Conservative megachurch pastor Rick Warren provided the invocation for the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States. In his prayer, Warren testified that the Lord is One, pleaded for forgiveness when we fight each other, and closed the name of "the One who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus [prounounced 'hay-sooss' as in Spanish], Jesus [prounounced 'jee-zuss' as in English]"
"Yeshua" is a hebrew name popularly believed to be equivalent to the name Jesus. (Actually the correct hebrew name for Jesus is probably closer to "Yehoshua" which is often translated into English as Joshua.) "Isa" is the Arabic name for Jesus. So with these names Warren specifically addresses Jews and Muslims.
By using the spanish pronunciation of Jesus (though the compound name "jesucristo" is probably more common when referring to Jesus Christ as opposed to other people named Jesus,) Warren is reaching out to latinos, perhaps especially Roman Catholics. About 70% of the US hispanic population identify themselves as Catholic.
John Williams provided a musical composition entitled "Air and Simple Gifts" performed by Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Itzhak Perlman (violin), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet). This instrumental peice is based on religious themes: The main theme is easily recognized as Elder Joseph Brackett's Shaker dance song "Simple Gifts", but before this theme was introduced I'm pretty sure I also heard the tune "Old 100th" which is used in several hymns, but which I most associate with the single verse "Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow."
Obama, in his address explicitly mentioned the usual trinity of American religions: Christians, Muslims and Jews, adding Hindus and a slightly mumbled recognition of nonbelievers. It would be difficult to properly express the diversity of American religion in a 20 minute speech, but with so much press attention on the problems of Israel and the Muslim world, at least we can remember that people are not defined only by which side they are expected to take in each violent conflict.
1 comment:
I felt Rick Warren's prayer was a perfect fit with Barack Obama's inaugural speech. Warren's words seemed to be about all of us, for all of us. I can't ask for more.
Moments after the speech I was instant messaging my wife. I said Warren was great, then added "you what I call people who don't like his prayer?"
Haters.
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