# The National Day of Prayer has ARRIVED! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 30, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246 "2003-04-30T23:37:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/21 "2003-05-01T02:40:26Z")
That’s it, I’m DEFINITELY having a beer at lunch tomorrow. [sub]Plus throwing some silent good thoughts **Polycarp** ’s way.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/22 "2003-05-01T02:53:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by P.T. Smegma \* > \*\*Peace, **Crunchy** , I get a chapped ass over separation of church and state issues. Sorry about the nasty tone. \*\* No worries, I understand how this can really jump up and down on some people’s nerves, especially with the more vocal of the Christians spouting their beliefs as if it were the be-all end-all of the correct way of living one’s life. I can get pretty confrontational on things I believe strongly in myself (and can act WAY more condescending, meaner and more sarcastic than anything in your post). But back to the OP, as I said, I’ll most likely sleep through it. I just don’t get the idea of having a set time for everyone who wants to to pray. I know God is supposed to be omniscient and all, but I can’t get the thought out of my head of Him getting cranky and saying, “Dammit, one at a time! I can’t hear myself think! It’s bad enough with all the people in Vegas praying to roll a 7, now THIS?!” ---
**Author:** ![I\_Scream\_In\_Darkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@I\_Scream\_In\_Darkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Scream_In_Darkness)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/23 "2003-05-01T02:58:27Z")
Why should I pray only on a certain day at a specified time? Sounds like showboating to me. I shall pray for the end of prayer showboating. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/24 "2003-05-01T03:00:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > I for one will be observing it, along with my wife, by using the Episcopal Daily Office of Noonday Prayer at home. I’m welcoming intercessions from the TM; among the ones that occur to me are: Interestingly enough, I will be delivering a speech either tomorrow or Monday that covers or mentions several of these things you mention. It’s a combination of my long GD post of some months ago along with some extended writing on lack of support in many areas for gay people and gay youth in general. Here’s the first paragraph of the draft I have now (I’ll decide during class if I want to give it then; it will probably depend on mainly cojones and who-all is there. If the girl who gave a speech on why homosexuals should be allowed in the military is there, then unless she is the only person there I will give the speech then): “I’m giving this speech today for three people. The first is someone who made a comment on the first day of class that told me this speech needed to be given. The second is someone who gave a speech on a similar topic that told me this speech could be given. And the third person is someone who isn’t and can’t be here. I’ll go into more detail about him later. Daryl, this is in your memory.” Amusingly enough, were I to observe this day of prayer (I don’t intend to), it would be to two gods Bush doesn’t recognize, and I doubt he knows of their existence. Religion is a personal issue to me, not something to be bandied about and trumpeted in order to garner votes for a presidential election. What is that passage from the Bible talking about people who pray so others will see them praying? ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/25 "2003-05-01T03:16:56Z")
And don’t forget to worship at your government church! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/26 "2003-05-01T04:10:34Z")
Good gracious. Not only am I a highly subversive Canadian homosexual socialist, but I’m going to be spending the National Day of Prayer _openly mocking_ the holy Christian religion by participating in a _Satanic_ Pagan Beltaine ritual!! :eek: I might even commit _homosexual sodomy!_ :eek: :eek: Have I no shame? ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/27 "2003-05-01T04:37:59Z")
**matt** : Nope. Obviously. 😃 love you, ~kfl ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/28 "2003-05-01T04:42:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > \*\* > I might even commit _homosexual sodomy!_ > > :eek: :eek: > \*\* Dammit! **matt** gets all the good homosexual sodomy! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/29 "2003-05-01T05:44:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by P.T. Smegma \* > \*\* It forbids guvmint from meddling in religious affairs, and also forbids state-sponsored religion. It really, really does. Washington, Jefferson, and Madison, among others said so. \*\* Yeah, but in that both Washington and Madison declared National Days of Prayer themselves, they couldn’t have been too against them. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/30 "2003-05-01T06:00:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scout1222 \* > \*\*Wait, what are we supposed to be doing down on our knees? > > [sub]Sheesh, you know if Clinton were still in office, we wouldn’t be _praying_…[/sub] > > 😃 \*\* * * * Let’s see, if I get down on my knees…My knees will turn red and get sore. Then I’ll start crawling around in an attempt to find something to pull myself up on. Upon? Up with? Then I’ll notice dust around the baseboards and stuff on the carpet and I’ll have to crawl to fetch the vacuum cleaner and extensions so I can clean up, and–what was this knee thing about again? ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/31 "2003-05-01T06:07:26Z")
Well, since it’s May Day, I’m going to pray for proletariat of workers to unite to overthrow the hegemony of capitalistic oppressors. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/32 "2003-05-01T06:36:34Z")
At that time, I’m usually on my knees praying for a quick and merciful death anyway… ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/33 "2003-05-01T06:53:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. > > But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.\* > > –Matthew 6:5-6 I’m just sayin. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/34 "2003-05-01T08:11:49Z")
That would be the quote I was looking for. Thanks, **Larry** 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/35 "2003-05-01T09:59:41Z")
Goddamn that crap. I put up with this crap for fourteen years when I lived in the Bible Belt and I will not put up with it again. I will not be silenced and I will not be harassed and I will sure as hell not be intimidated by a bunch of goddamned bullies. This used to send me into dark rages, as you might imagine. Now it just makes me tired. I fully expect to vote Libertarian in 2004, and I fully expect my vote to be completely ignored by the Two-Party Hedgemony System (aka the Electoral College). ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/36 "2003-05-01T10:40:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > \*\*…This used to send me into dark rages, as you might imagine. Now it just makes me tired… \*\* OH sometimes bad eyesight is so much fun. I first read that as **Dark Ages.** ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/37 "2003-05-01T10:54:11Z")
**Celyn** , you may have read right. What enlightened age carries with it religious governments? ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/38 "2003-05-01T11:35:10Z")
None that I’d like to have much to do with, that much I do know. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/39 "2003-05-01T11:58:26Z")
Anyone got a major news story? I looked around…Google’s first page turned up nothing but older proclamations, and I couldn’t find anything on today’s Reuter’s or AP headlines. Looking for NATIONAL, not LOCAL sources. Anyone? Because it seems to me like this “national day of prayer” doesn’t mean any more than “national pasta day” if we go on news coverage. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/40 "2003-05-01T12:04:11Z")
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