The invocation for the Sioux Falls City Council in South Dakota was given by an atheist.
The Mayor gave permission for Siouxland Freethinker’s president, Amanda Novotny to open the meeting with a non-theist prayer.
Amanda opened with the benediction:
....but instead of asking those in attendance to bow their heads, she asked them to ” lift your head up and look around. Turn your attention to this room — a room that has heard countless discussions, frustrations, and successes; a room where important decisions regarding your city are routinely made…Think of the hundreds and thousands of others who are also affected by the ideas shared here. Let all voices be heard and understood equally.”
She then read a passage from the good books of Potter. (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), and quoted Professor of Magic, Albus Dumbledore.
“Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”
Novotny concluded with asking ...
those present to join me in showing gratitude to the men and women that serve the great city of Sioux Falls.
It is wonderful that Raw Story is giving this prayer national coverage.
http://www.rawstory.com/...
If the courts are going to expand the influence of religion, it is time to give free thinkers the status of churches.
Here are links to the Siouxland Freethinkers.
http://www.meetup.com/...
http://www.pinterest.com/...
https://twitter.com/...