Rev. Sharon Watkins Chosen For Obama Inaugural Prayer Service

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[RevMAH]

Ignorance is not limited strictly to the relgious it would seem. While our government does not establish religion, like for instance the Church of England, the people of America are perhaps one of the most religious of all the developed countries. By inviting Rev'ds Warren, Lowrey, Jakes, Watkins and Bishop Robinson to participate in the ongoing celebrations, the President is simply being widely inclusive as these people represent many of the divergent traditions of American Christianity. As for including a spokesperson for the atheistic, I'm certain if there were an established voice for the movement, it would be included. I would note however that Atheism, generally, is a profession of what one doesn't believe, rather than a unifying principle or a movement of wholeness, which most religions, when they are at their best, try to be. Yes, religion can be ugly, and frequently has been, but at least it aspires to the best of what humanity is, as opposed to cynically believing the worst. This would seem to be in perfect alignment with the stated goals and principles of our new President.

[HC4BO]

So when is the Sheik, the Rabbi and the Juju Chief slated to offer their prayers ...

It's a prayer fest as far as I can see ...

[TJCole]

Let's pray we can get religion out of politics, how about that..?

[truthskr]

Amen!

[Retrofuturistic]

Obama needs to keep the reverends out of the inauguration. AND out of the government.

[Aesthete]

No, I pray he does not. Having a prayer at an inauguration does not mean he will inject religion into the government. Anyone who has ever read the U.S. Constitution ought to know that this is clearly laid out. Even presidents have personal freedom of religion that some of you want to take away from him and everyone else.

[Hirnlego]

People ask me what I think about that woman priest thing. What, a woman priest? Women priests. Great, great. Now there's priests of both sexes I don't listen to. - Bill Hicks.
___
At least she is from a church that allows female priests. That's an improvement..

[Aesthete]

My church has female bishops.

[Hirnlego]

Good. Thats some progress.
(Personally I cannot understand how any woman would want to be religious considering the religious text content)

[redkim]

She's not a priest. Only denominatins with liturgical traditions have priests: The Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Churches and Anglican/E­piscopalia­n Churches. Of those, only Anglican/E­piscopalia­n have female priests.

Any other denominations have ministers or pastors.

[Hirnlego]

I suppose I stand corrected..

[propitiousmoment]

Or preachers.

[Jo Manning]

Never saw a preacher who wasn't a charlatan, but I guess the Christians in this -- I remind you all -- secular country have to be appeased.

[TJCole]

Too many "phony baloney" preachers for my liking...!

It this a coronation..?

Are we going back to "Divine Right..?"

[Aesthete]

No.

[Principaldad]

This is Obama's inauguration. It is a public event, but not a government one. No government money is used for the festivities. As far as I can tell, the only part that is required is the actual oath, which does not explicitly reference God (unless the President chooses to add "so help me God" on their own). Everything else is optional. Much of it is tradition, but if Obama didn't want to have a prayer service, they I doubt there would be one.

Obama is a Christian, and it stands to reason that he would want to invoke his religion at this point in his life. Since this event isn't run by the government, then any separation arguments are moot. It is Obama's party and he should get to do it his way.

Anyone that feels differently is allowed to run for President. If they win then they will certainly be allowed to remove religion from their own inauguration, if they so choose.

[propitiousmoment]

Thanks, my sentiments exactly.

[Serious Lee]

.Well said. I, wholeheartedly, concur!

Btw, I think prayer is in order for the task at hand!

[Yalegirl03]

Here, here!

[eden4barack08]

Well said!

[TJCole]

How many Preachers are gonna speak at this Political event..?

To many for me to both watching that's for sure..!

JFK had Sandburg and I watched not a bunch of priests like it was a coronation...!

[GregJL]

You obviously only read headlines. This is a prayer service at a cathedral the day AFTER the inauguration.

[Supercruize]

So should Obama adopt al those different faiths just cos he is president? He is President but also human. Get over it crybabies.

[inorbit]

All this who gives what prayer is Much Ado About Nothing. The United States is a country of many religions and as many as possible should get their shot at this event and the goal should be to have as many as possible represented.

[darleneslee]

Obama is the President for all the people not just a few. These constant complaints are getting to be a bit mundane and childish. Atheist will have more days than Christan's in Obama's administration,I'm sure that we won't See Obama praying for this wretched mess everyday. So why don't we all relax and work together to clean up eight years of anarchy.

[Grammy3]

Have you read the post? It is for a PRAYER SERVICE, in a CATHEDRAL the day AFTER Inauguration Day. Having a prayer, at a prayer service, in a cathedral. Yeah, how could he?

[KDay]

Apparently you guys never paid attention to the procedures of an Inauguration.


The atheist get exactly what you believe in: NOTHING! And that's what you deserve, you are a bunch of crybabies anyway.

[canobserv]

....wow....way to be inclusive there...I feel your hate

[Maezeppa]

Atheists believe in humanity. Some of us think it's the God-believers who will end up getting the "nothing".

[KarenT]

Wow. I'm not an atheist but that was awfully harsh, unnecessary and certainly not inclusive. Obama is the President of all people, atheists included. You should find a way to open your heart.

[Ty90]

Ha ha ha. I totally agree KDay! Slick remark there with the whole 'nothing' bit!

[JohnFromCensornati]

Atheists are good for nothing. It is believers who believe in nothing.

[Hirnlego]

Please, John, don't make a fool out of yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbef07aQtB8

[Hirnlego]

Whoops. Replied too fast to this...

[libcrusader]

Move over Rick Warren...