| Show Get in the closet shut the door and attending city council meetings G. G LOR Tt I A Gloria Quick Columnist OST people believe in MOST God Most have an n idea about what constitutes their Higher Power So why the big harangue about prayer at city ity council meetings If they want to pray let them says one side That violates separation of church h and state says another Not if its it's okay with all those participating Who Wh will lead the prayer Somebody's denominational beliefs will be imposed on somebody else Well have different people lead the prayers Well We'll have people representing Muslims and Jews and Hin- Hin I. I L L. L 1 I dim i ana aim Mord Mormons Mor mur- mons an and d Whoa Slow down What is the point of all that That's a lot of attention given to something that does not belong at city council meet meet- ings America was built buH ton on prayer The founding fathers trusted in God Why should we let the atheists have their way at official meetings meeting This dialogue could go on for pages and the parties never r reach ach an agreement Some say taking a few moIn morn mo- mo rn In for silent prayer prayer is the answer Opponents argue that those who do not want to pr pray y will be put on the spot if they look like th they y arent aren't praying I Prayer like God means different things to different people F For r me it means inner conviction arguing on the side of God God and and for what God is what God does how God makes things to be Perhaps one person needs a crucifix to fo feel truly prayerful prayerful prayer prayer- ful another needs to physically physically physically cally light a candle another to pray on bended knees with hands folded Who is right Who is wrong I tell you that I believe in God You say that you do too Then I tell you what I believe God is Y You u say No way That isn't God God is We agree disagree to to Nobody can stop anyone from praying in his heart in inthe inthe inthe the inner inne convictions of his soul Why then do we need pray prayer r Braying arraying in public tends to cause ause people to ask for more than they are willing to work for more than they are really ready convinced convinced convinced con con- vinced of The danger of praying praying praying pray pray- ing in public is the resulting hypocrisy If one needs the formality J of an oral prayer then let it be within the scope of his organized organized organized or or- religion That way those who do not believe that Mohammed is the ultimate prophet worthy of following those who do not believe that humans are reincarnated until they progress to Nirvana Nirvana Nirvana Nir Nir- vana those who do not believe that Jesus is God God or or Gods God's begotten son son and and those who do 90 not believe there is a God at all will not 1 71 01 J f fv G. G LOR Tt I A be forced to hear the views of another at a city council meeting which is after all for the hc purpose of managing the affairs of Salt Lake City Who knows Maybe being forbidden to utter a prayer aloud publicly will urge all those in favor of prayer to enter into the closet and shut the door and pray in secret as someone in the Bible urged his followers to do Guess who said that |
