How should Christians participate in a public civic memorial or ceremony where there is public ‘prayer’ provided by leaders of the other religions?

A civic or memorial ceremony organised by a religiously neutral body in the wake of a tragedy (e.g. the Silkair jetliner crash in 1997) is an act that fosters social solidarity as the tragedy affects many people. Such ceremonies draw family members, relatives, friends and citizens together to mourn the deaths of the innocent victims.

The basis of such a gathering is human solidarity in a time of crisis or in the wake of a tragic event. It is the recognition that this crisis or tragedy has affected every member of society, regardless of race and religious convictions. The purpose of the gathering is to reflect on what has happened, to mourn with those who have lost their lives, and to express sorrow, faith and hope (through the use of religious language and symbolic gestures). Christians may attend such events because they are part of the larger society.

Such civic rituals, while they may not be inter-faith religious services as described in Issue 9 above, usually involve prayer. For Christians, corporate prayer is seen as part of worship liturgy to God and as such they cannot offer prayers on the same platform as with members of other faith communities. However, Christians join their fellow citizens in such a time of tragedy and at the appropriate time may pray silently to God who hears these prayers (cf. Matthew 6:6).