Hi Jennifer,
You tell us, "Well there seems to be a difference of opinion about whether or not praying before a football game is illegal. I stand there and wait for it to end too. Everybody stands there and waits for it to end. They shouldn't have to. Let's flip this, what's so offensive about being ask to do it in silence? We have friends that pray before eating. We sit there until they're finished, others in the restaurant go about their business."
At a sporting event, if there is public prayer for 15 or 30 seconds -- are you REALLY harmed to stand silently and wait for them to finish? What has this cost you -- other than 10 to 30 seconds of time.
It seems that your objection is the fact that you can hear them speaking to the God they worship -- for you said you have no problem standing quietly to wait for them to finish. You just do not want to hear them? Why? Does it really do you any harm if I say aloud, "Thank you, Lord"?
You see me write it all the time. Has that done any real physical or psychological harm to you? Then, why should a short prayer, spoken aloud, do any harm to you?
Or, is it that you want to demand your religion of atheism be respected and NO ONE should pray? You are offended because the majority chooses to pray. Yet, you do not find it offensive when a small minority, atheists, DEMANDS that the majority, accede to their desires.
As I said, what has it cost you -- other than 15 to 30 seconds? And it shows a spirit of cooperation and friendship. Is that really asking too much of you?
You ask about praying in a restaurant. I do this all the time and I see others doing the same. We, as a group at our table, bow and someone will quietly and discreetly pray. We may or may not hold hands while praying; but not always. This is, in no way, disruptive to others in the restaurant.
Why should this be offensive to you -- seeing people at another table bowing and quietly offering a prayer of thanks to God?
As a matter of fact, I find it comforting when I see others at another table praying. I have had people come up later and introduce themselves because they saw as giving thanks before our meal. Once, some years ago, Dory and I were at a restaurant and notice an older couple sitting across the room giving thanks.
After our meal, as we were walking out, I stopped to say hello and to tell them that I was edified by seeing them bow and give thanks before their meal. The woman told us, "We noticed you also and it warmed our hearts to see the two of you holding hands and praying." Do we do this to be noticed? No, we do it to join in fellowship while giving thanks to our God for the blessing of food He has given us. But, I do enjoy seeing others do the same.
Then, Jennifer, you declare, "Should they stand up, pray out loud, and expect everyone in the entire restaurant to stop talking, eating, working and listen to them pray? And if they didn't stop you know as well as I do it would be, "Did you SEE those people keep eating, talking, laughing, working while so and so was praying?! How rude and disrespectful can people be? What is this world coming to"!"
Jennifer, I am 74 years old, have been a Christian for 24 years, have eaten in many restaurants across America and in a few other countries -- and, I have NEVER seen anyone do that in a restaurant.
Have YOU really ever seen this -- or is this just more atheist posturing, huffing, and puffing?
Never mind, I believe we know the answer.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill