# COVID-19 3/15/2020: The President calls for National Day of Prayer **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 15, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541 "2020-03-15T17:15:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/21 "2020-03-15T18:42:38Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I smell Pence’s stank all over this. Please, God, smite them both. NOW, damn it! ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/22 "2020-03-15T18:43:46Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > What if even Satan thinks he’s an asshole? Just reviewed the Seven Deadly Sins and, wow, does Trump embody each and every one of them. It’s amazing! He’s like the champion of them. I know they’re extra-biblical and all, but jeez. Anyway, sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/23 "2020-03-15T18:47:30Z")
I used to pray when I was a youth. I never prayed when I was happy and secure in myself. No, I always prayed when I was anxious and helpless-feeling. I don’t want my country’s leadership to let me know they are anxious and helpless-feeling. They can go into their closets and pray, if they feel so moved. But don’t waste time making it a “thing”. I’m not paying them to pray. I’m paying them to use their brains to come up with earthly solutions. This is infuriating. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/24 "2020-03-15T18:48:14Z")
Praying to the god that sent this pestilence for mercy is like begging the person who is robbing your house to please leave behind one of your precious heirlooms. Fuck that. I’d rather try to kick Him in the balls and then hold Him down until the cops arrive. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/25 "2020-03-15T18:52:53Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > What makes you think God wants him back? I’ve always been under the impression that Christianity teaches that God loves everyone. Here’s an excellent chance to prove it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/26 "2020-03-15T18:58:56Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > I’ve always been under the impression that Christianity teaches that God loves everyone. Here’s an excellent chance to prove it. God may love him. Doesn’t mean He wants him anywhere near. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/27 "2020-03-15T19:22:33Z")
My first thought was how incredibly silly this proclamation is. Then I remembered all of the prayers that I have said over the past week regarding the pandemic. Then I thought how incredibly silly this proclamation is. Those of us who are inclined to turn to prayer in a time of crisis have already done so. A proclamation is nothing but election P.R. for the president. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/28 "2020-03-15T20:09:18Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > How, exactly? This could impress on his followers that he thinks it’s serious now. That COULD make a difference if it gets them to do distancing and stuff they wouldn’t have done otherwise. …That’s all I’ve got. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/29 "2020-03-15T20:11:33Z")
Pandering. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/30 "2020-03-15T20:18:50Z")
A praying mantis makes an excellent symbol now. Beseech a deity for a _coup de grâce_. Lord have mercy! ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/31 "2020-03-15T20:20:52Z")
Strongly recommend this as an alternative to prayer. It is long and detailed and makes an overwhelming case for shutting down all non-essential business (including schools, colleges, family visits) today and not tomorrow to get R below 1. > **[Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now](https://tomaspueyo.medium.com/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca)** > > Politicians and Business Leaders: What Should You Do and When? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/32 "2020-03-15T20:27:43Z")
My parents are the most prayerful people I know. And I know they’ve prayed about this COVID-19 thing. But they haven’t modified their behavior any. They have been being gambling at casinos and going out to eat and shopping at big box stores for things they don’t need. They have all the risk factors, including old age. But Jesus is handling everything. He’s got everything in control so they don’t have to do anything. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/33 "2020-03-15T20:36:29Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > My parents are the most prayerful people I know. And I know they’ve prayed about this COVID-19 thing. > > But they haven’t modified their behavior any. They have been being gambling at casinos and going out to eat and shopping at big box stores for things they don’t need. > > They have all the risk factors, including old age. But Jesus is handling everything. He’s got everything in control so they don’t have to do anything. > > Ugh. Well, the thing is, stuff didn’t go so great for Jesus, ya know… Who was _handling things_ for him? ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/34 "2020-03-15T20:53:59Z")
> [@el\_kabong](#): > > i’m not the prayin’ kind, but if i were, i’d be praying that god would consider taking home our fucking pinhead of a so-called “president”. aaaayyyyy—mennnnn!!! ~vow ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/35 "2020-03-15T21:44:02Z")
Dear Baby Lord Jesus, I understand You smiting those godless communists in China and those Muslims in Iran. I even understand smiting the socialists papists in Italy. But now, Baby Jesus, you’re smiting God-fearing Americans and causing pain and suffering to your instrument on here on Earth, Donald Trump. His electoral chances are falling with each passing day. So, please, Baby Jesus, could you find it in Your heart to spare us, especially Donald Trump, his family, and of course, Mike Pence? Amen. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/36 "2020-03-15T21:48:23Z")
Remember, this is the guy who dropped the s-bomb at the National Prayer Breakfast a little over a month ago. He’s not going to say it but he’s the most religious guy he knows. Nobody’s more religious than him. That’s what people tell him. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/37 "2020-03-15T22:13:59Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > We could get together and yell at God through prayer. That will make us all feel better. > > Our Father, who art in Heaven, why the fuck are you trying to bring more people there early? Are you fucking lonely or something? I mean, seriously, what the fuck? Then, You bless us an administration that spent the first critical weeks of this breakout ignoring the science and worrying more about its image than the health and safety of Your American children. Amen and all that, but seriously, after You invented this, it will be up to us imperfect humans to try and clean up Your mistakes. There’s a [song](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwit5Y3cv53oAhUPMawKHQeKBkQQyCkwAnoECBAQIA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DxLb7_UrV3-A&usg=AOvVaw1vPal70ykjCrXIbbrwa59_) for that. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/38 "2020-03-15T22:17:59Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > > [@Bullitt](#): > > > > Clearly many of us here are not his fans, but I see this as a positive sign. > > > > I disagree with him on so many levels, but this can help. > > How, exactly? IOW, what are your thoughts on prayers? > [@RitterSport](#): > > If we all pray on the same day, the omniscient, omnipotent God may actually be able to hear us. Maybe it will be so annoying to God, hearing all these prayers on the same subject, that He’ll wipe COVID-19 off the map. So should we do it on Friday, the Muslim holy day or Saturday, the Jewish one? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/39 "2020-03-15T22:28:53Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > How, exactly? Regular religious or spiritual practice is linked to a number of health benefits in numerous studies. Those include things like stronger immune systems and being more resilient under stress. (Which I would guess are linked because high stress can weaken immune systems.) I will include just one media [article](https://www.health.com/mind-body/5-surprising-health-benefits-of-religion), with all the issues they usually have presenting scientific studies, but it has links to five studies as a cite for some of the health benefits of religious practice. Correlation is not causation. There could be a host of root causes like stronger social networks or religious prohibitions against some otherwise socially acceptable but risky behaviors. Still there is evidence for religion helping practitioners in ways that are applicable to this pandemic. Sure there might be some that will switch from taking precautions to taking an Inshallah or Jesus will save me approach. Pretty much any widespread action in a nation of 329 million is going to kill some people at least indirectly. There are also real potential benefits if the day of prayer helps some that got distracted from their normal spiritual routine get back to it. We can’t just cherry pick evidence for the costs when deciding if the net benefit of an action is positive. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541/40 "2020-03-15T22:33:12Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Proclamation, full text here: > [https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-national-day-prayer-americans-affected-coronavirus-pandemic-national-response-efforts/](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-national-day-prayer-americans-affected-coronavirus-pandemic-national-response-efforts/) > > The Proclamation was issued yesterday. If Trump has ever even heard of the quoted scripture in that proclamation, I’ll eat a hat. One made in Wuhan, even. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-19-3-15-2020-the-president-calls-for-national-day-of-prayer/849541.md?page=3)