This issue only first bugged me when George Bush (Jr.) kept saying “we have to pray”. Every time something happened, those seemed to always be his words - “we have to pray”. Well, I’m not religious, and it just kinda bugged me that the president of a democratic country ostensibly with separation of church and state seemed so intent on having me pray.
Even though we have separation of church and state, the President is still an American Citizen and the Bill of Right apply to him just as they do with other citizens. He has freedom of religion and speech. This means he can be a Christian and pray and can say that he thinks others should pray as well.
I know he has that right. But it doesn’t seem appropriate to me to use this particular office as a pulpit. It’s not part of the job description - quite the contrary. That’s kinda what separation of church and state means.
I don’t think separation of church and state means that it is inappropriate for the President to ask people to pray
I think that’s exactly what it means,
No, it means he can’t force people to pray, it doesn’t mean he can’t ask.
No, but it’s certainly inappropriate in my view, specifically because of the concept of separation of church and state.
I guess we have a different opinion on what separation of church and state. I don’t think it means the President can’t ask for prayer.
No, it doesn’t mean he can’t, but the fact that such a separation exists means the President should respect that he’s a representative of the government and not a private citizen while he’s in office and as such, probably shouldn’t be asking people to pray.
I think we are just going to have to agree to disagree.
What if he’s a muslim or buddhist or hindu or some other shit that you don’t believe in? Presumably you wouldn’t want those calls to prayer.
spot on