RICHMOND
A daily ritual at the General Assembly became an occasion for protest Thursday.
The Senate and House of Delegates open each day's session with a prayer, usually given by a member of the clergy at a lawmaker's invitation.
Thursday's prayer in the House was given by a Muslim cleric, Imam Johari
Abdul-Malik, director of community outreach at the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, at the invitation of Del. Adam Ebbin, D-Arlington County.
The prayer was, in part, a call for inclusion.
"Give us the strength to go beyond tolerance to understanding," Abdul-Malik said.
About 10 of the 100 delegates, all Republicans, were not in their seats. While some declined to comment on their absence, others acknowledged that they stayed away because of who was giving the prayer.
"Some of the activities that have been associated with his mosque I thought ought not to be recognized," said Del. Lee Ware of Powhatan County.
Two of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers briefly worshiped at Abdul-Malik's mosque before his tenure there.
Four protesters gathered outside the Capitol before the session, urging lawmakers to boycott the imam's prayer.
In a letter to lawmakers Wednesday, Ebbin said that Abdul-Malik "is well known for his opposition to terrorism of any kind" and that concerns about the imam's appearance had been driven by "false rumors propagated on the Internet."
Pilot writer Julian Walker contributed to this report.
Bill Sizemore, (804) 697-1560, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com
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John Jay weighs in
I found this quote from John Jay,the first Chief Justice of the United States:
Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers
Some Really Good Posts Here Folks
Aside from a few posts which I would categorize as uninformed or hateful I would recommend anyone with a strong opinion on this issue take the time to look at ALL of the posts. I disagree with many of them but understand the passion. The posts range from anti-Islam, to pro-Christian, to founding father stuff, and killing in the name of religion. Mix in a few posts that discuss some of the great philosophers from which we our forefathers based our much of our Constitutional development and there is some really good stuff.
1st Prayer of Congress in Carpenters Hall Dec 7,177
"Be thou present O,God of wisdom and direct the council of the Honorable Assembly:enable them to settle all things on the best and surest foundations:that the scene of blood may be speadily closed;that Order,harmony, and Peace may be effectually restored, and Truth,and justice, religion, and Diety prevail and flourish among the people. Preserve the health of their bodies, and the vigor of their minds, shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as thou seest expedient for them in this world, and crown them with everlasting Glory in the world to come.All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ thy son and Saviour. Amen
Hypocrisy
While Jesus preached a message of inclusivity, modern day Christian evangelists believe in a religion of exclusivity. Look around at all the spit-spewing messages and posts of hate, intolerance, bigotry, and anger simply because one of a different faith offered a prayer. Interesting that it's exactly the kind of reaction that Jesus and his followers experienced.
Amen. This is why true
Amen. This is why true christians would not have a problem with this. But the so-called christians of today are more concerned with exclusion and control of what everyone else is doing. Jesus did not walk the earth and tell everyone that they were wrong if they didn't do or believe in what he was doing but rather told them there was a better way if they so choose to follow. This is why the founding fathers wisely chose not to establish a national religion due to the fact that many different religion were already established here.
He's Using a Mac to give a prayer???
Looking at the pictures, he's Using a MAC to give the prayer from... Allah must be impressed and Steve Jobs must be proud.
I don't know his record
I am willing to bet that Del Ware and the others who "boycotted" the opening prayer are amongst those who would like to see mandatory prayer brought back to public schools, the Ten Comandments displayed in every public edifice, that military chaplains be able to invoke Jesus' name in their "public, non-sectarian setting, prayers, (I am not referring to religious services and funerals) and on and on .... but when faced with someone of a different faith offering a prayer for understanding and wisdom somehow feel threatened by that very prayer.
Now Del Ware you can't have it both ways. You either embrace prayer (in whatever fashion) in public settings or you don't. There are many in this country who do not belong to the Christian faith but politely attend events and listen to prayers from various religious figures respectfully and quietly. Frankly if these 10 yokels won't attend this prayer then perhaps its time to do away with the charade. The purpose of these public prayers are not to proselytize, instead they are to invoke our creator's blessings and wisdom upon each and every participant. I am certain my late father, a preacher who had the honor to give the prayer in the H
un-Christian continued
the honor to give the opening prayer in the House of Representatives many years ago would be very disappointed by the un-Christian behavior exhibited by those who knowingly avoided the prayer.
