The US is definitely not turning into a religious state. Definitely Not!
I live in Orlando, you have got to tell me where this is.
It's an art exhibit. It was on display at Chicago's Navy Pier three years ago. The pier agency felt the need to put up signs saying it was an art piece, that the agency was not mocking religion.
Wow, that is truly amazing. I am surprised some idiot group hasnt crawled out from under a rock somewhere to demand these booths be removed.
Jiff
www.Privacy-Center.net
Jim Jones> You better be trolling!! There is absolutely no place in public society for any displays of religion. All people who think this is a "christian" nation need to re-read the constitution, and declaration of independence.
And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:5-6)
if these were real, is there anything wrong with groups of people putting these around? is there anything wrong with people praying in public? a buddhist could count his buddha beads on one of those stalls, or a mohammedian could... well, if that thing was conveniently facing mecca or something. as long as the government isn't sanctioning them, and as long as they're paid for by whoever's using them...
hell, if it was pay-per-use, I'd be installing them myself! Money!
"Congress shall pass no law concerning the establishment of religion"
That is the only mention in any of our public documents concerning religion.
So, even if this was endorsed by the city of Orlando, it would be entirely legal according to our national laws.
There is no such thing as "separation between church and state" in our public documents. Thomas Jefferson made an obscure reference to this in a document encouraging non-denominational Christian leadership in government.
Anyone who believes otherwise is ultimately saying that our federal government should have the power to go FAR BEYOND the limits of the constitution and TURN OUR NATION INTO A FASCISTS, TOTALITARIAN state.
Should the federal government endorse religion through the passing of laws? No, it would be unconstitutional.
Do local and state governments have the right to endorse, encourage and give incentives to any religion they desire? Absolutely. That is constitutional. And that is the original beauty of the constitution. Individual states, with individual tastes and culture and methods of rule and law... brought together by a unified federal government. This gives american citizens the right to choose. If you dont like the way your state is ruling, move to another state. You could have religious states, atheistic states, socialistic states and free market states. Different states could educate their children using different methods. In the end we would have the benefit of choice and we would be able to see what works best.
Get educated on your government's roots and on what the law truly says.
Stop giving the federal government more power. Read the constitution. Stop giving our lawmakers and more importantly our activist, dictatorial judicial branch more power under the guise of "liberal" activism. The ACLU has stripped Americans of more freedom of choice than any other NGO combined. And all of this is coming from a former member of the ACLU.
That's not in Orlando. Our traffic signals are painted black, not yellow. And the bus stops are red and white, not blue and white.
It's actually an exhibit in NY:
http://www.nycgovparks.org/
sub_t...y_exhibits.html
This is wrong in soooo many ways it makes me sick to my stomach. All these religious nuts should keep their beliefs to themselves and keep religion where it belongs, in their own homes and churches. These "prayer-things" have the look of being government approved and standardized so thereby giving the impression that you need to be a christian and the country caters to all christian wants. What about all the other religions? How would people feel when the street also had Boedist incence burning shrines and rugs for muslims to pray on? Come on people, get your retarded religious beliefs out of my face. You wankers!
Can you say THX-1138!
"OMM: Thou art a subject of the divine, created in the image of man, by the masses, for the masses. Let us be thankful we have an occupation to fill. Work hard, increase production, prevent accidents and be happy. Let us be thankful we have commerce. Buy more. Buy more now. Buy. And be happy."
Where in Orlando are these? I live here and have never seen them, nor do I recognize the locations in the photographs.
But does it face Mecca?
I like how the atheists are the angriest people in this thread...
There was one outside a church here in kcmo for a couple years.
This is clearly a fake. The donations box is missing!
Dylan Mortimer, Public Prayer Booths
September – November 2008
Tramway Plaza, Manhattan
Image: Dylan Mortimer, Public Prayer Booths
Description:
Dylan Mortimer
’s work deals with how private faith functions in the public realm. The interactive Public Prayer Booth is a synthesis of a telephone booth and a prayer station. The viewer can flip down a kneeler and engage in prayer.
“My goal is to spark dialogue about a topic often avoided, and often treated cynically by the contemporary art world,” says Mortimer. “I employ the visual language of signage and public information systems, using them as a contemporary form of older religious communication systems: stained glass, illuminated manuscripts, church furniture, etc. I balance humor and seriousness, sarcasm and sincerity, in a way that bridges a subject matter that is often presented as heavy or difficult.”
The artist is based in Kansas City, and is a recent graduate of NY
’s School of Visual Arts Masters (MFA) program.
If you are being offended by a box you're pretty weak minded. If you are truly an Atheist these should not bother you.
Hyperactive Atheism is just as bad as the Evangelical Christians.
