Week 1: 1

9/11 Prayer Events: Where were the evangelicals? By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA Today, (9/11/2011). http://content.usatoday.com/communities/religion/index/

Grossman begins this article by describing the ceremony that took place at the 9/11 memorial event in NYC, or rather, the parts of the ceremony that DIDN'T take place. A referenced article by Mollie Hemingway listed that "...Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims but no Southern Baptists or pastors from the Lutheran Missouri Synod or the more traditionalist wing of Presbyterians were on the Cathedral program." Some speculated that this was simply because other clergy were there to represent all Christian branches of religion, as was also the case with one Jewish synagogue representing all other Jewish branches (notice the lack of angry articles against this limited representation?). Another speculation was that these specific denominations were left off the guest list because they do not share in worship with other religions that don't strictly agree with their core values, such as Jesus Christ being the only 'true savior'.
To be honest, I don't see what the big fuss is. It's like (forgive the poor analogy) telling a person you don't care for them or those they associate with, and then getting upset because you weren't invited to his/her wedding. Well, DUH. For an event that is meant to be civilized, respectful and peaceful (such as the 9/11 memorial service) I think it was fine to draw the line on invitations at the point where everyone is represented, but those that might cause annoying petty issues with which clergy of which denomination they are standing next to can be left off the list.

I think this article ties into Monday's discussion because it goes to show how strictly some people adhere to their own rules of 'their' religion, and how any other way of spiritual life or worship is considered wrong and intolerable. You'd think that there would be at least some leeway on this strict adherence to those rules for the 9/11 memorial service, especially when considering that this idea of 'intolerance' has been a strong theme in the problems surrounding the original 9/11 events.