# 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:** 3
**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, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/41 "2003-05-01T12:07:08Z")
Is this any use? It calls itself a "conservative News FOrum. [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/900997/posts](http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/900997/posts) ---
**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, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/42 "2003-05-01T12:09:39Z")
I, for one, would welcome ‘national pasta day’. ---
**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, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/43 "2003-05-01T12:21:45Z")
National Faggot or Noodle Day! ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/44 "2003-05-01T12:33:30Z")
From [Thomas Jefferson’s 1808 letter to the Reverend Samuel Miller:](http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/jefferson_miller.html) > [@](#): > > But it is only proposed that I should _recommend_, not prescribe a day of fasting & prayer. That is, that I should _indirectly_ assume to the U.S. an authority over religious exercises which the Constitution has directly precluded them from. It must be meant too that this recommendation is to carry some authority, and to be sanctioned by some penalty on those who disregard it; not indeed of fine and imprisonment, but of some degree of proscription perhaps in public opinion. And does the change in the nature of the penalty make the recommendation the less _a law_ of conduct for those to whom it is directed? I do not believe it is for the interest of religion to invite the civil magistrate to direct it’s exercises, it’s discipline, or it’s doctrines; nor of the religious societies that the general government should be invested with the power of effecting any uniformity of time or matter among them. Fasting & prayer are religious exercises. The enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the times for these exercises, & the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and this right can never be safer than in their own hands, where the constitution has deposited it. > > I am aware that the practice of my predecessors may be quoted. But I have ever believed that the example of state executives led to the assumption of that authority by the general government, without due examination, which would have discovered that what might be a right in a state government, was a violation of that right when assumed by another. Be this as it may, every one must act according to the dictates of his own reason, & mine tells me that civil powers alone have been given to the President of the U S. and no authority to direct the religious exercises of his constituents. ---
**Author:** ![Fin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@Fin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fin_man)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/45 "2003-05-01T12:34:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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: > [ol][li]that God will endow the President with the strength of character to respect the rights of his fellow Americans who are not of his religious beliefs, and demand this respect of his Administration[/li][li]that our Government will be led to grant equal civil rights to those Americans who have been deprived of them for reasons of faith-based prejudice, notably gay Americans[/li][li]that all men everywhere will be motivated to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being[/li][li]that in the place of “traditional family values” that espouse hatred of the different, Christians everywhere will turn to the values taught by Jesus, such as love of one’s fellow man and non-judgmentalism[/ol][/li] > Please feel free to add intercessions you think proper to this list, and I urge any of my fellow Christians who are willing to join me in praying for these and other similar intercessions to be added here to please do so. \*\* **Poly** , while I agree with pretty much everything you said, I think the last item is what gets people steamed about the whole National Prayer Day. What about us non-Christians? Some of us (and I say some since there are alot of non-Christians out there and I don’t know what they all believe) believe in everything else you said but are now excluded by this last line. I’m sure this is not what you meant, right? ---
**Author:** ![TVAA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TVAA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVAA)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/46 "2003-05-01T12:48:38Z")
“Oh Lord, protect us from these Thy followers, and smite those who would impose Thee upon us. Let not the wicked gain a majority in either the Senate or the House. Grant Thy humble servant George the strength of character to avoid the pitfalls of alcohol without Thee, and take from him the cruel deceptions of Satan regarding his benevolence.” Amen. ---
**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, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/47 "2003-05-01T12:55:27Z")
So when is the Day of the Grooming of the I.P.U. (PBUH)? ---
**Author:** ![Ego\_Mk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Ego\_Mk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ego_Mk2)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/48 "2003-05-01T12:59:34Z")
To celebrate National Prayer Day according to the tenets of my religion; today at Noon I will lie naked upon my grass under my mighty tree and make loud, screaming, idyllic love to my girlfriend. Then we will dance about the Maypole and once we intertwine our streamers we will make love again. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/49 "2003-05-01T13:02:33Z")
