There is some amount of controversy in Kansas:
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is urging Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to rescind his religious proclamations and opt not, in his official capacity, to attend or endorse the overtly Christian event “Going to the Heart,” which is scheduled to broadcast live from Topeka, Kan., on Dec. 8 from 3-6 p.m. CST.
Brownback not only publicly declared Dec. 8 a “Day of Restoration,” but recorded a promotional video for the national simulcast, calling on citizens to “pray to God, in humility and in unity to ask for his favor and assistance in these difficult times.”
I happen to feel that the United States is explicitly founded on the basis of a nation endowed by the Creator; we are a Spiritual nation.
However, I am further convinced that we are not an explicitly Christian nation. Further, I’m aware of the rulings of the Supreme Court that has severely restricted any government involvement in matters spiritual.
The worry that occupied the framers was not the public displays of religion or of government officials calling on days of prayer; indeed, Washington himself was very explicit regarding his belief that America was a Divine Experiment and often issued orders of prayer. Rather, the concern was that the government not establish a religion. That the government not pass laws requiring the joining of any religion or of passing any legislation that would require taxes to fund a state religion.
That being said, what would the general public say if, instead of asking citizens to “pray to God” implored them to “pray to Allah?”
Especially interesting because both the Christian God and the Muslim Allah are the God of Abraham. In other words, the same divine entity.
