And I didn't get the "hosts were too perky" vibe, I think they were a bit happy to see the place so FULL. There were people in the RAFTERS! Up where you probably need supplemental oxygen!
From my vantage point in the arena I thought Scott in particular had way too wide of a grin on his face much of the time. Except when he had his head bowed and was going on and on and on.
That would have been difficult given so many faiths and those not of a religious faith. People who could accept Scott's prayer, did. People who didn't, likely didn't bow their head and were respectful. This is a country with freedom of speech and freedom of religion. We can respect everyone especially during a time of mourning during which people tend to turn toward their God, or some type of hope.
Yeah, this is all true, but I felt Scott overdid it. You can express your faith, share how you are mourning, without going on and on. There are also ways to do this that are more inclusive, but as others have said, that is evidently not how Scott would think of it. He could have offered a short prayer that made clear his faith and asked us for a moment of silence.
And the song that followed his prayer was Imagine by John Lennon, including imagine there is no heaven, hell or religion. I didn't get upset about that. It represented the beliefs of some people and the show was designed to represent as many people as possible.
Sometimes people are just skating to a song because they like the music. And sometimes people like the music when they say they like the song and maybe they’re not thinking too much about the words. I love Hallelujah, but it’s the music not the words.
You can reply with your thoughts, with no debate from me.
That was a very emotional show and I hope the participants gained some closure and healing. I definitely sobbed during a few of the performances, especially max with the scob skaters.
Regarding the prayer, as someone who is not Christian I found it incredibly inappropriate. I actually went back and listened so that I wasn’t just mad in the heat of the moment. Faith and spirituality is beautiful, and especially the community it brings together. It’s why the Ava Maria stuff does not bother me. That was the skaters expressing their own faith with no expectation that others need to also believe the same.
The issue with Scott’s prayer is that it is extremely non inclusive. He starts it with “our lord, our god, our savior” “to be absent with the body is to be present with the lord” he used a lot of we statements and that again makes the assumption that a 20,000 person arena shares his beliefs. It’s just disrespectful. it also just went on way too long. It also makes assumptions that all the families and people in mourning share his beliefs. There’s ways of showing faith that does not proselytize.
This. It was like he assumed that everyone else shared his faith. If you are speakng or preaching at a funeral service, that may be valid. In a setting like this? That’s a no from me.
I really enjoyed the show except for the very bright light that was shining into my eyes the whole entire time. I did not enjoy fighting my way through the crowds, but I am glad the show was so well attended.
About Max, it may sound corny, but I thought the sense of love from the audience raining down on him as he knelt, crying, after he finished, was palpable and amazing. Made me cry just a little bit.
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www.kendrascott.com
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