Christian activists briefly disrupted a Hindu invocation in the U.S Senate on Thursday, marring a historic first for the chamber and showing that fundamentalism is present and shouting in the U.S too.
Invited by the Senate to offer Hindu prayers in place of the usual Christian invocation, Rajan Zed, a Hindu priest from Reno, Nevada, had just stepped up to the podium for the landmark occasion when three protesters, said to belong to the Christian Right anti-abortion group Operation Save America, interrupted him by loudly asking for God’s forgiveness for allowing the ”false prayer” of a Hindu in the Senate chamber.
“Lord Jesus, forgive us father for allowing a prayer of the wicked, which is an abomination in your sight,” the first protester shouted. “This is an abomination. We shall have no other gods before You.”
Democratic Senator Bob Casey, who was serving as the presiding officer for the morning, immediately asked the sergeant-at-arms to restore order. But they continued to protest as they were headed out the door by the marshals, shouting, “No Lord but Jesus Christ!” and “There’s only one true God!”
Zed, sporting a saffron robe, a rudraksh mala round his neck, and a prominent tilak on his forehead, then nervously went through the invocation chosen from the Rig Veda and Bhagavad Gita.
“Let us pray,” he began, “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.”
The sentiments were evidently lost on the fundamentalists.
The organization Operation Save America later issued a statement confirming that Ante Pavkovic, Kathy Pavkovic, and Kristen Sugar were all arrested in the chambers of the United States Senate “as that chamber was violated by a false Hindu god.”
“The Senate was opened with a Hindu prayer placing the false god of Hinduism on a level playing field with the One True God, Jesus Christ,” the statement said, adding, “This would never have been allowed by our Founding Fathers.”
The Hindu prayer was also questioned by a Christian historian who maintained that since Hindus worship multiple gods, the prayer will be completely outside the American paradigm, flying in the face of the American motto “One Nation Under God.”
According to a Senate Chaplain Office communiqué, the purpose of the opening prayer is to seek God on behalf of, and for the Senators and the prayer should affirm our rich heritage as a Nation “under God.”
“In Hindu (sic), you have not one God, but many, many, many, many, many gods,” the Christian historian David Barton maintained. “And certainly that was never in the minds of those who did the Constitution, did the Declaration [of Independence] when they talked about Creator — that’s not one that fits here because we don’t know which creator we’re talking about within the Hindu religion.”
But the disruption was deplored by the organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which said the incident showed the intolerance of many Religious Right activists.
“They say they want more religion in the public square, but it’s clear they mean only their religion.” Americans United Executive Director Rev. Barry W. Lynn, said.
“America is a land of extraordinary religious diversity, and the Religious Right just can’t seem to accept that fact,” Lynn said. “I don’t think the Senate should open with prayers, but if it’s going to happen, the invocations ought to reflect the diversity of the American people.”
According to US Senate website, “…Throughout the years, the United States Senate has honored the historic separation of Church and State, but not the separation of God and State…all sessions of the Senate have been opened with prayer, strongly affirming the Senate’s faith in God as Sovereign Lord of our Nation…”
Typically, the Senate Chaplain delivers the opening invocation, but sometimes guest chaplains are invited from all over the country to read the prayer.
Although priests from other faiths such as Islam and Judaism have delivered prayers in the Congress, this is the first time Hindu invocations were delivered on the Senate floor since its formation in 1789.
Zed said he wanted to recite the mantras in Sanskrit, but the Senate Chaplain’s Office communiqué clearly stated, “It must be given exclusively and entirely in the English language.”
Source: http://timesofi…/2199387.cms
http://timesofi…,curpg-2.cms
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http://timesofi…,curpg-3.cms
To deny the Senate the privilege of hearing enlightening words, and to deny the American people–including those within Senatorial chambers–the full intent and meaning of the First Amendment, regardless of the faiths of the Founders, is to fly in the face of the entire reason this country was started: freedom.
Who is to say that God is a white Anglo-Saxon Jesus-centered human-anthropomorphic being with two arms and two legs? Why could not God have an aspect–note the word *aspect*–that has several appendages representing the far reach of the Divine, not to mention, say, the elephant head of Ganesha, the blue face of Krishna, or the many-armed, many-legged Goddess Sarasvati, among many others?
You can say “One God,” but ‘God’ means many things to many people.