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: that God will endow the President with the strength of character to respect the rights of his fellow Americans who are not of his religious beliefs, and demand this respect of his Administration that our Government will be led to grant equal civil rights to those Americans who have been deprived of them for reasons of faith-based prejudice, notably gay Americans that all men everywhere will be motivated to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being that in the place of “traditional family values” that espouse hatred of the different, Christians everywhere will turn to the values taught by Jesus, such as love of one’s fellow man and non-judgmentalism Please feel free to add intercessions you think proper to this list, and I urge any of my fellow Christians who are willing to join me in praying for these and other similar intercessions to be added here to please do so. I understand your sentiment, but wouldn’t a letter to a congressman accomplish so much more? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/50 "2003-05-01T13:06:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ego\_Mk2 \* > \*\*To celebrate National Prayer Day according to the tenets of my religion; today at Noon I will lie naked upon my grass under my mighty tree and make loud, screaming, idyllic love to my girlfriend. > > Then we will dance about the Maypole and once we intertwine our streamers we will make love again. \*\* so the burning of Edward Woodward doesn’t happen until tonight, right? I just want to know when the statesponsored “There Is No God” day will be held. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/51 "2003-05-01T13:11:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kalhoun \* > I understand your sentiment, but wouldn’t a letter to a congressman accomplish so much more? I suspect even some atheists would think that a prayer would be more likely to have an effect, if the congressman in question thought that being against a day of prayer was likely to hurt his chances of re-election. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/52 "2003-05-01T13:14:47Z")
When I heard about the National Day of Prayer I thought “Oh, Good Lord”. :rolleyes: Does that count? ---
**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, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/53 "2003-05-01T13:40:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ego\_Mk2 \* > \*\*To celebrate National Prayer Day according to the tenets of my religion; today at Noon I will lie naked upon my grass under my mighty tree and make loud, screaming, idyllic love to my girlfriend. > > Then we will dance about the Maypole and once we intertwine our streamers we will make love again. \*\* I would like to convert to your religion. Do you any literature? ---
**Author:** ![Summertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Summertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Summertime)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/54 "2003-05-01T13:43:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*Down on your _knees!_ > > According to a full-page ad in the _Phila. Inquirer_, everyone is to be down on their knees praying at 12 noon (EST? Central) on May 1. . . . Is it too late for me to pray for a president and a government who don’t try to cram religion down our maws? \*\* Please tell me how this is hurting you.(besides having sore knees) ---
**Author:** ![Summertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Summertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Summertime)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/55 "2003-05-01T13:46:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*so the burning of Edward Woodward doesn’t happen until tonight, right? > I just want to know when the statesponsored “There Is No God” day will be held. \*\* I believe the first annual one was December 14, 2000. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/56 "2003-05-01T13:54:30Z")
This is hurting me because from the minute Rev. Chuckles got into office, he’s been doing everything he can to marginalize atheists (indeed, all non-Christians, but especially atheists), and his gov’t. is filled to overflowing with bible-pounding fanatics who are doing everything they can to tear down the putative “wall” we have between church and state. Admittedly, it’s a wall that could be torn down by an anemic sparrow . . . ---
**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, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/57 "2003-05-01T13:58:47Z")
Yeah, but this National Day of Prayer thing isn’t a Bush thing. We’ve had annual national days of prayer every year for 50 years, and Presidents have been declaring national days of prayer on their own since George Washington. ---
**Author:** ![Ego\_Mk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Ego\_Mk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ego_Mk2)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/58 "2003-05-01T14:00:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*I would like to convert to your religion. Do you any literature? \*\* All you have to do is rent “The Wicker Man” It’s pretty much like that. Except I don’t do sacrifices. ---
**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, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/59 "2003-05-01T14:01:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ego\_Mk2 \* > \*\*T…and once we intertwine our streamers we will make love again. \*\* Ooh so that is what they call it these days? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246/60 "2003-05-01T14:04:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*I, for one, would welcome ‘national pasta day’. \*\* [October 17.](http://www.grammalowe.net/october.html) **matt:** being that you’re Canadian, if you work hard enough at it you can say you’re celebrating Labour Day… > [@](#): > > 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. So that’s why we’re not supposed to pray for things like ponies or Jeep Cherokees… no room in the closet… :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-day-of-prayer-has-arrived/172246.md?page=4)