The Freedom From Religion Foundation is at it again, this time unconscionably attacking UW-Whitewater because a campus religious organization sent out an email invitation for a prayer vigil for Staff Sgt. Amy Krueger who was killed in the shootings at Fort Hood. Krueger was a psychology major at Whitewater.
FFRF, once again, has spoken out against a freedom that is guaranteed by the Constitution, and they spoke out in a way and at a time that shows their true colors at their darkest.
FFRF went ballistic over the word “prayer” in the campus email and immediately penned a frigid letter to UW-Whitewater chastising them, completely forgetting (or not even seeing to begin with) that a young lady had just died.
FFRF’s Annie Gaylor engaged in her traditional kindergarten tactics, bullying the UW with the implication that the UW must change the wording of “prayer vigil” to “memorial service.”
UW-Madison’s Badger Herald calls FFRF a “nontheism” group, which is a laugh. FFRF is anti-theist. A non-theist would graciously and maturely decline religion and mind their own business without being offended by every religious icon, word and practice.
FFRF is not content with taking the stance that religion is a non-entity to them. No, they go much further, turning their personal opinions on religion into a public vendetta in the hopes that they can wipe religion off the map. (One wonders what “injustice” they’d entertain themselves with then?)
The audacious attempt to restrict the mourners at UW-Whitewater is the height of self-centeredness, completely lacking in compassion, love, integrity and goodwill towards Amy Krueger, her family and the staff and students of UW-Whitewater. At a time calling for humanity’s kindness, FFRF answers with an egregious display of narcissism.
Deep down inside, I think FFRF knows that a moment of silence or a sanitized memorial service can never substitute for prayer. Which is why they try to do it, because they know there is power in prayer. Which would admit there is a God. Which gets back to what FFRF is most fearful of and the reason for all their actions.
Prayer can never be a “moment of silence” because prayer is never without sound. Prayer, contrary to what many people might want to believe, is not “silencing the mind.” Prayer is alive and active as we cry out to God and listen to His words back to us. In times of tragedy, God hears our very heartbreak through prayer, even when we don’t know what to pray.
Romans 8:26-27 tells us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.” This is not passive silence--as if one can silence inner heartbreak! The fact that FFRF thinks a sanitized memorial is possible only shows how ignorant of prayer and the human and Holy Spirit they are.
Prayer will continue to offend and set off agendas. And the powers of darkness will continue to roam the earth looking for people to silence. However, Jesus Himself, in Luke 19:40, gives us this assurance, “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
“I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer." Psalm 6:6-9
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