Why is it that so many Christians want to pray in public? According to the story, Christ was as clear as he could be that he didn't approve of that, and had some pretty nasty things to say about the people who do it.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

What kind of mental gymnastics does someone have to perform in order to "interpret" that very clear instruction to mean the exact opposite of what it says?

In fact, much of Matthew is rarely heard in those churches. It's, well, not in keeping with doctrine, you see.

He prayed in public, according to the gospels--either asking a benediction on food or a person, or by himself but still in public. Prayer at the Temple was public. Prayer was also performed in public in synagogues--but the narratives claim that it was his custom to go to synagogue.

He contrasts extremes. But has that little caveat, "to be seen by others." Motive matters.

Same for giving charity. Don't let the left hand know what the right is doing. Yet alms-giving was often a public practice, and if you gave money to a poor person it was often in public. But again, not for the purpose of being seen, and with no undue attention drawn to it.

I think it counts as private. Prayer in a place of worship is expected behavior, everyone prays there, that's what they go there to do. When everyone in the building is doing it together voluntarily as a group activity, it's obviously not being done to to make sure everyone else can see how pious they are, or to make people who don't believe as they do uncomfortable.

Other examples of private group prayer would be people getting together in someone's home, or even some students going into a quiet place during a school break to pray together. They're all there because they want to be there, and they aren't inflicting it on anyone who doesn't want to hear it.

One can also pray in public but do it discreetly, so no one even knows any prayer is taking place.

Your explanation makes no sense at all. Praying in a group, in a public place, is actually praying in public.

Gotta find a way to make it not apply to your public piety. Good job.

Interesting.

Quite interesting indeed!

Have you considered a career as a carpenter?

it's not the frame's fault.

But in actual dialogue or debate, this type of framing of an opponent is considered to be avoidance of actual dialogue.

Your statement has been noted and categorized accordingly.

I'd be more interested in the opinion of someone who actually tries to live up to the ideals of their religious faith. Know anyone?

none of us are experts on that. I will say, however, that you are clearly an expert on answering questions with other questions.

And I felt that the observation was quite silly. And given my numerous statements at DU, and in this particular group, regarding separation of church and state, I felt the observation was pointless.

The poster obviously felt it was important to make some type of observation.

Are you ashamed that you implied that MineralMan wishes this family to receive death threats from Christians? I hope so, because you should be.

Perhaps you could tell everyone whether you think the behavior promoted by the school would fall under your caveat "to be seen by others."

That seems to be the key item here. Do you think the school's behavior is appropriate or not?

"Bless your heart, but you need to leave town before someone burns down your house with you in it. Do the right thing. God loves you!"

However, since they are quite common, it's easy to predict them.

May you live long and perspire!

It's pretty easy to predict that it's likely to happen. Please do let us know if the local religious leaders come together and publicly speak up in support of this family, and condemn anyone who would threaten to harm them. That would be good news indeed.

The last time I saw Ed Brayton speak, he told stories about secular Christians getting just as much hate for doing the right thing. I feel bad for them, to be honest. Atheists expect this kind of backlash. They usually don't.