I would suggest that THEY step outside to say their prayers as this is a government function and not a church. Of course you would be wasting your time.

It always amazes me that some Christians, especially those in office, forget at just how adamant the founding fathers were in the separation of church and state.

You could contact the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the ACLU. They will be able to give you the information you need to defend your position and challenge theirs. Good luck!

Quote Matthew to them and then express your concerns about meeting with a group of hypocrites and blasphemers...

Matthew 6:5-6 New International Version (NIV)
Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Consider making a video, every time they do their prayers. That ALONE should tell them you've taken a stand! FFRF will be glad to help! And...good luck!

"Because others do it..." is not an argument for anything.

Any pragmatist would suggest saving your breath. If you really want to oppose it try a 'letter to the editor'.

Not sure if any of my arguments would work, but people are free to pray, sing, pledge, handle snakes and roll on the floor about any time the 'spirit' moves them as long as they don't interfere with others' rights to be free of the nonsense by imposing it on them.

The business of a 'town hall', or for that matter even athletic events, is the PURPOSE for the gathering. My suggestion is and has always been for them to merely publish an actual meeting/event start time and a pre-meeting ritual start time that allows ritual participants adequate time and freedom to babble in or out of tongues, sing, pledge or anything else on the pre-meeting agenda. It is a win:win.

The theological fanatics wishing to use any and all gatherings to aggrandize themselves by taking turns at the 'invocations' will fight it tooth and nail because it's viewed as good exposure - advertizing for their respective congregations. If you are in a community of civilized people who are fair minded and who are closeted objectors too, it might make some progress.

By announcing two times it shows recognition and respect for their craziness while providing those who are there for 'business' an opportunity to get to it without squirming through a bunch of superstitious hoo haa.

Contact the Freedom From Religion Foundation. They will likely send a letter pointing out that this is illegal. Most towns back off, as they always lose if it goes to suit.

Well...from the brief google search I just did...you are both right. Seems the Supreme Court ruled about a decade ago that it was ok...but also ruled against schools organizing prayer type functions. Of course the Supreme Court upheld slavery at one time, and other injustices, that were only changed once people in general got their heads out of their colons. I don't give too much moral or justice credence to them. Seems they typically just rubber stamp whatever is in the governments interest at the time.

I would do some research, possibly reach out to the ACLU or similar organizations to get knowledgeable legal input. I would also see about recruiting other religious organizations to come in and pray (wiccians, Jewish Rabbis, Native American Shamans, Satanists, etc). From what I can tell, they can do it, but can't only allow certain religions (Christians) while refusing others (Muslim Imans).

On another note, how important is this issue to you. You might be right and get it blocked, but at what cost to your ability to chime in on other topics. While it shouldn't matter, we all know that if you raise a ruckus on this, all the Bibe-thumpers will ignore you on anything and everything else you might say going forward.

I agree with another comment here.call the church of satan. They will send a priest out to say a satanic prayer before the hall. You won't BELIEVE how quickly they will change the guidelines on praying before once that happens. Hell, if your close to Minnesota, I may do it for you. Getting the paper work to be a member of the s.t. is pretty easy, I hear.

You might begin by asking if people of all religions are welcome to our town hall or only Christians. Presumably they will indicate that, yes, all religions are welcome. In that case suggest that different religious leaders come in and lead the prayers of their respective religions. In my experience that is usually rejected and the explanation is usually something like "We simply prefer Christian prayers because most of us are Christians". To insist that, in oder to make all religions feel welcome, we should do prayers in as many different religions as people can be found to represent those religions. People frequently become pretty defensive at allowing prayers in different religions but, as an exercise, it (hopefully) demonstrates the religious bias so many people have. It might even demonstrate that religion really has no place in a town hall meeting. - Just a thought.

Freedom from religion takes on those types of issues. [ffrf.org]

Bring a rug and start praying 5x a day see if they like that.

Save your breath! You would probably get into a bit of a mess with these guys as rationale isn't the strong suit. Even going outside will cause problems. If you want peace and quiet in that area probably best to keep go along and think your own thoughts while the prayers are happening. Principles are all very well but one has to be aware of responses to them and are we happy to live with any fallout.

You should say you've had a change of heart and ask to lead a prayer. Then use some really offensive Bible quote to support something really offensive. Something like
"Today, Lord, give us the strength to stand against even our own family when they sin. For, as Leviticus 21:9 tells us - 'A priest’s daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death.'"

Check out [evilbible.com]

Or not. I probably wouldn't be that brave. ?

I don't say the pledge at city Planning Commission meetings though the insist on saying it. I do stand but say nothing or put my hand on chest. I can tell it makes some uncomfortable but so does that mindless pledge to a piece of cloth.

I have found the Freedom From Relgion group, based in Madison, to be quite helpful in these matters.

In the US Congress I believe "prayers/blessings" can be of any faith or no faith.

If they stipulate that only Christians need apply that is a problem.

I think you should write an atheist creed that asserts your rights that you can recite during prayer time. If people don't like it they can stop praying and you will too.

You might suggest that once or twice a year they invite a humanist chaplain or celebrant to give a humanistic evocation, offering inspirational words of wisdom enshrining human values and ethics.

Perhaps back up any suggestions or complaints about the Christian prayers by providing up to date statistics of your town or county to show that some percentage of the citizens they serve should be included rather than offended by the worship of a supernatural deity. Humanistic prayers are all inclusive and non-offensive, as they address, well, humans, who in turn can pray to their god if desired, or inspired.

Save your breath .

One thing I have done in the past is to just act totally incredulous when some religious beliefs or stories are told. For example, once I heard about this guy at work who gave most of his money away because he thought the rapture was coming. The person who told the group I was in acted almost embarrassed telling it. I'd heard stories like that before but I acted stunned and said they must be lieing, that no one could be that dumb. I finally acted convinced and made a point of saying that religion makes people think the strangest things. Then I kept bringing it up - "but I still can't believe they really gave their money away! That's just absurd!"
The point is to make them feel included in the realization of how ridiculous a lot of it is. Like - "so, you're Catholic? Do people really believe that transmogrification stuff? Isn't that kinda like magic?".

Just thought of something else. Call the Satanists.
They LOVE this kind of stuff and would probably file suit to have their
prayers said at meetings, too.
They have been extremely successful at beating the "christians" at their
own game. They might just be a really good ally in this fight.

With all considerations, nonbelievers were not included in the constitution and it would be even more disrespectful to force the religious rules on them. furthermore, it is impossible not to offend a different religious cult especially when there is a specific religious rule are forced upon them. An example is forcing a Jewish person to honor a demigod or a Cristian to observe the rules of Hanukkah.