Like a prayer...

The U.S. Senate will open tomorrow with a Hindu prayer.

This is causing all sorts of a kerfuffle. The Christian right has their usual open-minded attitude, recommending that people write their senators telling them to stop it from happening. According to David Barton, president of WallBuilders (an organization dedicated to proving that America really is a non-secular, Christian country), the poly-theistic nature of Hinduism means that 'the prayer will be completely outside the American paradigm, flying in the face of the American motto "One Nation Under God."

Poor, confused Christians. How will they handle it? Just hearing a prayer from a religious group that goes against their beliefs will totally blow their minds. You know, if that's all it takes, it's no wonder they're not having so much success with that "Christian Nation" thing.

Oh, and also, Hinduism hasn't really accomplished anything - and causes violence:

"This is not a religion that has produced great things in the world," he observes. "You look at India, you look at Nepal -- there's persecution going in both of those countries that is gendered by the religious belief that is present there, and Hindu dominates in both of those countries."

OK, boys and girls, can you tell me how many things are wrong with that paragraph? Wow. And as an added bonus, he said "Hindu" instead of "Hinduism"! I guess little things like grammar aren't that important, when you have God (just one God, y'here?) on your side.

Now, I do agree with Barton that the prayer shouldn't be said tomorrow. But I don't think ANY formal, organized prayer should be said in a government office. :) So maybe we wouldn't have that much to talk about...