…and this is a 
Happy National Day of Prayer!
Category: Religion • Stupidity
Posted on: May 1, 2008 8:00 AM, by PZ Myers
Today is actually the National Day of Prayer. Really. Let that sink in for a moment.
We have regional coordinating groups — Minnesota is having events at the Capitol today. Did you know that prayer is "America's strength and shield"? I didn't. Our governor has issued a proclamation asking citizens to "open our hearts in thanksgiving". It's a weird document. It announces that we have all these problems like poverty and sickness and crime, and then declares that we've been strengthened by the "conscience-based actions of people of faith" … I guess we people of reason don't have consciences, and I think it's setting the bar awfully low anyway to declare prayer an "action". It's more like an inaction, with lame excuses.
The head wackaloon of this year's National Day of Futility is Shirley Dobson … of those Dobsons, the fundagelically evil kooks behind Focus on the Family. This was supposed to be an ecumenical event, as near as something that celebrates religious idiocy can be ecumenical, but it has since evolved into an exclusively evangelical Christian church service, sponsored by our federal government. Using her vast powers as chair of the national task force, Dobson requires her coordinators to sign this statement of faith.
I believe that the Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of The Living God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only One by which I can obtain salvation and have an ongoing relationship with God. I believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, his virgin birth, his sinless life, his miracles, the atoning work of his shed blood, his resurrection and ascension, his intercession and his coming return to power and glory. I believe that those who follow Jesus are family and there should be unity among all who claim his name. I agree that these statements are true in my life.
Hello, Jews and Moslems! Nice to see you're joining us atheists in rejecting prayer. Oh, you're not? Well, at least we'll be able to keep each other company with all the other second-class citizens.
Fuck the National Day of Prayer.
I can scarcely believe my country is officially pandering to such willful stupidity — elevating evangelical kooks to positions of prestige, trumpeting the virtues of sectarian religion, and actually crediting the successes of America to the fact that a subset of deluded, demented fools sit on their asses and beg an invisible man to protect us and help us kill people in foreign countries. What a waste, and what an encouragement of further waste.
I feel like just declaring this the official National Day of Derangement and writing it all off, maybe spit in the soup of people who say grace, or flip off any group I catch trying to do a collective exercise in ritual invocation of nonexistent beings, but the Minnesota Atheists have a more productive idea: they are calling this a National Day of Reason and are setting up to demonstrate in the Minnesota capitol in St Paul today. They actually have a prime position, and all the legislators leaving their workplace to join in the National Day of Inanity will have to troop by them. In my dreams, these politicians would feel a little sense of shame at the foolishness of the official events, but in reality, I'm sure they won't.
Politics
Comments
Amen.
Posted by: Zeno | May 1, 2008 8:05 AM
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.
Not.
Posted by: Donnie B. | May 1, 2008 8:05 AM
Happy May Day!
Workers of the World, Unite!
Posted by: MAJeff, OM | May 1, 2008 8:06 AM
MAJeff, as a citizen of the People's Republic of Massachusetts, I can get behind that!
Posted by: Scienceman123 | May 1, 2008 8:09 AM
***** PZ for President *****
Posted by: Edo | May 1, 2008 8:12 AM
MAJeff, as a citizen of the People's Republic of Massachusetts, I can get behind that!
After the recent news about our Speaker of the House, and the failures of DSS in protecting children, we've got a way to go before we're the people's republic...
It could always be worse, I suppose....the Pope could have visited.
Posted by: MAJeff, OM | May 1, 2008 8:12 AM
Damn but your government likes to take the piss.
Anyway, with apologies due to the international labour movement;
Then raise the science standards high.
Within their shade we'll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and morons sneer,
We'll stick with reason over here.
Fuck the bosses.
Especially imaginary ones
Posted by: Goatboy | May 1, 2008 8:13 AM
PZ, I agree with you, but your way of saying it will be noticed by the kooks and they will use your words against you. What does THIS have to do with evolution, they will ask etc etc. Or, THIS is atheism etc. Tone it down and stick to science.
