Arizona Legislator Leads Atheist Prayer

[ClydeR]

The Arizona Legislature allows each of its members either to lead the assembly in a prayer or to invite someone else to lead the prayer. When it was his turn, an atheist legislator decided to lead his own "prayer" in which, without invoking the divine at any point, he encouraged other members of the legislature to work together to improve the lives of their constituents. Since he didn't mention God, it wasn't really a prayer, and the other legislators insisted in doing it over.


Republican Rep. Steve Smith on Wednesday said the prayer offered by Democratic Rep. Juan Mendez of Tempe at the beginning of the previous day's floor session wasn't a prayer at all. So he asked other members to join him in a second daily prayer in "repentance," and about half the 60-member body did so. Both the Arizona House and Senate begin their sessions with a prayer and a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

More... (http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Arizona-House-non-prayer-sparks-Christian-re-do-4539538.php)

[Tgo01]

This is an outrage! There is no reason for them to recite the Pledge of Allegiance before each session, we all know they are loyal Americans.

[Taernath]

He began his remarks by asking fellow lawmakers not to bow their heads but to instead look around at the other men and women in the room, "sharing together this extraordinary experience of being alive and of dedicating ourselves to working toward improving the lives of the people of our state."

How dare he! God will surely smite Arizona with a plague of boils for such an outrage.

[Latrinsorm]

Solution: threeway cage match between Steve Smiths. Carolina Steve is a heavy favorite.

[ClydeR]

Atheist members of the legislature shouldn't even get to speak during the prayer time. They should skip the atheists in favor the next Christian in the rotation.