The Iraq War And Your Religion

Is It Ever EVER Mentioned?

Published on April 26, 2004 By mikimouse In Philosophy

Believe it or not, I go to church with my family every single weekend. We're a bit involved with the children's liturgy part of it, so to me it makes the time more tolerable. But one thing I have noticed since the start of the Iraq War and that's how no priest save one has ever even mentioned the war and the innocent victims. Is this because it's controversial or something? The one priest who mentioned it, I went up to him after and thanked him for mentioning the war, and he wasn't surprised. He had no answer for why it seems to be ignored, and admittedly it wasn't the core of his sermon. But it's strange how, even after a busload of kids are burned to death, the war is never mentioned. Is it like that at your place of worship? I find it hard to deal with and it's harder when I know even changing parishes would do nothing, as no priest mention it here. What gives?

Comments

Sherye Hanson

on Apr 26, 2004

When the first Iraq war was being fought, the week after they declared war, the Quaker church which I went to didn't say a thing about the war. I thought for sure that Friends would be concerned about the war, since they believed in peace, but not a word was mentioned. In our present church war is only mentioned on occasion--but to be fair, very few other things are prayed about in church service either.

SundaysLost23

on Apr 26, 2004

Same here, at our church.

Larry Kuperman

on Apr 26, 2004

Perhaps ironically the Jewish Secular group that I have been a part of for years is against the war. I say ironically since Israel may well be the prime beneficiary of the establishment of any other democratic state in the area.

Now we do not have a rabbi or equivalent, the nature of our group is more like the Friends. So I am just basing that statement on the majority of opinions expressed.

But I have heard others say that their churches also seem to have taken a position of "no comment" on the war. Why do you think that it is?

Shulamite

on Apr 26, 2004

Wow. Really? Every Wednesday night we pray for the troops, our nation's leaders, and the safety of the civilians. We pray for our national security too. If you look at prayer request sheets from sunday school meetings, they list our president, our soldiers, our congress, our leaders, the war. We have boys over there. Lots. Yellow ribbons everywhere. I didn't know people were silent about it. Wednesday isn't the only time we pray for it, btw. We also send letters to troops as a church. We pass them around and everyone signs them! Maybe its cause I'm in Texas...

Gerry Atrick

on Apr 27, 2004

Shulamite, You sound like your church is praying a lot for Americans in Iraq, I think the point here is that there are a lot of innocent Iraqis (including a lot of children) being killed and injured but that is not being recognised.

Sherye Hanson

on Apr 27, 2004

I fear that churches are more concerned with their own people than with the world. One thing I liked in the Episcopal church is that every week they would pray for different parishes in the world. I wish more churches did that sort of thing.

mikimouse

on Apr 27, 2004

I'm in Canada so I don't hear anything about supporting the troops or anything like that. I just thought that since this war is the defining moment so far of the 21st century, and so many kids and other innocent people have dies, that maybe, just maybe, it would be worth mentioning. But apparently at the Cathedral I attend, I guess not. Sad.

mikimouse

on Apr 27, 2004

"One thing I liked in the Episcopal church is that every week they would pray for different parishes in the world"
Interesting. When I read that I was struck with the thought that we may have done something like that but if so it was a loooonnnngggg time ago. Sometimes I see a couple people in the back and they're taking notes and stuff. Someone said they're from a different church and they go around to other churches (other religions) and take notes and detail whateverthehellthey'redetailing for their own parish. Too much time on their hands.

WiseFawn

on Apr 27, 2004

I'm not really surprised by the silence. Saddened by it, but not surprised. I'm a Quaker, but attend no Church. But I've read of much money promised by Bush to different religious organizations. I guess I'm a bit jaded. Have you read Mark Twain's The War Prayer?

mikimouse

on Apr 27, 2004

I haven't. Pardon me but what exactly is 'quaker'? I envision an old man holding a pitchfork. Is it a spin-off from another religion?

Molly0597

on Apr 27, 2004

This is kind of strange. My church mentions the war pretty frequently. They basically pray for all of the people involved (Americans, Iraqis, and others) and that political leaders make good decisions and that God is with everyone. Its kind of sad to see that other churches don't. I don't think praying about it has to be conroversial if you just pray for everyone and that it turns out well. That leaves it open to interpretation.

~Molly

MasonM

on Apr 27, 2004

I am a member of a non-denominational Christian church with a large congregation. Since the war started we pray weekly for the soldiers, Iraqi familes, and support peoples in Iraq. We even pray for the enemy. (they're people too)

mikimouse

on Apr 27, 2004

good to know there's some parishes with the moral backbone to speak out loud over it. You don't need to protest, just a prayer for good decisions.

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