This post isn’t support for the National Day of Prayer, which took place yesterday, but more of my interpretation of Obama’s avoidance of the country wide observance.  The Day was established as a national observance by President Truman in 1952, and since then, most presidents have gladly taken part in public participation of the day.  More than most, President George W. Bush took his observance a step further and gathered with religious leaders of all faiths on a yearly basis to pray for the country and world.  A proclamation in writing usually accompanied the public observances.

However, yesterday, President Obama confused supporters of the day by not participating and clearly going out of his way to avoid it altogether.  He stated that he would issue a proclamation, rather than participate publicly as his predecessor did.  The proclamation was released later, with only one reference to “God”.

Obama’s lack of  “participation” left many asking “Why?” and questioning this president’s motives.  My opinion is that this move could be Obama’s way of distancing himself from any type of religious observance that would in turn expose who he really is and who he really worships.  Since his introduction into the world as a presidential candidate, his religious beliefs have always been in question, and left unclear. By only providing a “proclamation”, which some view as a cop-out, this man will be able to stay away from any form of public prayer to a “christian” God, which is what the majority of this nation would expect (take note that this country was founded on “christian” principles and beliefs).

There is a large amount of information already available that would suggest or even support that Obama is not a “christian”, as he says he is, but a follower of muslim religion (Islam). Avoiding taking part in the national day of prayer by introducing the “proclamation” allowed Obama to dodge this bullet . . . this time.

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Last week I posted my thoughts about the religious observance we all know of as “Lent” and “Ash Wednesday”. “Fat Tuesday” can be grouped with these other two, which we all know of as “Mardi Gras”.  By definition, mardi gras actually means “fat tuesday”.  In essence and in layman’s terms, Fat Tuesday is the day that a person get’s as much “sin” out of their system before Ash Wednesday, which is when they say, “Ok, sorry for all the sin i did yesterday God, but here I am to make up for it and promise to be ‘good’”.  That is, of course, until Easter comes, which is when observers forget their “promise” and start all over again.

Well, my view on this “season” or these “observances” can be misinterpreted as me “hating” on the church or more specifically, hating on Catholicism.  I “hate” neither, but I will admit that I don’t care much for religious observances or rituals for the sake of the ritual.  My love for God runs deep, and my passion for speaking against rediculous “rituals” runs just as deep.

Because I was raised within the Catholic church, all of my thoughts on this subject are based on true & honest experience.  And believe me, the Catholic church is full of rituals and observances that I’ll always question and speak out on.   For example, I remember one Christmas Eve service when I was 10 or 11, where the priest stood at the altar with a plastic baby doll (was supposed to by symbolic of baby Jesus), and members lined up to kiss the doll.  What is that all about?   For one, it’s not biblical, and two, it’s rediculous.

With that said, I’ll always call things as I see them, and I’ll be 100% honest in doing so.  I’ll concentrate on the essentials, and the non-essentials will be put to the test.  God wants our hearts, and isn’t interested in rituals that we think keep us in right standing with Him.  Those days were destroyed with the arrival and sacrifice of Jesus.  By continuing with religion and rituals, we’re pretty much saying to God, “Um, I know that Jesus was the bridge to you God, but because I don’t want to give myself to you 100%, let me comfort myself with these rituals so that I can at least “feel” better.  Ok God?”.

Any thoughts?  Would love to hear them.  Thanks for stopping by.

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