NDR Media Coverage

Atheist Rally Follows Prayer Service
National Day of Differences

by Richard Fellinger, Harrisburg Bureau

Contrasting events marked the National Day of Prayer in Harrisburg yesterday as York County atheists rallied after a lunchtime prayer service on the front steps of the Capitol.

The prayer service was the better attended of the two events, attracting 150 to 200 people -- many of whom sang and waved their arms to the music.

The atheist rally -- billed as part of a National Day of Reason -- drew about 20 members of the York County-based Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, who claim roughly 300 members in the midstate.

The nation's leaders and their stance on prayer were discussed at each event, not surprisingly from different perspectives.

At the prayer service, the Rev. Charles Stock of Life Center Ministries in suburban Harrisburg said he is thankful for a president who has publicly stated that he begins each day with a prayer.

Stock urged the crowd to thank God for "his abundant mercies toward us" and added, "He is not a Republican or Democrat, but he is a king."

Stock also said he was thankful for "the merciful and swift war in Iraq."

David Martin, senior pastor at Hershey Free Church, told the crowd that "the ultimate terrorist is the devil himself."

"He has hijacked the world. Let's not let him hijack the church," Martin said.

State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware, who helped organize the prayer service, called the National Day of Prayer an opportunity to "just have a little talk with Jesus."

Kirkland urged the crowd to pray for the downtrodden, youth, their families and their leaders.

"And most of all, let us pray for peace," he said.

Different view: The atheists kicked off their event with what Steve Neubauer of Mount Wolf described as "the original, uncorrupted" Pledge of Allegiance. It ended with "one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Liz Burcin of York, founder of Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, said the group wanted to focus on "reason and science" as opposed to worshipping "some invisible, supernatural being." She and other speakers criticized President Bush and other government officials who publicly endorse prayer.

"The millions of atheists and other nonbelievers in this country are tired of being marginalized and left out," Burcin said. "We want government to stay out of religion and religion to stay out of government, period."

Neubauer said, "When our elected officials -- notice I didn't say leaders -- tell us we need to pray, we know that either they are clueless or they think we are."

Copyright 2003 MediaNews Group, Inc. and York Newspaper Company

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