Posted by: Stephanurus | May 1, 2008 8:13 AM
Yes, Steph, this IS atheism. We don't believe in God, and now all the atheists are being told to join in a day of prayer?
Plus, it's equally about how this day has been hijacked. A jew or muslim, or for that matter a buddhist, might be just as angry.
The pols in Minneapolis will just see the atheist demonstration as a perfect example of why prayer is needed. But that doesn't mean we should shut up.
Posted by: wazza | May 1, 2008 8:16 AM
I"m celebrating the "National Day of Prayer" by not working. A holiday should be celebrated, in my mind, proximately with the origin/results.
And since prayer doesn't work, neither am I. I'll just wait for the dishes to be unloaded by the great sky fairy. Later I'll be looking for my manna from heaven.
Posted by: Moses | May 1, 2008 8:16 AM
I had an email from the 700 Club this morning that said:
"May We Pray For You?"
...which had a link to a prayer request form. I request that they pray Pat Robertson's head be removed from his ass by the grace of god.
Fuck Pat Robertson more than the National Day of Prayer.
Posted by: Kyle W. | May 1, 2008 8:17 AM
The National Day of Reason has been organized nationwide and is recognized and supported by a variety of state and community freethinking groups. There are many events here in Iowa as well; here in Des Moines they are focused on the Botanical Center tonight beginning at 7:00pm for those of you in the area, with a couple of films (including "The God Who Wasn't There") along with free food and music. Find out if there are events in your area (probably are) and get out there!
Posted by: Geoffrey Alexander | May 1, 2008 8:18 AM
National Day of Prayer = National Do-Nothing Day.
Posted by: Andy James | May 1, 2008 8:22 AM
And yet that article has a quote from the Minnesota coordinator claiming that "It's a Judeo-Christian observance". As is so often the case, it seems that the "Judeo" part is just a flimsy disguise for an aggressively Christian event.
Posted by: Moggie | May 1, 2008 8:25 AM
"I can scarcely believe my country is officially pandering to such willful stupidity"
Sure you can.
Posted by: Jeff Chamberlain | May 1, 2008 8:30 AM
Holy shit. I read that article in the Minnesota Monitor and I'm really shocked. I mean, we all SAY we're shocked from time to time, but ... damn. It just blows me away what these people are doing.
As to the rest: I'm right there with you, PZ.
I think those who say you should tone it down aren't paying sufficient attention to what's really happening in the world.
Considering what the last few thousand years of pandering and keeping quiet have gotten us, and especially considering the territory the nice Christians (and others) have made clear they intend to conquer in the near future - the field of biology, schools, medicine, American history, government, the military - I say it's time to fight the battle on all fronts, legal, social, rhetorical, and even (ahem) spiritual.
Otherwise, we'll keep losing.
And that "statement of faith" applicants to the NDP Task Force volunteer coordinator positions are required to sign? Dayyum.
Fuck the National Day of Prayer, and all the exclusivist evangelical Christian bastards running it.
Posted by: Hank Fox | May 1, 2008 8:31 AM
I went and checked their website thinking that perhaps they would have some clearly defined goals, the stats for which some enterprising bastard could then obtain under the Freedom of Information Act, but their aims are so vague that there's not any way that you could even test whether their prayers had any effect.
Shame, since I reckon I know how that would have panned out.
Posted by: BaldySlaphead | May 1, 2008 8:32 AM
Christ on a bike!
I don't know the US well enough to comment, but from across the pond it sure does seem like there is a theocracy creep happening right before our very eyes. Maybe it has always been like this, but I don't think that it has, has it?
I'm pretty disgusted for you all, and I mean that. I really don't know what to say. My sincerest apologies. You deserve better.
Oh, Stephanurus, say what? You do understand what is happening, don't you? Your country is having a national day for something that has been shown to have as much success as trying to get someone pregnant by sticking it in their ear hole. Well, at least there is some chance of success doing that, if you're lucky.
If I were an American citizen, I would be absolutely livid, not blaming PZ for stating the bleedin' obvious.
