Delicate subject. A person I think of as a friend re-posted an Andy Rooney piece about praying at the opening of a football game. Rooney’s for it. His argument is that America is a Christian nation, founded as such, with a majority of the population Christian. And followers of Christ should be allowed, possibly even encouraged, to pray publicly before a game. No one should be able to stop them, and if anyone doesn’t like it, they should go to the restroom, the concession stand, or put on their earphones.

While it is true that the vast majority of early-generation Americans were Christian, the conflicts between various Protestant sects and, more explosively, between Protestants and Catholics, present an unavoidable contradiction to the widely held notion that America is a “Christian nation.” In fact, the Constitution doesn’t mention God or a deity, and its first amendment forbids Congress from making laws that would infringe on the free exercise of religion and attests to the founders’ resolve that America be a secular republic.

James Madison’s position was that “Religion must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.” He made a point that the government sanction of a religion was, in essence, a threat to religion. “Who does not see,” he wrote, “that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects?” These principles keep the Evangelicals from deciding that Episcopalians aren’t Christian enough for their taste.

I don’t remember reading anything about prayer being banned anywhere at any time. I think it’s still your right to pray whenever you like with no fear of being told to stop. You can pray, I believe, standing, sitting, kneeling–out loud or to yourself. No one will stop you. There are no angry atheists ready to jump on you and stifle your right to religious freedom. No jailtime, no fines, no public censure, nothing. Pray all you like.

Here’s the thing: This country was founded by folks looking to get out of debtor’s prison, granted. But many of them were also looking for religious freedom. That meant the freedom to NOT be subjected to any particular religion, or any religion at all if that was their choice. Freedom of religion and freedom from religion.

And another thing: Why are we praying at a football game? Do we pray at the start of a golf match or a tennis tournament or an Olympic swim meet? Isn’t praying something people of faith do at church? And in moments of desperation or illness or imminent death? Or before meals or at bedtime? Andy admits that when he was taught to pray. Why is he taking a stand over his right to pray at a football game, and why are so many joining him, many of whom probably wouldn’t go to a game even if we weren’t in Pandemic land?

I’m looking for logic in the face of religious zeal, and I realize the fruitlessness of that. But I still don’t think I should have to go to the bathroom, the concession stand or put earphones on so you can have a prayer said over the public address system. Pray if you want. I’m fine with that. Just don’t make me do it, too. Why is that idea so un-American?