Like France right? I would pray in my house and at work.... How many people pray in the streets? Have you seen any?
I don't know. I am unfamiliar with your laws. I find this interesting. Don't Muslims in France have entire roads blocked off, shops closed down so they can conduct their service?
I would simply retreat to that secret prayer closet that goes with me where ever I go, and proceed to pray and worship my God and my Lord Jesus. On the other side of that coin: Such an act here in the United States would require an a complete overhaul of the Judicial system. Why? Because many court documents will contain a 'prayer' at the conclusion of the requested action by the court... ie... "The Defendant (or Plaintiff) Prays this court grant..." True, the courts are not 'in the streets', but to allow the courts to continue entertaining prayers, would be to establish a discriminatory animus among groups of people.... those people in the streets and those people in the courts...
My guess is that is the case. If that was an issue I would probbaly restrict it to you can pray as long as you do not obstruct traffic, buisness, or cuase a safety hazerd.
Here is where I read a litte about it and saw a bunch of pictures. What is not said is why and what the new rules are. It just got me thinking on how would other people react if it happened in their country. According to AP: For years, Muslims by the hundreds, dodging foot and vehicle traffic, have unfurled rugs on northern Paris sidewalks and put their foreheads to the ground outside two mosques for Friday prayers — for the simple reason that there's not enough space inside. Now the interior minister — who's also one of President Nicolas Sarkozy's top advisers — has devised a stopgap solution: On Friday, a unused former fire station nearby will be outfitted to host two large prayer halls. The move tackles one of France's thorniest social dilemmas in recent years: How to integrate a large and expanding Muslim population that often feels alienated in a proudly secular country with deep Roman Catholic roots. Looks like they might need to add some prayer space in Nice as well, as today Muslims were still praying in the streets there http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_new...praying-in-the-streets-goes-into-effect-today
Ah. So it's really not prayer that's being banned -- It's large public assemblies. Thank you for the clarification. You may consider a more accurate thread title next time.
I was just going off the title of the article: French ban on praying in the streets takes effect I am not making a comment on that particuler law since I do not know anything about it. I am merely asking others on a what if prayer was banned in public in their country.
But it is not prayer that is being banned -- it is large numbers of people blocking streets and sidewalks as illustrated in the photos in your citation.
Wow I have done some more research it is prayer that is banned: Claude Guéant said that ban could later be extended to the rest of France, in particular to the Mediterranean cities of Nice and Marseilles, where "the problem persists". He promised the new legislation would be followed to the letter as it "hurts the sensitivities of many of our fellow citizens". "My vigilance will be unflinching for the law to be applied. Praying in the street is not dignified for religious practice and violates the principles of secularism, the minister told Le Figaro newspaper. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...766169/Praying-in-Paris-streets-outlawed.html
One thing good about all of that news. It provides a safe haven for all those who are offended by people 'praying in the streets'. Need I go any further with the suggestion that inevitably will follow?
Matthew:6:6: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
That may be but should that mean that you cant if you want to? Or that other faiths should not be alowed to pray out side in public?
Where is that 'secret closet' that Margots quoted scripture referred to? Anywhere you want it to be.... indoors, outdoors, submerged in water, or even in flight on a commercial airliner (which would need prayer anyway).
OK. I stand corrected. Thank you for the clarification. Of course there is no 1st Amendment in France. I suppose we can expect an Airbus to hit the Eiffel Tower at any moment now.
same here, I dont have to agree with them to let the practice their faith peacefully. It would be like saying you cannot speak over a whisper on the street becuase it may offend people. Is France realy that backwards? I always thought they were pretty free their, at least until recently.
Is France still a free country? When we were in Morocco, the guy who stood at the front door whipped a carpet out and started praying on it as we passed. We asked the other guy what it was about and he said they should go to the mosque, but if you are working and you can't get away, then some people still pray wherever they are. The guy did try to be inconspicuous. He kept the mat rolled up behind a massive terracotta plant pot and used it to shelter him somewhat for privacy. I think organised religion should desist overall, but if there are needy people who still want to hang onto it, who am I? They have an equal right to live as they choose, so long as they don't interfere with me. If they do interfere with me or even with my ability to get to work in the morning without traffic disruption or blocked pavements, then I have the right to assert my own liberties. But from the tone of the article, it looks maybe like the French are trying to provide a suitably private place for prayer and to avoid disruption, more than banning it for authoritarian reasons.
This verse should not be seen as a condemnation of public prayer, but rather a condemnation of those that use prayer to glorify themselves rather than God. If you are praying in private, then how will any other Christian even think about praying with you? Some people like talking about this verse, yet ignore the preceding verse. This does nothing but to undermine the context of what Jesus was trying to say.