Posted by: Damian | May 1, 2008 8:33 AM
National Talk-To-Your-Imaginary-Friend Day? Come on, America.
Posted by: Matt | May 1, 2008 8:33 AM
I know that the NDoP is asinine, but it seems to me that the more they force the issue and the louder they get, the more sensible people they push to our side. They probably also keep a lot of the people they would have kept anyway, so net gain for churchlessness and reason.
And the louder we get, the more people we bring to our side because we have evidence for things and we don't usually act like complete loons.
Does that sound right?
Posted by: Daniel | May 1, 2008 8:34 AM
Fortunately I've come down with a slight cold- perfect for hawking luggies into some soup. Perfect for exposing the faithful to the benefits of science-based antibiotics. Beyond that, if I can get away, I'll join the small group of reason in St. Paul. Snort! Ptheeww!
Posted by: SteadyEddy | May 1, 2008 8:34 AM
Come on P.Z. Don't be wishy-washy. Tell us how you REALLY feel.
Posted by: Gary | May 1, 2008 8:37 AM
Sometimes I almost wish I didn't read this blog. Somehow, I had avoided learning about the arrival of this great day. Until now :\.
If anyone brings this day up to me, I'm just going to tell them about Kara Neumann.
Posted by: Etha Williams | May 1, 2008 8:39 AM
Well, it is the first of May, and outdoor fucking starts today.
Posted by: The Science Pundit | May 1, 2008 8:39 AM
If God is "our strength and shield" we should be able to cut the military budget. Oh wait, that's if anyone actually believed it.
It is indeed a disgrace that anyone in our government would recognize a fundamentalist Christian event as a "national" one, the Constitution be damned.
Posted by: uncle noel | May 1, 2008 8:41 AM
FUCK the national day of prayer
Posted by: Mr.Mom | May 1, 2008 8:41 AM
This is embarrassing.
Posted by: mlf | May 1, 2008 8:41 AM
I think the only thing that really bothers me about this nonsense is the Statement of Faith... if they really want to have a NATIONAL day of prayer, then it's only fair to include everyone who wants to participate. As much as they don't want to believe it, Christians don't have the monopoly on deities.
Posted by: Katie | May 1, 2008 8:42 AM
Well PZ, I'm not sure why you're disappointed; your state did elect a wrestler to be governor at one point.
National Outdoor Intercourse Day (NOID) is a viable alternative.
Posted by: ellazimm | May 1, 2008 8:44 AM
Hmm... National Day of Prayer set for May Day. Which, IIRC, was celebrated as a sort of Socialist holiday in the old USSR (including those wonderful parades before the Kremlin where you could check out who was in and out in the Politboro. (sp))
Coincidence? We think not.
- Kurt
Posted by: Kurt | May 1, 2008 8:44 AM
I should have looked over the National Day of Reason website ages ago... they don't have a fraction of the events that the prayer-bots do.
Well, I've got a year to put something together in my community.
Posted by: chancelikely | May 1, 2008 8:45 AM
Not that I expect most people to know about this, but May 1st has been traditionally "May Day", a pagan holiday also known as "Beltane".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane
BELTANE is what has been hijacked here. The Fundagelicals just hijack it more. (like, they steal it and THEN urinate on it)
Posted by: Aaron | May 1, 2008 8:45 AM
I have a powerpoint presentation on synaptic vesicle fusion I have to give today @ noon. I haven't finished it yet. I have a feeling it will be a rush.
Do you think I can tell my professors I was too busy praying to finish it? That based on the obvious empirical evidence in support of prayer (why else would we have a whole day devoted to it?) I was sure that my prayers would get the thing done? That sure would be a lot easier...
In nomine patre, et filii, et spiritu sanctu,
Amen
Posted by: Etha Williams | May 1, 2008 8:46 AM
I'm with you, Etha. I sometimes ALMOST wish I didn't read this blog because it makes me mad. Praying is worse than doing nothing because people think they're doing something.
