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Wednesday January 7, 2009

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John Stanley Blog on why we should say no to the Lord's Prayer

Posted by: John Stanley | 27 October, 2008 - 2:25 PM
Unspun: John Stanley Blog

Unspun: John Stanley's Blog on why we should say no to the Lords Prayer and while we're at it, the National Anthem as well.

It's no surprise that Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull have dismissed a suggestion that the use of the Lords Prayer to open daily proceedings in the Parliament be reviewed.

The idea was from the Speaker Harry Jenkins who's been quick to denounce ownership of the idea.

He said it came from non Christian groups who'd asked whether it was inclusive to use a Christian prayer in a Parliament representing all Australians.

This is a classic case of not having the political courage to state the obvious.

Of course the prayer is inappropriate.  But any attempt to remove it would be seized on as an attack on Christianity and tradition.

The nonsense of this is encapsulated in the joint press release from Malcolm Turnbull and Nationals leader Warren Truss.

They declared the prayer 'has an important place in (parliament) and provides a non partisan reaffirmation of our commitment to the common good for the people of Australia'

That statement is….to put it kindly…. No let's not be kind.  They are talking rubbish.

Take a look at the prayer and see how it fits in with the Turnbull/Truss declaration.

A moment of silent prayer for MP's would be much more appropriate than a reciting of a Christian prayer but few MPs will be brave enough to say that out loud.

To another sacred cow, but this one to do with horses not cows; the national anthem at big race meetings.

On Saturday at Mooney Valley the course announcer was introducing the field in the Cox plate over the top of the singer leading the national anthem whose mike was muted.

Only the final few bars were heard.  Red faces all round and he sang it again.

But why do we sing or play the national anthem at a horse race.

Or at just about every sporting event.

Maybe at the Melbourne Cup and International matches in various sports, but it's got so silly that at the dog races in Sydney the few hundred people at the track are treated to the playing of the anthem just before the 1st.  At the dog races!

Like the inappropriate use of the prayer it is tokenism and lip service that ultimately cheapens the whole exercise and lessens its meaning..

Praying the prayer and singing the anthem in the wrong forums disrespects both but try suggesting that and you'll be rounded on as unpatriotic and an enemy of Christianity.

I'm pulling on my crash helmet as I write…

Blog comments Your Say

  • Who is it hurting? If it's just to keep up with the times the argument against is rubbish. We are a Christian society with Christian values. Just leave it alone.

    Joe Avvenevole Tuesday 28 October, 2008 - 10:34 AM

  • do they pay these managers of sporting events, to bang the drum?

    steve travis Tuesday 28 October, 2008 - 10:34 AM

  • Fawning to a celestial dictator hardly seems like an appropriate way to start the day in what is supposed to be the central chamber of a representative democracy. If I was an Aussie I think I would also be offended by this daily grovelling to some supposed great leader in the sky. How about instead a daily appeal that the members of parliament will use reason and evidence and work for the greater good of the people of Australia? As for tradition, the Australian parliament also used to traditionally not allow women or indigenous people to vote, and I for one am glad that this tradition is not guarded above all else.

    D Jenkins Tuesday 28 October, 2008 - 5:09 PM

  • Australians today are a mixture of people from many different religions as well as agnostics and atheists. The use of the Lords prayer in parliament is an example of arrogance and it is embarrassing.

    Leo Ryan Wednesday 29 October, 2008 - 12:20 PM

  • The belief that Australia is "a Christian society" is wrongheaded and explicitly contrary to Chapter 5 of the Australian Constitution. Australia is a diverse society of faiths and non-faiths. People who claim otherwise may well speak for themselves, but they do not speak on behalf of the nation as a whole. That is why we should remove the Lord's Prayer from the Aussie Parliament
    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49611362120

    Brendan Wednesday 29 October, 2008 - 4:48 PM

  • The "Lord's Prayer" clearly does have a place in our Parliament. It is more than just a tradition; it is a prayer that acknowledges reality, whether many today recognise that or not. It's inclusion continues to show an acknowledgement of our history. To say that it is contrary to the Constitution (as D. Jenkins did) shows a very cursory reading of the document. The first sentence of the document includes the words "humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God".

    Frank Kirkpatrick Thursday 30 October, 2008 - 6:57 AM

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