Let’s Not Do Breakfast

by | April 14, 2015

The National Prayer Breakfast held in Ottawa is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the slogan “50 Years of Making a Difference,” which is an extraordinary claim unaccompanied by any extraordinary evidence. The “Purpose of the National Prayer Breakfast” makes an extraordinary claim,

The purpose of the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast is to call men and women to God, and then to entrust them with the application of what it means to live out God’s grace as leaders. The Prayer Breakfast is not a lobby group . . . instead there is a trust in the workings of God, that as we love and pray for one another, the Holy Spirit will work in our lives to help us grow as women and men who love mercy, seek justice and humbly walk with God.

which has all the characteristics of Christian propaganda. However,

The annual National Prayer Breakfast is a Christ-centered but not just a Christian event. It does not seek to convert people to Christianity. Rather, the aim is simply to meet in the spirit of Jesus and pray together. This means that we seek to love those around us just as Jesus loved those who were around him. It is recognized that Jesus is at the center of our event when we share a spirit, which is both welcoming and compassionate.

The “Purpose” page goes on to assure Canadians that the Prayer Breakfast is “non-partisan,” but Bob Zimmer, who is chairing the Breakfast, is a Conservative MP whose 2014 Christmas card included “some timeless words” from the Christian bible.

For 50 years “men and women from differing backgrounds [have been gathering] together with our elected public officials to pray in the spirit of Jesus Christ for Canada.” This nonsense has to stop! Elected officials need to stop acting as if The Lord, or God or Jesus is their shepherd. Members of parliament were elected by the people of Canada; they were not elected by the spirit of Jesus Christ. Their position was not announced by “white smoke,” but decided by the number of people who voted for them in the spirit of democracy.

Members of parliament who gather in the spirit of Jesus Christ or any other spiritual being are not adhering to their contract with Canadians:

to conduct him-or herself in the best interests of the country. The oath or solemn affirmation reminds a Member of the serious obligations and responsibilities he or she is assuming.

Although Christians vote, they are not the only voters. Attendance at the National Prayer Breakfast is not in the best interests of the country.

10 thoughts on “Let’s Not Do Breakfast

  1. PatG

    Exactly how can it be “Christ-centered” but not “just Christian”?

    Reply
  2. Tim Underwood

    These homo-erotic breakfasts come down to us from Roman Empire days.

    The last of the Flavian emperors, Domitian, was in total control of the seven churches mentioned in the New Testament’s Book of Revelations’. His preferred title was ‘Lord God’ and one can imagine the gay priests lavishing praise on this ancient deity impersonator. The atmosphere would be filled with anointing ejaculations.

    I read about this little appreciated Roman history from the times when the ‘Revelations of John’ were being composed, in a book entitled ‘Shakespeare’s Secret Messiah’.

    Maybe this breakfast could be integrated with a Gay Pride extravaganza as this might reduce the impact of the inevitable homophobic scriptural referencing.

    Reply
    1. Mary Paulin

      From the National Prayer Breakfast website (“http://canadaprayerbreakfast.ca/):”The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual ecumenical event offered under the auspices of the Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons and organized by a group of dedicated volunteers.”

      Why on earth does the Canadian public know so little of this Christian event? I haven’t been able to find a list of people who have attended one.

      Perhaps it is just as well that these breakfasts get no coverage, in comparison with the American one, but I would like to know what business the Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons have in supporting such an event. Is the Canadian taxpayer paying for it?

      Let the Christians have their day of prayer any time they choose, but please leave the government of Canada out of it.

      Reply
  3. Diane Garlick

    So disappointing to learn that the US isn’t the only one with a national prayer breakfast.

    Reply
    1. Mary Paulin

      At least we don’t have to hear about it ad nauseum. But not sure that’s a good thing in the end. Very questionable roster of speakers.

      Reply
  4. Debbie Underwood

    So, Parliament had a prayer breakfast, good for them. In my opinion there isn’t enough mercy and justice in this world. If people believe Jesus was a good example of love and service good for them. We need more good role models in this world. Regardless of whether or not you accept Christianity, we all have a need for posiitive role models in this world.
    The story of Jesus was a historical story, regardless of who wrote it and why.
    The gospels contain a variety of history, myth, and ancient wisdom. We still learn and appreciate Greek mythology so why not Christianity.

    Reply
    1. Theo Bromine

      The Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast (which I have attended) is not about learning and appreciating Christian Mythology and culture, it is actually a religious event. Though it is no longer held on Parliament Hill, it is still government supported since an MP and their staff (salaried from tax revenues) work on it, and the communications are sent out as postage-free official government communications. They claim to be “open to all, in the spirit of Jesus Christ”, but attempts by non-religious organizations such as CFI Canada to participate have been soundly rebuffed. (As for the historical story of Jesus, there is disagreement about this among serious historians and scholars – see for example https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BgmHqjblsPw#t=420

      Reply

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