What's wrong is that it is one more indication that our nation is drifting from its Judeo-Christian roots, which nonetheless remain enshrined in the biblical symbolism that abounds in the hallowed halls and rotunda of the Capitol building itself. One need look no further than the 23 marble relief portraits of noted lawgivers on the north wall of the House Chamber to realize that our priceless heritage of Western civilization is derived from the Bible. Every time they convene, our elected representatives are reminded of the roots of our civilization. And while it is true that the United States of America was founded on the sacred principle of religious freedom for all, this liberty was never intended to exalt other religions to the level that Christianity holds in our country's heritage. They would have found utterly incredible the idea that all religions, including paganism, be treated with equal deference.
Many people today confuse traditional Western religious tolerance with religious pluralism.
The former embraces biblical truth while allowing for freedom of conscience, while the latter assumes all religions are equally valid, resulting in moral relativism and ethical chaos. The Saudi Arabian government has gone so far as to demand that American expatriates cease gathering for religious services in their private compounds under threat of expulsion. In fact, much of the world lives under the ruthless control of atheistic or religious authoritarian governments that only pay lip service to the idea of religious toleration. To honor America's Judeo-Christian heritage with prayer in the House and Senate does not denigrate other religions. To the contrary, it is precisely our Christian heritage that provides the basis for genuine toleration for all.