[Jan Fisher]

The Victorian state government is debating axing the Lord’s Prayer in parliamentary procedures and that’s fine by me.

Apparently the prayer is read at the start of every sitting day and the state’s new premier Jacinta Allen said she wants a bit of ‘cross-party’ discussion on keeping it.

I’m okay with getting rid of prayer in a secular setting. Pray all you want in church or at church functions, but prayer is not what parliament is about.

And while we are at it, can we get rid of pledging to the King. Watching opening of the federal parliament last year and the many demands to pledge to the king was jarring and embarrassing.

Time to stand up as our own country without the influence of religion or a foreign head of state.

Do you think the Lord’s Prayer should be removed from parliamentary procedure?

[allan j goodwin]

yes

[Marten]

I believe parliament sittings should not include prayers, nor should it include pledging to the King of Great Britain!

[Rod63]

Absolutely it should. It is not appropriate for parliaments.

[andrews5033]

I agree on both points. Keep religion in churches for those who attend; it is not appropriate anywhere else.
I cringe everytime I hear pledges to the king, who has nothing to do with our country and this needs to be removed as soon as possible from all levels of parliament in Australia.
And while we are at it, aren’t we one country? Is it not time to have a look at the massive overuse of “acknowledgement of country” before sport and other events?

[Peter]

Well – there you go! All of you folks who think “religion” should not be included in Parliament – HAVE TOTALLY MISSED THE POINT!

I am ‘religious about the Broncos’ – BUT I am certainly not religious when it comes to Christianity. Australia was based on the Christian missionaries who came to this country with the early boats, and they acted as ‘intercessors’ between the Aboriginals and the Navy and army soldiers. You all seem to forget – that WITHOUT Christianity – you WOULD NOT have schools, hospitals, charities such as all of those that we have today.

WHO do you think are saving – AND FEEDING the homeless today – Christian charities!!

AND WHERE DOES THE CHRISTIAN CHARITIES COME FROM – Our Creator – NOT SOME “big bang” or chance explosion that made the universe! EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU – “PRAY” that your family members are in heaven when they die! EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU pray that our soldiers are safe, that our children are safe, that we can get out of debt, that our children grow up to become amazing adults to provide you with healthy grandchildren.

SO – BE HONEST – and tell me that you “HAVE NOT” prayed to ‘someone’ for safety, help and recovery – when you can’t handle a bad situation yourself? IF – you said “never” – I call you a liar!!

Parliamentarians go to church at Christmas and Easter – WHY? Because they “down deep” believe that God will guide and save them – AND MAKE THEM LOOK GOOD TO THEIR “RELIGIOUS” constiuents!

We – you and me – need God now more than ever – so stop talking to Him – and He will turn His back on you – when you are on your knees asking for help, guidance, money, surgery and gratitude.

BUT – turn your backs on Him – and His response will be – “I never knew you!!”

[Poppa Bear]

As a Christian minister, I firmly believe in the power of prayer. In a Parliamentary setting, it can be a powerful reminder of our Christian heritage, and the massive good that has come from Christians through the centuries (as Peter said above.)
However, I also recognise that many Parliamentarians do not share my beliefs, and to have them say the Lord’s Prayer when they don’t believe in the God to whom it is directed, risks reducing it to a meaningless babble, or a “nice” ceremony, when prayer is much more than that.
Genuine prayer, yes please. Empty phrases because it’s “what we do” – no thank you.

[Author]

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