Have we graduated from God?
I recently attended the graduation ceremonies for a family member the other day. The event took place the other day at one of Southern California’s leading universities. It was reported that nearly 50,000 were in attendance at the event.
The two hour program began with the color guard marching in, followed by a beautiful rendition of our national anthem. Then we watched the students file in preceded by the banners for their various schools – engineering, communications, humanities, etc. Most eyes were on the big screens located around the grounds, since it was impossible to pick out a particular graduate from the several thousands of students dressed in their caps and gowns. It was a thrill, nonetheless, and brought back memories of my graduation over half-a-century ago.
After the procession was finished, the invocation was delivered. I was saddened by what was said or, more specifically, what was not said. I understand an invocation to mean a calling on God, at the beginning of an activity, for help, inspiration and guidance. In short, it is a formal prayer. The person delivering the invocation, one who was high up in the college of religious studies, read from prepared notes. He spoke of this being a time of gratitude, of grace, and to be ready to use one’s gifts. But, not once was there a mention of God. The only indication that this was an invocation rather than a brief opening speech was when he said “Amen” at the end. If we were to be grateful for the grace and the gifts, where did these things come from other than God?
It can be argued that God was implied and that no student or attendee would be offended if there was no direct connection to God. So, concern for the few ended up stepping on the beliefs of the many. Agnostics and atheists may wish the invocation was eliminated altogether, so striking God from the opening prayer does little to win their favor. Those from religions not believing in the Judeo-Christian concept of God must surely understand this is an American custom – just as we would respect and understand if we were in another country in which traditions and beliefs differed from ours.
I remember a few years back, “Prince” changed his name to “The Performer Formerly Known as Prince.” Is this happening to God? Have we become so tolerant, so sensitive, so concerned about what we think others might think that we are afraid to refer to God by his name? Unless we speak out, traditions such as referring to God in a graduation invocation will continue to vanish. And, with the devaluation of these once time-honored traditions goes the heritage bestowed on this nation by our forefathers. We pre-boomers can’t let this happen.
Tags:agnostics,atheists,attendee,color guard,engineering communications,family member,gowns,graduation ceremonies,gratitude,half a century,humanities,invocation,national anthem,opening prayer,opening speech,procession,religions,religious studies,rendition,schools engineering
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