Today a few news sites, more than a few LJ communities, and dear Andrew all brought to my attention a little bit o’ religious drama.  It occurred in the US senate on Thursday, that a Hindu priest gave the opening prayer, an honor usually given to a Christian priest.

This in and of itself is not something extraordinary.  According to CNN, priests from all manner of religions have been invited into the Senate to give their own version of a fitting opening prayer.  It seems reasonable that all faiths of the USA be given at least a bleak, vain nod to their inclusion into the lives of US citizens.  After all, the senate is supposed to be representative of the nation, right?

Wrong.  The senate should be representative only of Christians and their values, at least that is what three protesters thought when they began openly heckling and disrupting the priests’ prayer.  They asked forgiveness for the sin of upholding other gods before their God, and for betraying the name of Lord Jesus Christ.

What the hell people?

First off, what exactly are you defending?  The right, which you do not have, and does not exist, for your religion to be the only one upheld in the United States government?  Why are you concerned with the kind of invocation that occurs, when there is not meant to be any link between religion and politics?

Oh, right.  Religion in politics is fine as long as it is your own religion being preached.  I forgot.  It is such a simple solution that it is hard to keep it in mind.  After all, it seems to be working so well in the Middle East.

Oh boy… deep breathe.

Here is the prayer the poor man was trying to get across:

Let us pray.

We meditate on the transcendental glory of the deity supreme, who is inside the heart of the earth, inside the life of the sky and inside the soul of heaven. May he stimulate and illuminate our minds.

Lead us from the unreal to real, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality. May we be protected together. May we be nourished together. May we work together with great vigor. May our study be enlightening. May no obstacle arise between us.

May the Senators strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world, performing their duties with the welfare of others always in mind. Because by devotion to selfless work one attains the supreme goal of life. May they work carefully and wisely, guided by compassion, and without though for themselves.

United your resolve, united your hearts, may your spirits be at one, that you may long dwell in unity and concord!

Peace, peace, peace be unto all.

That is what they were protesting, though they didn’t bother to listen.