I just found out that today is apparently National Day of Prayer in the U.S.A. Fred Clark waxed poetic on the subject, and P.Z. Myers waxed acerbic, but they both make the same point--this is a bad idea. I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this, but I am pretty sure that making any day an official day of anything regarding religion is in violation of the First Amendment. So strike one.
Additionally, I was taught as a kid that praying is something that we Jews did in synagogue, and in Hebrew. None of this was really a big deal at the time. It's sure as hell a big deal now, because I don't recall any U.S. legislation requiring that Hebrew be used when praying by anyone, which is violation of my personal religious belief (inasmuch as I have religious beliefs, anyway. A rabbi presided at my wedding, I expect one to preside at my funeral, and that will probably be that.) So strike two.
Finally, I can't find any legislation that determines what Americans are supposed to be praying for. (Strike three! Yer outta there!) Peace? War? Health? Safety? Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Chocolate pudding at breakfast/lunch/dinner? The possibilities are infinite, and if God is real and listening and inclined to answer, and that answer is not "No," then perhaps someone will get what he or she prayed for.
If, however, God is not real then it's time wasted. I'm not above wasting some time here and there but I refuse to do it at the behest of someone who merely thinks Americans should pray more often.
That is all.
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