Christian Blessing at Public Event: Human Rights Violation?

[photon]

Originally Posted by Knalus

Wouldn't it be a human rights violation to stop him from practicing his religion?

The guy isn't asking for everyone to stop practicing their religion.

He's asking whoever's speaking at a government event to not lead everyone in a prayer that gives their own religion priority over others'.

If the speaker wants to pray over their own food privately that's fine.

[Rerun]

Next thing we'll be doing in banning Christmas trees from City Halls, provincial legislature buildings, and Parliament, because they might offend someone.

Just stupid.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by photon

The guy isn't asking for everyone to stop practicing their religion.

He's asking whoever's speaking at a government event to not lead everyone in a prayer that gives their own religion priority over others'.

If the speaker wants to pray over their own food privately that's fine.

Did he pray aloud or did he "lead everyone in prayer?" Big difference between him saying a prayer aloud and telling everyone to pray along with him, imo.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by rerun

next thing we'll be doing in banning christmas holiday trees from city halls, provincial legislature buildings, and parliament, because they might offend someone.

fyp

[photon]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Did he pray aloud or did he "lead everyone in prayer?" Big difference between him saying a prayer aloud and telling everyone to pray along with him, imo.

In the context of a public dinner where one person is standing and speaking and everyone else is listening I don't really see the difference. By leading everyone in prayer I don't mean he gave everyone words to repeat, I mean that he was standing speaking as a representative of the entire room to his religion's deity.

We don't know the actual content of the prayer, but giving thanks for food in a public setting usually involves "we" and not "I".

"We give thanks for" or "this food that you've blessed us with" as opposed to "I thank you for" or "you've blessed me with".

[icecube]

There was controversy over this 8 or so years ago when Atch first got into the mayors office.

There was a big uproar because he put on a municipal function inviting saskatoons christian community to a $30 dollar breakfast banquet. I can't recall the original name.

It's now an annual event and the name was changed to the "Mayor's Prayer Breakfast". They claim all faiths are welcome but it's pretty much 99 percent rich white christians who attend.

Glad to hear he's being criticized for mixing religion and politics.

[photon]

Originally Posted by icecube

There was controversy over this 8 or so years ago when Atch first got into the mayors office.

There was a big uproar because he put on a municipal function inviting saskatoons christian community to a $30 dollar breakfast banquet. I can't recall the original name.

It's now an annual event and the name was changed to the "Mayor's Prayer Breakfast". They claim all faiths are welcome but it's pretty much 99 percent rich white christians who attend.

Glad to hear he's being criticized for mixing religion and politics.

Interesting, thanks, there's often more context that doesn't get captured in a brief news article.

[Thor]

I wonder how people would have reacted to this story if the blessing was Islamic instead of Christian.

Keep your religion in your churches, politics is messed up enough already without adding this stuff to the mix.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Ease up big boys......the point of this is to argue the stupidity of this being called a "human right violation".

Except that we don't all agree that it is stupid to call this a minor human rights violation.

[Resolute 14]

If that is a human rights violation, then we've lost all perspective on what a human rights violation is.

[photon]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Ease up big boys......the point of this is to argue the stupidity of this being called a "human right violation".

But we all agree on that already

EDIT: Nevermind, I guess we don't.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by troutman

Technically not okay, but I think atheists/humanists do more harm to their cause by complaining about the little things.

I've recently noticed a few families saying grace at fast food joints. I have nothing against the ritual, but are you really grateful for the cheeseburger and fries?

It depends.

Does the cheeseburger have freshly sliced onions on it?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Except that we don't all agree that it is stupid to call this a minor human rights violation.

then let's argue discuss that.....not what qualifies as a religion

[Makarov]

Obviously it is a very minor violation, but I still think that it is one, and this sort of behaviour won't change unless people speak out about it.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

It depends.

Does the cheeseburger have freshly sliced onions on it?

more important what is it's brugerquest score!

[Senator Clay Davis]

I think we can all agree he's a clown. Whether or not this is a human rights violation is the real debate.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by kn

In light of the Alberta election, I'm curious how many people see a Christian blessing by a municipal councillor over dinner at a public event as crossing the line. Is it a human rights violation?

http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/04...nner-blessing/

A human rights violation? Nah...its inappropriate...but there is NO harm done.

A blessing is typically something that is done with positive intent

Should he be reprimanded and reminded that it is inappropriate...sure..

[photon]

Ok split out atheism = religion discussion.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Obviously it is a very minor violation, but I still think that it is one, and this sort of behaviour won't change unless people speak out about it.

I'm not sure that works. People speak out against these morons who whine about trivial things all the time, but they keep whining.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I'm not sure that works. People speak out against these morons who whine about trivial things all the time, but they keep whining.

Alas, freedom from whining has yet to be recognized as a human right in most jurisdictions (indeed, freedom to whine appears to be preferred.)