Prayer, Fasting and Converts

Well, I suppose that if your main purpose is indeed to convert folks to Christianity, then purposely not inviting people of other faiths to your event is counter productive. From Sarah Posner, at Religion Dispatches:

Right Wing Watch reports that the spokesperson for The Response, Texas Governor Rick Perry's August prayerfest, admits that the event is intended to convert people to Christianity.

Eric Bearse, the event's spokesperson, took to American Family Radio to counter critics' charges that it was an exclusively Christian event, but said that "anyone who comes to this solemn assembly regardless of their faith tradition or background, will feel the love, grace, and warmth of Jesus Christ in that assembly hall, in that arena. And that’s what we want to convey, that there’s acceptance and that there’s love and that there’s hope if people will seek out the living Christ."

People for the American Way president Michael Keegan says Bearse's statement disproves Perry's claim that the event will be open to people of all faiths, and that his "behavior is inappropriate for any public official, much less one who is weighing a run for the presidency."

I maintain that if this event is not well attended, it will mark a serious stain on Gov. Perry’s yet unannounced bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Even as he tries to distance himself from the hoopla. The emphasis is mine:

Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is widely expected to announce a presidential campaign later this month, plans to attend at a prayer and fasting event called "The Response" on Saturday despite criticism that the event inappropriately mixes religion and politics.

Perry's representatives said the governor will be at the event for the entire, seven-hour duration.

Perry himself has played down his involvement, saying at one point, "I may be ushering, for all I know."

Not to say that ushering is not a very important way to participate in religious worship, mind you.

For anyone wishing to counter Gov. Perry’s prayer and fasting event in Houston this weekend, there are many alternative events to attend. Check here!