Obama Opens First Day With Prayer Service

[The Straight Story]

Obama Opens First Day With Prayer Service


WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama starts his first full day on the job in prayer.

Barack Obama is taking part in a national prayer service -- a tradition that dates to the inauguration of George Washington.

Obama and the first lady, Michelle Obama, were in the front pew at the soaring National Cathedral as the service began Wednesday morning.

Joining them there were Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton, were also in the front row with the first family.

The service included a prayer for the nation, scripture readings and hymns delivered by religious leaders of a variety of faiths. The new president was not scheduled to make remarks.

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=53583&catid=2

oh noes, the ends of da worldz!

[onehandle]

1. How Dare he respect the traditions of the Vast majority of Americans!

Impeach President Obama!

[The Straight Story]

2. hear hear! He said he was about change!

I am faux outraged! ;)

[JuniperLea]

12. Vast majority? Got link? eom

[onehandle]

14. Link to what? Polls that show that 80-90% of Americans believe in God?

And that most of those belong to a religion?

Or that two thirds of Americans pray often?

Try the Google.

[JuniperLea]

16. You are the one who made the assertion...

I am the one asking for your evidence.

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. Most Americans Believe in Higher Power, Poll Finds:

By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 24, 2008; Page A02

Most Americans believe that angels and demons are active in the world, and nearly 80 percent think miracles occur, according to a poll released yesterday that takes an in-depth look at Americans' religious beliefs.

The study detailed Americans' deep and broad religiosity, finding that 92 percent believe in God or a universal spirit -- including one in five of those who call themselves atheists. More than half of Americans polled pray at least once a day.
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But Americans aren't rigid about their beliefs. Most of those studied -- even many of the most religiously conservative -- have a remarkably nonexclusive attitude toward other faiths. Seventy percent of those affiliated with a religion believe that many religions can lead to eternal salvation. And only about one-quarter of those surveyed believe there is only one way to interpret their religion's teachings.

"Even though Americans tend to take religion quite seriously and are a highly religious people, there is a certain degree of openness and a lack of dogmatism in their approach to faith and the teachings of their faith," said Gregory Smith, a research fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/23/ST2008062300818.html

[JuniperLea]

18. Thanks! eom

[Auggie]

3. They must be operating on impulse power

I imagine yesterday was really grueling for them.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Did we elect a president, or hire a minister?

Just asking. :shrug:

[The Straight Story]

5. A president who honors the traditions of the office

:)

[JuniperLea]

10. I don't give a flying rat's ass about traditions

There are too many traditions that need to just go away.

He has the right to believe what he wants to believe, and if that helps him make it through the day, so be it. I won't worry about his prayers if he doesn't worry about my Pagan activities. We all have the right to believe our myth of choice. It's all about the choice.

[IsItJustMe]

20. That's the way I see it. If it gets you to the light, it's alright.

[WI_DEM]

8. did you ask the same question when all those other presidents have had prayer services?

like all of them?

[Evoman]

9. Heh...I did. American politics are way too religious.

[JuniperLea]

11. Were you around for the past two inaugurations?

DU was awash with exactly the same protests against religion being inserted in government procedings.

[Cha]

15. Non sequitur..

but predictable(not from you but from someone).

For the record..I don't do religion but feel others have the right to do what the fuck they want.

[undeterred]

6. Barack Obama is an amazingly humble man.

I don't see him as pious and religious, but rather as someone who realizes he needs all the help he can get, even Gods.

[WI_DEM]

7. who cares? if he wants to do a prayer service, it's fine with me.

[The Straight Story]

13. Me either, glad he did it actually

He can't please everyone. If he goes to something pagan the christians will be upset, if he appoints an asian the indians will feel slighted, and so on and so forth.

Problem with a big tent is it is hard, if not impossible, to make everyone in the tent happy.

[anonymous171]

19. He's going to need all the help he can get. nt