Posted by: LanaXZR | May 1, 2008 8:48 AM
Well PZ, I'm not sure why you're disappointed; your state did elect a wrestler to be governor at one point.
Jesse Ventura was as outspoken in his disdain for religion as PZ is.
Posted by: freelunch | May 1, 2008 8:49 AM
It's just pissing into the wind.
I'm with Etha Williams on this. A sad, sad day.
Posted by: Wallace Turner | May 1, 2008 8:49 AM
Perhaps the National Day of Prayer should have been held on April Fools Day rather than May Day.
Posted by: BoxerShorts | May 1, 2008 8:49 AM
Gobbing in their food? I love it! You may have finally discovered an approach that neither elevates our ignoble foes by the mere act of engagement nor is too subtle to make your point.
Posted by: Stephen Couchman | May 1, 2008 8:51 AM
Screw that prayer stuff. Happy May Day! I'm wearing a bright red shirt to celebrate.
Posted by: Steve LaBonne | May 1, 2008 8:53 AM
BELTANE is what has been hijacked here. The Fundagelicals just hijack it more.
You wouldn't believe how profoundly ignorant most of those people are of all other religious traditions. If you point out that there are all sorts of non-Christian religious traditions that have been imported into Christianity, they immediately get defensive and deny it.
As the saying goes, God helps those who help themselves. America has definitely not helped itself lately so we can rely on God to ignore our prayers.
Posted by: freelunch | May 1, 2008 8:55 AM
Day of Paryer?
AFTER PZ's post last week about how ineffective prayer is?
And on MAY DAY?
THIS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=webzwcd4FSA&feature=related
http://www.filk.co.uk/chingford/photos/lvenice2.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larrydart2001/80872248/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larrydart2001/336194337/
Is what people SHOULD be doing
( Incidentally I'm in all the photos ... )
Posted by: G. Tingey | May 1, 2008 8:55 AM
It's worth nothing that Shirley Dobson's NDoP 'task force,' despite appearances to the contrary, actually has no official standing whatsoever. They just like to pretend they're in charge, apparently.
Posted by: MartinM | May 1, 2008 8:56 AM
"Fuck the National Day of Prayer"
Well it is also Baltane so that would be traditional.
Posted by: Lynnai | May 1, 2008 8:56 AM
I suspect jews have been second class citizens for a while, moslems have been third class ever since 9/11 right along with the atheists. Buddhists like myself are that "oh yeah, forgot about you quiet little religion-with-no-deity" group forever.
ellazimm @ 29: Viva la NOID! Where do I sign up?
Posted by: Spiv | May 1, 2008 8:57 AM
Oh Jesus Titty-Fucking Christ.
Some excerpt's from the NDoP "Task Force"'s website:
And
Emphases mine.
The really depressing thing is that this garble of Xian-promoting and superficially "tolerant" nonsense is all on the same page within the site! I fucking *hate* how they pay lip service to first ammendment freedoms (which still don't justify this ridiculous "holiday") while meanwhile blathering inanely on about Judeo-Christian values.
Have the integrity to at least stick up for your One True Religion, wouldn't you? Then maybe it would be more obvious to people how stupid and wrong this national government-sponsored holiday is. ("People of all faiths", my ass. What about people of no faith? Yeah, you really see how the atheist agenda is taking over America...gosh, how did I ever ignore it?)
((I don't know why I'm using so much profanity this morning. Possibly because this is the first miserable thing I read when I woke up...))
Posted by: Etha Williams | May 1, 2008 8:59 AM
Ahem.
I feel better now. Carry on.
Posted by: noncarborundum | May 1, 2008 9:00 AM
The National "Day of Prayer" is a colossal waste of time, resources and effort. Prayer does nothing, and all these people getting together to pray are sacrificing nothing but their own vanity and self-serving egos.
A better way to counter this nonsense, in conjunction with the National Day or Reason, is to participate in the National Gift of Life Day, where atheists, agnostics, secularists, humanists and everyone else who thinks prayer is an ineffectual waste of time actually go out and do something beneficial, self-sacrificing and positive - donate blood.