More wars have been started over the Christian’s god than for any other reason. The activists today are just fueling the fire for one more war where ever they can fight it. It just so happens that this time it is on American soil not else where in the world. They still think that they have “won” all of the others by “converting” the people of other cultures to their own. I wish that they would all take the log out of thier own eyes than to pick the speck out of someone else’s. There bible even says (summarized) to go out and if they are not welcomed to dust the dirt of the place off of their feet and to turn, walk away, and never look back.
This is outrageous! In a country where Religion and Government are supposedly different…I am ashamed to live in a country that not only oppresses different religions, races, and cultures-but also preaches to others to accept uniqueness….such a hypocritical place….it saddens me so… :’-(
I apologise on behalf of the people I am clustered with – Americans. America was founded on the idea of tolerance of all kinds….but now, I see it was built by prejudice.
has america gone mad to let these people who pray the false gods to come in and do their prayer do they let the christians do the same in their country..
This is a worse case of how america is loosings its soul
wow
first
separation or church and state, remember??
there should not be any praying at all in the senate, not as a part of the normal everyday function anyway.
second
arent christians sooooooo loving like their god teaches??? when did jesus become a god anyway???
“The Senate was opened with a Hindu prayer placing the false god of Hinduism on a level playing field with the One True God, Jesus Christ,”
i thought he was the son of god???
ok, im done.
That Is some bull. Why Can’t people get along? The Hindu’s have a right to pray as they please. This was to be a historical event, We have freedom of religon In the USA. To some it must only mean Freedom of Christananity. If they are going to pray in congress everyone should be able to pray diffrent. The Hindu paryer sounded very nice and shouldn’t have offended anyone, and the part about Hindus worship meny gods is a little off. Hindus worship meny forms of the One. The same as most Pagans.
I cant believe this happened. Even though not religious I still believe all religions should be resprected. And our government should resprect all religious leaders. This was someone who had been asked to pray. And it is my belief prayer should be private and therefore not opening a meeting of any kind.
Just another example of how most Christians are unloving, judgmental, intolerant and unforgiving. I don’t remember anywhere in the Bible where Jesus tried to force himself or his opinions on people…..he simply taught people how to treat one another and used his powers to heal when needed. People followed him….but he never….as I remember from the years I was involved with the Christian church, forced himself on anyone. I can only assume that he is very disappointed with the behavior of people calling themselves his followers.
I am now Pagan and although we have many gods and goddesses….they are all aspects of the One. So the “one true god”…well I think we all worship the same one….just in a different way. Just like we all say words…but maybe in a different language.
Sometimes I wonder why other cultures feel this is a “land of opportunity”…..
I am apalled to see people disrespecting each other like this. I was born into the Hindu religion and I follow it like tradition has expected. I have nothing against Christianity. My family is made up of both Christian and Hindu followers and I do acknowledge the religion. Yet, to see this disruptance, is an abomination. In India, both Christians and Hindus alike coincide but there is no such thing as this.
America is supposed to be based on equality. But I see the truth of Jessica Collin’s words. However the historian is not accurate. We believe in one god, divided into both male and female sides which further separate into different gods and goddesses that are in charge of the different aspects of the universe.
There are points I must emphasize:
Taking the Christian point-of-view, God wants his children to live in peace and harmony. But I’m beginning to think that his wish will be a short-lived faiytale because those protestors not only provoked anger, controversy, and confusion, but in doing so, they are going against their god’s wishes.
Once again, I do not mean any offense by what I say. I just would like freedom to express my mind.
Thank You,
Stephanie A.
This is kind of makes me wonder how much do the Christians know that the Founding Fathers did not want religion involved in government. In fact much of what was written then has been reversed to bring religious meaning. Under God was in fact added a lot latter. People forget the Founding Fathers were very much opened to all ideas and were not as religious as one may think. I can pull out so many quotes that really can make any Over the top Christian cry.
Anyway it is funny how a Hindu can be so kind but a Christian can be so cruel. I am sure there is Hindu’s out there who speak like these ignorant Christians have, but to find that the poor Hindu had to go through such hate is really a sad reminder of how closed minded our society can be.
