Posted on 01/22/2017 10:17:21 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
A Hindu priest was among various religious leaders who offered prayers at the National Prayer Service of US President Donald Trump on January 21.
This is probably the first time a Hindu priest has been called for services at the national prayer service of the presidential inauguration.
Narayanachar L. Digalakota from the popular Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, Maryland offered prayers at the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral.
Digalakota was joined by by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Priest Bishop Harry Jackson, and Carlyle Begay to offer prayers for those who govern.
The tradition of an inaugural National Prayer Service dates back to the first inauguration of George Washington. Since 1933, more than seven such inaugural services have taken place at the Washington National Cathedral.
The US president and vice-president attended the service which included hymns, readings, and prayers.
Earlier, Trump has praised Hindu community’s “fantastic” contributions to world civilisation and American culture.
“We look forward to celebrating our shared values of free enterprise, hard work, family values, and a strong American foreign policy,” Trump had said in a statement.
He has also said, “The Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House.”
Trump has also been all priase to PM Modi and has said that he is doing great. Trump expects to strengthen and expand US’ relationship with India. The Indo-US bilateral relations blossomed under president Obama and PM Modi has done his bit to drive the relationship further.
Hindus hate Muslims, so it’s all good.
and a good number of them supported Trump!
The service’ s largest quotient was Evangelical pastors and Christian speakers.....like David Jeremiah, Cissy Graham ( Franklin Graham’s daughter), etc
An energized choir and the highlight ( for me and Melania) was this sweet little girl, maybe in her teens, who sang How Great Thou Art!
This young lady has cerebral palsy and is blind....and sang like an angel.....beautiful voice!
Melania was moved to tears and stood up immediately to give her a standing ovation.
Probably?
Definitely a poke in the eye to Muslims. Hindus supported Trump. I know ‘cause I live among them in my neighborhood and saw the lawn signs. Good people, good neighbors but too cheap and given to haggling annoyingly at Macy’s.
It was day without muslims.
Thank God.
I had to look him up online after the service to see who had that lovely painted forehead and ponytail!
This is actually a very tricky thing to do, because it is not just about the major religions, but the major sects of religions. And the conservative sects of religions.
Even the Roman Catholics are problematic, based on which of their leaders you invite. A more conservative one may turn it down, because he knows the leftist ones would put a target on his back.
The Anglican’s US branch, the Episcopalians, are out of sorts with the majority of Anglicans, who now live in Africa. To invite one of the very powerful African leaders would be a huge snub to the liberal Americans.
Evangelicals are easier, because of Franklin Graham and his very strong connections to the White House from his father. And like his father, he is a steadfast conservative and a crowd pleaser.
If you *have* to invite a Muslim, they do not need to be either Sunni or Shiite. Instead a Sufi, the more mystical branch of Islam, that believes in *internalizing* Islam, not in attacking others, at least in modern times. The real reason for this choice is an odd one.
Most Imams in Sunni Islam, the great majority of Muslims, are trained by the ultra-violent Wahhabi sect, which also controls the mosques in Saudi Arabia. There, they lust to overthrow the Saud, and proclaim Saudi a religious state, like a Sunni version of Shiite Iran.
But when they make too much fuss, the Saud threaten to take their mosques away, and turn them over to the Sufi sect. This threat makes the Wahhabis shake in their boots, so they behave themselves.
For Hinduism, President Trump made a good choice, which will get India’s attention.
Chinese popular religion (pagan) is a very large, but mostly unfamiliar religion to Americans. It has about 400 million followers. But if a respected leader of this was brought out, there is no way China would censor it.
Buddhism is a good one, because if you pick the right sect, you will get attention from India through Japan.
Sikhism can become unified behind a POTUS quickly, if you offer them some respect, mostly in business and the military. When one Sikh was allowed in the US Army after a long hiatus (created by Reagan of all people), and graduated from his service school, Sikhs were celebrating nationwide.
Other big contenders include the Orthodox Christian churches, and it would make a big splash if this included a Russian Orthodox priest. But you would want a “consolidated” representative from all the Orthodox.
Which Orthodox Jewish to invite is going to be a humdinger to figure out. They may very likely need to come over from Israel.
Native American Religion should be selected based on the Christian versions, often Fundamentalist Christian in orientation.
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