I don't know who will receive the blood I donate -- he or she could be black, white, Asian, gay, racist, Christian, Muslim or atheist -- and I don't care. I am willing to stand on my feet, giving freely and openly of my own flesh and blood to provide a direct and demonstrable part of myself for the benefit of others, as opposed to all those on their knees who are wasting their time doing something that benefits no one.
Show the religionists how ethical, caring and significant the atheists, agnostics, humanists, secularists and other nonbelievers can be. Donate and show everyone the way to effectively and rationally make a difference in the world.
Posted by: Chuck Lunney | May 1, 2008 9:00 AM
I agree. FUCK 'EM!
Wait no. Don't fuck them. I don't want to help them reproduce. Either way, they are hypocrites and the idea that they are NATIONAL FUNDED is a NATIONAL SHAME. You can't favor a religion over another, jackasses!
Posted by: Michelle | May 1, 2008 9:01 AM
-Kurt
The military parades on the red square where not on May day, but on November 7 (Socialist revolution).
Posted by: Edo | May 1, 2008 9:02 AM
@#37 BoxerShorts --
Haha, I love it! Thanks for brightening my miserable morning with that. I think it's a great idea...if the holiday can't be gotten rid of, make it a joke. Literally.
Posted by: Etha Williams | May 1, 2008 9:03 AM
Heh. I'd settle for a national hour of reason.
In fact, have you noticed that the "importance" of these politically designated times are inversely related to their length?
Presidents get a day. Black history gets a month (shortest month, so maybe that's actually *good*). International year of the woman. Of course, the international geophysical year was actually about 2 years long. Hmmm.
Okay, all you bloggers get your femtosecond now. Take two, they're small.
Posted by: Snarki, child of Loki | May 1, 2008 9:08 AM
Steph #8 wrote:
"PZ, I agree with you, but your way of saying it will be noticed by the kooks and they will use your words against you. What does THIS have to do with evolution, they will ask etc etc. Or, THIS is atheism etc. Tone it down and stick to science."
You can stick to the science if you want, be this generation's Stephen Jay Gould, and also, I might add, be as ineffectual against the rising tide of evangelicalism.
PZ is who he is, and writes what he thinks, no "framing" asked for, no quarter given.
Your strategy seems to be based on the classic idea that with enough effort put into popularizing science, knowledge will naturally displace superstition, or at least tame the more extreme forms of superstition. Sounds good. Doesn't work.
PZ, on the other hand, seems to advocate an all-fronts attack, including not only science and reason, but a concentrated effort to ridicule, mock, and embarrass these fools out of existence.
Posted by: Jason Failes | May 1, 2008 9:08 AM
Does this mean they will be getting rid of Sundays?
Posted by: Unspeakably Violent Jane | May 1, 2008 9:09 AM
Marx would be so proud.
Posted by: Sili | May 1, 2008 9:12 AM
We'll be celebrating the National Day of Reason by going down to where the NDoP people are gathering and trying to raise money for the vets. At the end of the day, we hope to show that action works where prayer fails.
Which is *everywhere*.
Posted by: Spook | May 1, 2008 9:13 AM
Clearly, it's because you're a heathen, and as such incapable of moral behaviour. I'd pray for you, but as an amoral heathen myself, I'm contractually forbidden to care.
Posted by: MartinM | May 1, 2008 9:13 AM
""conscience-based actions of people of faith" ... I guess we people of reason don't have consciences"
Ahh, there is another way to read that though. It could be that people of faith making conscience based actions is merely worthy of special note because it happens so rarely.
Afterall, people of reason don't have centuries old dogma and shrieking fanatics to get in the way of their consciences... ;)
Also, 2008 is the International Year of the Potato. This shameless attempt to subvert a whole day of this glorious celebration is sickening!
Posted by: Andrew | May 1, 2008 9:14 AM
hehe, this reminds me of a Yom Kippur service I went to back when I still went to synagogue. Mind you - it was an orthodox synagogue and I think the message STILL comes to be what PZ is saying about action vs. prayer.