D-Day
Years ago a great Army General addressed our American forces going into harm's way with these words - "And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking". Not Almighty Locke, Plato, Muhammad, or another inconsequential religious or philosophical titan. It is unbelieveable how many of our countrymen have turned against the very grace that has allowed us to become the greatest nation the world has ever seen. I believe it is a result of the dumbing down of the U.S. and the invasion of our educational system by these very people. It seems "chic" to go along to get along these day. Almighty God help us when that grace is no longer ours.
Which Almighty God?
The General didn't mention which 'Almighty God'. Was it the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, etc Almighty God? I don't believe 'God' belongs to one religion.
The Christians, Muslims, &
The Christians, Muslims, & Jews actually all share one God. It started with the Jews. Then came Jesus and the Christians branched off. Then came Mohammad and the Muslims branched off.
Not exactly the way it
Not exactly the way it happened. But the important thing to note is that they do not share the same god. For example, Moses in the Old Testament showed on his tablets that to worship another is a sin. A big one. Thus the worship of Jesus and Mohamed would be major sins. According to all three of their books the other is in big trouble with their version of god. Obviously each religion (in writing) makes no room for the other on judgment day and could not be the same god judging them all as their are different rules for all.
Which God?
Again, the dumbing down raises it's ugly head.
To each his own
While I am a believer in the Christian faith, our country was built on freedom of religion. With that being said, each person has a right to decide if they choose to be a part of another religion or not. While some want "One Nation Under God" Removed I do not. So in a Christian pastor is the one saying the prayer today, it is the right of those that dont believe to either not be present or to not participate in the prayer. They could have choosen to say their own prayer to themselves, but they didn't want to. They decided not to be present at all. Now when the Christian speaks on Monday all you don't believe remove themselves until the prayer is over and everyone will be even since thats what this country is coming to. Stopping complaining about decision that really dont matter in the first place. Thats why I pray my own prayers, say my own pledge, and go to my own church, and those that don't like it are more than welcome not to join in, but dont condeim me because you believe something different. I sure wont do it to you.
V-P Inciting Religious Hatred
Come on.... this is beneath even V-P's usual standards for finding something to get folks steamed about little stuff while the state is in fiscal crisis. This all in the state that gave us both the "Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom" and the "Bill of Rights." Seems to me that the only controversy is the religious intolerance that the V-P is trying to incite and for which it should be ashamed.
The religious hatred has
The religious hatred has been here all along. No need for the Pilot to incite it. Evangelical Christians and other fundamentalist cults are the most hateful, intolerant and dangerous groups in America. They are the rough equivalent of the American Taliban.
Equivalent of the taliban?
Really? Please tell us when was the last time a Christian Pastor or Jewish Rabi instructed someone to strap a bomb to themselves, walk into a crowded mall, and blow themselves up taking others with them.
You certainly display your own hate and intolerance. And coming from someone who supposedly preaches peace, love, and tolerance. I find progressives to be far more hateful, intolerant, and far more dangerous than those of deep religious faith. But I certainly wouldn't put them into the same class of the taliban. That is an ad hominem attack that voids any argument of intellectual honesty.
Stick with the point and remove the prejudice that actually incites hate and intolerance.
Catholic Priest
No they just cover up the sexual assualt of children all over the world then condemn anyone who would dare point out that the almighty pope knew about it and did nothing. California catholic church paid over $600 million and still didn't fire anyone. That's the kind of religious freedom we have here in america. It amazes me how sheep can flock to and protect corrupt and crimal church leaders but have no tolerance for "Americans" who practice a different religion.
You tell em
How dare this Muslim guy come in representing a religion that kills innocents, women, children, not like our good Christian forefathers who attempted to exterminate the American Indian (to name one group persecuted by Christians) or enslaved a race of people and then forced them to convert to Christianity (our African American brother's and sister's descendants), or were nearly eradicating whole populations of Europe for a centuries because they were the wrong branch of Christianity, and surely you haven't forgotten the Crusades? You know, those Americans who fled religious tyranny and sought a new life in America. We have come a long way but please, we Christians aren't perfect now nor have we been perfect in the past. So please Abdul, behave like Americans because we are perfect (always have been and always will be). Did I get that correct Digit?
Mostly correct AA
However our actions are part of our history now, while people still die daily by the Extremist Muslims, and the Imams still remain silent.
We aren't perfect, and we now prosecute those who attack others. The Imams praise them.