5 facts about prayer

[cbayer]

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/05/01/5-facts-about-prayer/

MAY 1, 2014
5 facts about prayer
BY MICHAEL LIPKA



Today is the National Day of Prayer, on which presidents annually proclaim that “the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.” The day has spawned a rival National Day of Reason on the same day, started by opponents of the National Day of Prayer.

Here are five facts about prayer, including survey data on Americans’ prayer habits and historical instances of prayer intersecting with the government:

1 The National Day of Prayer was enacted in 1952 by the Congress and President Harry S. Truman. As with the addition of “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, the move came during the Cold War and was seen as a way of contrasting the more religious United States with the officially atheistic Soviet Union.

2 The Freedom From Religion Foundation unsuccessfully challenged the National Day of Prayer in court. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2011 that the group, which aims to promote the separation of church and state, did not have the legal standing to challenge the law.

more at link

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Nothing fails like prayer.

Happy 'shit on the Constitution' day.

[pokerfan]

8. It's literally the least one can do (nt)

[cbayer]

9. What if for some it means a moment of reflection, an opportunity to assess

one's own issues and behavior?

Because for many, that is what it is.

I think that can be a potentially profound positive thing.

[Goblinmonger]

10. Then it can be meditation

Doesn't have to be called prayer. I mean, call it whatever you want, but don't pretend because it is "prayer" rather than "taking a moment to think" or "reflection" or "meditation" that it means something special.

[AtheistCrusader]

11. So is 'astral projection'.

Which also does absolutely nothing.

[mike_c]

2. happy mumbo jumbo day....

Rattle a bone or two for me if you would.

[cbayer]

3. It's also the official National Day of Reason.

Be reasonable for me if you would.

http://nationaldayofreason.org

[mike_c]

4. someone, somewhere has a great sense of humor....

That brightened my day!

[rock]

5. Well I suppose 1 day out of 365

is all I can expect. Thank God (as an atheist I like using that expression), it wasn't the hour of reason.

[cbayer]

6. It was actually proposed and passed as a complement to the Day of Prayer

It is my hope that it will lead to inclusive, "interfaith" (including non-believers) events that will change the traditional day of prayer.

[AtheistCrusader]

12. More likely it was

passed to give legal cover to the official 'day of prayer' or as a test to potentially eliminate the DoP.

[Goblinmonger]

13. Or not

I get a different tone from the organization. You can judge for yourself.

A Message from Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association

Now, more than ever, America needs a Day of Reason. With the religious right’s influence in Congress, and with the threat to our Judiciary looming large, there has never been as important a moment in which to affirm our commitment to the Constitutional separation of religion and government, and to celebrate Reason as the guiding principle of our secular democracy. During the past year we have witnessed the intrusion of religious ideology into all spheres of our government, with such assaults on the wall separating church and state as:
Faith-based initiatives in federal agencies that give preferential treatment to religious organizations which proselytize and employ discriminatory hiring practices;
Restrictions on important scientific research on the basis of religious objections;
Attempts to introduce biblical creationism and its alter-ego “Intelligent Design” into our public school science curricula;
The appointment of judges who willingly place their religious beliefs above our laws;
Battles over the display of the Ten Commandments and other overtly religious icons in schools and on courthouses;
Religiously motivated restrictions on access to reproductive services and information;

As in previous years, this year’s National Day of Reason coincided with the Congressionally-mandated and federally-supported National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 1, 2014. We thank all who value the separation of religion and government & joined us in commemorating this year’s Day of Reason, and in building awareness for this important cause.

[Still Blue in PDX]

7. Hard to argue with that!~ eom