I can’t beleive that a hindu was allowed to open a prayer in the u.s. senate.Hindus follow 360 million false gods and goddesses and are the most cunning and two faced people on the planet.Hindus themselves will never allow a christian priest to open a prayer in the indian parliament.Being a christian from India i know how much they hate christanity and christians from the core of their heart but at the same time will be the first ones to go to europe,u.s.a, canada all christian continents.They persecute christians in india ,either directly by not giving them proper jobs or promoting them to good positions or indirectly through their WITCHCRAFT & BLACK-MAGIC which is totally embedded inside hinduisim.or u can say hinduisim is another form of satanic witchcraft and black magic.
It really saddens me to see that people in the west think muslims are their real enemy.ACTUALLY IT IS HINDUS WHO ARE THE REAL ENEMIES OF CHRISTIANS.o.k. some Muslims do become suicide bombers i am not justifying that it is right.but those poor souls do it because it is their religion which tells them to do so.But hindus on the other hand have a in born hate against christanity,christians and Jesus and just act to be very peaceful from outside.Inside they hate christanity from the core of their hearts and are always silently plotting the downfall of christanity and christians.
I know for the readers this might seem a bit strange but it’s a hands-on experience of a christian from india who has suffered the mental trauma and agony through hindu witchcraft in india which people in the west can’t even imagine in their wildest of dreams.
FOR ALL THE AMERICANS I WOULD RECOMMEND READING THE BOOK OF RABI MAHARAJ:-” DEATH OF A GURU” WHICH WILL EXPOSE THE MYTHS AND HOLLOWNESS OF THE HINDU RELIGION AND WILL EXPOSE THE DEEDS OF THE FALSE IMMORAL MAN-MADE GOD OF THE HINDUS KRISHNA WHO HAD 300 WIVES AND 16000 GIRLFRIENDS. THUS PROVING MY POINT THAT HINDUISIM IS JUST A MAN-MADE MYTHOLOGICAL RELIGION WHICH DOES NOT HAVE ANY DIVINE INSPIRATION.And such acts of priests from pagan and false religions like hinduisim should never be allowed to happen in the u.s.a. because of 2 reasons:-
1. Hinduisim is a man made mythological religion which is clearly inspired by satan himself that’s why their is so much of black magic and witchcraft in it.
2. When hindus in india treat the christians in india as second class citizens and discriminate them heavily in every sphere of life,don’t give them the freedom to practice their religion freely and don’t give them proper respect then why these two-faced people should demand equal respect and freedom of religion in america.
Actually, Hindus DO believe in one God. In Hinduism, God is represented in different aspects, and according to whatever aspect you wish to focus on or worship, you use that “form” of God. This is where they are getting the idea that there are many Gods worshipped, but there is only one. Also, God in Hinduism is not male or female, it is both, and is present in all living things, hence the reason they do not believe in killing things or people. Lastly, the Hindu religion does not advocate pressing your religious beliefs on other people – all forms of God are considered as God, there is no right or wrong form of God. Hinduism is about PERSONAL spiritualty and enlightenment, not religion or conversion. Loving blessings to you all!
Any person who attempts to enforce their worldview on others by means of oppression or intimidation is a threat to us all.
I’m sorry but this kind of nonsense is not the reason why I offered my life, to be possibly sacrificed, in the US Army Infantry. Freedom of religion is not, nor has it ever been, exclusive to Christianity. If those, so called, Americans had any sense they would take a hard look at the flag and realize that the true powers that be are Pagans. Each state is represented by a pentagram. The color scheme is pure pagan symbology. If these born again Christians want to live in a Christian theocracy they should go try to convert the Israelis. Maybe try by force…again. lol The USA is not a theocracy of any kind! If you don’t like it get out.
This really is ridiculous. In my opinion, religions have really gotten out of control in America. Our Founding Father’s wouldn’t have approved is a load. They built this country on the idea that all people have the right to choose their own religion, thus if the Senate chooses to open with a prayer {I understand seperation of church and state but lets be real here, how many Presidents have pulled the wholesome Christian family man card? Quite a few} then they should be able to choose and honor all religions not just those that are readily accepted.
Also, I honestly can’t stand people who refuse to see past the end of their nose. Christians who yell, scream, bang their Bibles and disrupt a very solem and respectable affair like this really have no class. I’m not saying we all need to join hands and sing ‘Kumbaiya” {sp?} but I believe we need to be mature enough to respect the beliefs of others and move on.
The Hindu priests prayer was both lovely and respectful. If you didn’t want to pray to his god then that is fine but you need to respect his right to pray to him, her or them {I’m not very familar with Hinduism, sorry}.