A huge storm is forecast to hit a guy's area, but instead of leaving he figures that he will pray to God to save him from the storm.
The storm hits and results in a huge flood. A rescue crew comes by in a boat and offers to take him aboard. The man says, "No, I prayed to God to save me - if I deserve saving, then He will."
The water gets even higher, and the man goes to his roof. Some time later, a helicopter comes along and offers to take him to safety. The man refuses, saying, "No, I prayed to God to save me - if I deserve saving, then He will." The helicopter crew eventually gives up on him, and moves on to others in need.
Finally, the man is overtaken by the flood water and drowns. Now facing God in person, he asks, "If I lead a good life, why did you let me drown? I prayed for your to save me - how come you did not?" God replied, "I sent a warning that the flood was coming, I sent the boat, and I sent the helicopter. What more were you looking for?"
Posted by: Jason | May 1, 2008 9:14 AM
Their web site claims they're privately funded. But I'm a little confused about their status. Their site calls itself the "National Day of Prayer official website", which implies it has some sort of government sanction (the NDoP was instituted by Congress & President Truman in 1952), but exactly what the connection is isn't made clear as far as I can see.
By the way, how anything so Chock Full o' Jesus can call itself "Judeo-Christian" is a wonderment to me.
Posted by: noncarborundum | May 1, 2008 9:16 AM
National Day of prayer is much worse than a "do nothing" day. It is "do nothing and then claim you have accomplished something" day. It is shameful.
Before this day is over I will have transplanted 2 new trees into my yard and removed another that is poorly located and dying. I think I will make this an annual event to do some real "materialist" work on this day.
Next week I will have a real "do nothing" day. But I won't pat myself on the back for my great accomplishments, I will just quietly enjoy my time.
Posted by: eewolf | May 1, 2008 9:16 AM
The first lines of the '2008 Prayer for Our Nation' written by Dr. Ravi Zacharias just goes to show what a vain, self-important tool prayer can be:-
''Holy Father, in a world where so many are hungry,
You have given us food in abundance;
In a world where so many are hurting,
You offer to bind up our wounds''
If that doesn't make you feel special, and much more loved that the other people in the world (who God apparently doesn't care about and so doesn't feed or take care of), what will?
Posted by: Sally | May 1, 2008 9:18 AM
What does THIS have to do with evolution, they will ask etc etc. Or, THIS is atheism etc. Tone it down and stick to science.
The Fundagelicals don't. They have tied their religious lunacy to a war on science. Even John Derbyshire of the National Review, hardly a hotbed of intolerant atheism, calls this A Blood Libel on Our Civilization. He isn't just talking about the absurdly dishonest movie Expelled, but the entire anti-Western Civilization bent that radical Christianity is taking in America.
If the hatemongers and purveyors of ignorance at places like Focus on the Family or the Discovery Institute get their way, there will be no science in America. That is why everyone who cares about the future of America needs to stand up to them, in whatever way they can.
Posted by: freelunch | May 1, 2008 9:20 AM
for dawkins & randi and the rest of the so-called "critical thinkers"...like the seld-deluded PZ Myers......
The *MODEL* of mental health:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBEbfiaZTfc
"Look at the ANGLE OF THE KEY....see that!, see that...."
what a fucking idiot this Randi is.....a REAL CRITICAL THINKER.....
for all the victims of Randi's monstrous idea.......
Visit:
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/forums/viewthread/3283/P0/
to see how we stopped James Randi's fraudulent MILLION DOLLAR PARANORMAL challenge.....
watch carefully the consequences of Randi's *idea*.....
For over 40 years James Randi Zwigert (is this even a REAL NAME?) has had total control over who and how the testing was conducted, yet despite all this he has terminated the challenge.
The ONLY REASON why the challenge was stopped is because he lost and refused to pay.
