eyes are closed, and forcing them to sit on prayer cushions, while the guy at the head of the table wears a dog collar, I wouldn't really call it 'imposing your faith on somebody'. That said, I've got no objection to them getting rid of it either. Starting meetings with a prayer does seem fairly pointless (“Oh Lord, please deliver us from our despair, as we listen to these pricks witter on and on and on endlessly, amen” ;) ) but I don’t see it as a massive issue. Provided they’re not going round crossing peoples foreheads with holy water while their eyes are closed, and forcing them to sit on prayer cushions, while the guy at the head of the table wears a dog collar, I wouldn’t really call it ‘imposing your faith on somebody’. That said, I’ve got no objection to them getting rid of it either.

]]> By: Flower http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/06/london-council-religious-row-banning-prayer-poetry-readings/#comment-60618 Flower Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:12:30 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=12879#comment-60618 What is it with people imposing their faiths on us anyway? My friend would always sign cards saying 'God bless' (sometimes after having written 'Jesus still loves you, even though you're a sinner', but that's another story), I know she was only being nice, but how would she have felt if I sent cards to her saying 'may Satan, lord of the Dark Arts be with you', or 'may Isis grant your loins fertility' or some other crap? Why can't church and state be separate, like in France? What is it with people imposing their faiths on us anyway? My friend would always sign cards saying ‘God bless’ (sometimes after having written ‘Jesus still loves you, even though you’re a sinner’, but that’s another story), I know she was only being nice, but how would she have felt if I sent cards to her saying ‘may Satan, lord of the Dark Arts be with you’, or ‘may Isis grant your loins fertility’ or some other crap?
Why can’t church and state be separate, like in France?

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