The new anthology of prayers published by the White House [under the title Prayers and Proclamations Throughout American History] opens with a myth: the story of English colonists arriving at Cape Henry, near present-day Virginia Beach, who erected a tall wooden cross and consecrated this land to God through prayer.
An event that, according to the book, “underscores how much Christianity, particularly Protestant faith, accompanied the English colonial adventure from its early days.” However, as the text admits later, there is no evidence that this prayer actually took place.
For some historians and religion specialists, the presence of this apocryphal anecdote reflects a broader intent by the Trump administration to leverage the 250th anniversary of the United States to embed the country’s foundation in an explicitly Christian narrative.
Institutional Separation of Religion and State in Question
President Trump has indeed announced various events with a religious tone almost exclusively centered on Christianity, including an operation “America Prays” inviting Americans to gather weekly in groups of ten to pray, and a National Prayer scheduled for May on the National Mall.
Context: The article discusses criticism surrounding the White House’s publication of a prayer anthology.
Fact Check: The text mentions that there is no evidence to support the occurrence of the specific prayer event detailed in the book.