Is the use of "it's" instead of "its" meant to poke fun of the religious by implying they're too stupid to get it right, or was the artist just too dense to know it was a blunder?
you can pray in public if you really want--I believe it's a little bit conceited. But for groups or government to be allowed to put up christian hands-clasped-and-kneeling booths on the streets, that's a No.
Joe: "Congress shall pass no law concerning the establishment of religion"
The Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"
Joe: "There is no such thing as "separation between church and state" in our public documents. Thomas Jefferson made an obscure reference to this in a document encouraging non-denominational Christian leadership in government."
Thomas Jefferson: "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties."
Joe: "Do local and state governments have the right to endorse, encourage and give incentives to any religion they desire? Absolutely. That is constitutional. And that is the original beauty of the constitution."
Really? The beauty of the Constitution is that it institutes a state of affairs that it's authors repeatedly referred to as tyranny... Did you know that Jefferson's letter was written in response to a letter he received from a minority religious group that feared the situation in their state could become exactly what you describe?
Joe: "Get educated on your government's roots and on what the law truly says."
Good advice. And stop with 'former ACLU member' nonsense. You're not fooling anyone...
You realize this is an "art" exhibit, right?
It's mocking religious expression, which is hilarious, particularly when a religious person actually uses it.
This is an absolutely wonderful idea!!! There have been many times when I've been out wandering the streets and have felt an overwhelming sense of grief at the sights I see all around me. I have often wanted to pray to FSM for relief of all the suffering.
I see nothing on these booths that would exclude or endorse any particular religion. In fact, it could even be used be a heathen to meditate to himself.
I'm sure that there are many religious organizations, including, FSM that would happily pay for these booths to be spread all over the country. Why waste our money on buying food & clothing for the poor, we can do so much more for them by giving them quick & easy access to FSM. If they are hungry, let them kneel down in prayer, if they have no place to live, let them sit quietly in a booth & ask FSM what have they done to offened him so much.
Don't worry about any of these ever being bombed by people in one of them "crazy" religions. This is America!! Religious violence doesn't happen here. Besides, FSM will save us.
Personally, I think itʻs great. I will use it to roll joints.
I think it is interersting to see the religion bashing by so many posters above. Typicaly they are centered primarily on Christianity. I see no mention of any religion on the booth. Do only Christians pray on their knees?
No problem with these so long as they are soon followed by the suicide booth.
My first thought was "this is a joke, right?"
Then I realized, it HAS to be art.
Well done.
I'm an atheist, and as long as these aren't state funded I've got no problem with them being there. If it's art, it really says something about the state of affairs in America now, and I appreciate it for that as well.
I don't think it's horrible, as long as NO governemnt or state money are used to promote or buy these items
If ragheads can get bathing sinks installed in public restrooms for their rotten goat-feces covered feet to get washed, then why can't other religions get some public accomodations? Either all religions STFU and go underground, or ALL religions get public accomodation.
This can't possibly work. There isn't a coin slot or dollar bill slot anywhere in sight. If you don't pay who's going to be listening? HAAHAAHAA
Those pictures are not of Orlando
Finally a place where I can flaunt my piety in front of the unbelievers!
Prayer booths is a great idea. People who pray should not feel uncomfortable(ashamed)to see others pray in public nor should they feel uncomfortable(ashamed) to pray in public.God is honored when we publicly proclaim Him,unashamedly.Jesus said"for whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words; of him shall the son of man be ashamed,when He shall come in His own glory,and in in His Father's and the holy angel's."Pray in public to honor God not to be seen of man. We need more of us praying in public to set an example for others to follow. Our Christian testimony is always public and NOT a private thing. Jesus' ministry was entirely public.He wanted the entire world to know who He was and why He came to Earth He is Lord and Savior to all the world and NOT a private matter.
Typical christians. This is more money that could have been spent to feed someone or give medical care or house someone, instead it is another way to show off like a church that costs several hundred thousand dollars.
what a stupid idea
we have a same type of this device in iran!
I am a friend of the artist. First of all, it is an ART INSTALLATION. Meant to spark the very dialogue that is being had on so many blogs and websites. As far as "money wasted" goes, these pieces were not commissioned by churches, but rather through various art grants in different cities. Dylan is one of the most practical people I know when it comes to living out his faith. He is very much in favor of loving people by serving their basic needs, WITHOUT proselytizing.
And I also get weary of being lumped together with the "Evangelical Christian" movement, as if the far conservative right, who is so outspoken in the media, is the only way Christianity is practiced. I think bashing Christianity has become slightly trendy these days. It becomes hypocritical, not to mention ironic, when people refer to "all" Christians as being closed minded.
If these booths are all facing 'Mecca'
I think this would be cool, but sadly I can't imagine they would be, in Red Necksville....
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