"And when you pray....."  (Matt 6:5)

Here's the thing with AD....Christians were in charge of the world and decided for everyone else that the Calendar should be based on what they claimed was the birth of the Christ.  Most scholars reject that arbitrary date as well as it's association with the Jewish founder of a new religion.  Christians choose to remain arbitrary rather than to call the current date CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before the Common Era).  The most radical religion has been Christianity, forcing people to convert, killing people who didn't agree with the teachings of the religion, and claiming the world for Christ.  None of it was pretty and their claims of persecution are tiny in comparison---except for when they persecuted their own.  Once the Original Church began to break into smaller denominations, the persecution began in earnest!  The main reason so many Christians came here for religious freedom was because they were being persecuted in their own countries by Christian denominations that had power over what they could believe, how they could pray and any number of differences (ie The Puritans).  So, if you think you are different in wanting control over this country's belief system---SURPRISE, you are just following in your ancestors' belief in the Christian right to control everything from government to what denominations would be allowed.  And your persecutions began with the Jews, just didn't stop there.   What did Jesus say about praying in ANY way in public places?  Don't know?   I can tell you and you can look it up:  Matt:6:5  "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites because they love to stand and pray in PUBLIC places so that they may be seen by others.  Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.  But, whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."  Please note that Jesus does not tell you to pray to him or in his name---but he tells you to pray to God who is the Father of all men...this includes Jews, Muslims, other Christians you don't agree with and all people---but you do not have the right to impose your prayers or the way you pray on ANYONE.  If there is going to be prayer in public, it should be silent prayer so that all can pray in the way they choose!