Apparently, Randi likes to break the rules when it serves him:
"14. This prize will continue to be offered until it is awarded. Upon the death of James Randi, the administration of the prize will pass into other hands, and it is intended that it continue in force. "
Great force.....it's over......
where is my MILLION DOLLARS, you LITTLE *NO-NAME* FRAUD
PS: Almost Forgot: Love the IRONY of the *BULLSHIT* sign over Randi's ugly head....
Posted by: david mabus | May 1, 2008 9:20 AM
It's old but:
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day
Teach a man to fish, he eats for the rest of his life.
Teach a man to pray and he starves to death waiting for god to give him a fish.
NYC has this as a day wherein they call for all Atheists and others to give blood. If I were a bit closer and a bit less lazy I would go do that. It makes an immense amount of sense.
JC
Posted by: JackC | May 1, 2008 9:20 AM
I like the "National Day of Reason" idea a lot. It reminds me and makes me think about the real value of the saying:
"Two hands working, achieve more than a thousand pairs of hands, clasped in prayer"
Posted by: Jerrald Hayes | May 1, 2008 9:22 AM
pz myers...you babbling idiot...you will share the fate of dawkins and randi...you FUCKER....
Posted by: david mabus | May 1, 2008 9:22 AM
We atheists have a much more fun holiday:
Outdoor Fucking Day!
Posted by: Katharine | May 1, 2008 9:22 AM
First of May, first of May
Outdoor prayin' starts today.
What a crock. Thanks for speakin' out loud and clear, PZ. Behind ya 100%.
Posted by: Crossman | May 1, 2008 9:23 AM
Posted by: david mabus | May 1, 2008 9:22 AM
Looks like someone is fussy and needs to be put down for a nap.
Posted by: MAJeff, OM | May 1, 2008 9:23 AM
Obviously, in every post I make that mentions the word prayer, I have to include a stern injunction at the end.
I DO NOT WANT TO EVER HEAR THAT DOGDAMNED STUPID BOAT "JOKE" AGAIN.
I may have to add a few terms from it to the spam filters.
Posted by: PZ Myers | May 1, 2008 9:24 AM
And here is the obligatory link to the Jonathan Coulton song: First of May
Posted by: Tulse | May 1, 2008 9:24 AM
Outside the US we celebrate Labour Day, and I'll do my bit by posting a cute little poem by the Norwegian poet, socialist and atheist (author of "Christianity - the tenth plague") Arnulf Øverland. Translated from norwegian by me (and surely done better by others).
Tear the Christ-Cross from your flag
and hoist it red and clean
Let no one lead you to believe
a saviour has been seen
And if you will not die in chain
then freedom is your own to gain
Posted by: geroronimo | May 1, 2008 9:26 AM
It reminds me of that joke about a guy on the roof in a flood, and then about thirty people hit me on the head with a crowbar because they're sick of reading that joke over and over again in the last comment thread.
I might have to overcome my aversion to giving blood. I'm a postgrad, so this is one way I can actually be useful.
Posted by: Daniel | May 1, 2008 9:28 AM
So I was looking up "national day of prayer" + ACLU on google, in hopes of finding something vaguely uplifting, and came across from this gem from the ACLJ (American Center for Law and Justice): The National Day of Prayer Poses No Constitutional Crisis. It starts out with the following faith-affirming, heart-warming 2 paragraphs:
More religious misappropriation of a tragedy -- but really, should anyone be surprised by this kind of amorality on the part of the "faithful"? The essay continues:
Damn right I'm troubled by any patriotic expression that includes a mention of God! Have you learned nothing from history? Does Gott mit Uns not ring a bell? Anyone? Anyone?
After detailing a garbled argument for why the establishment law does not prohibit, and in fact encourages, this utterly moronic holiday, they give one of their most bizarre arguments yet, citing the following:
I'm not familiar with that particular case, so maybe I'm getting it all wrong, but isn't the NDoP an example of the *first* case. You know, government speech endorsing religion? I'm pretty sure encouraging prayer is endorsing religion. And how these morons got it into their heads that somehow people's ability to privately pray is being encroached on by the vicious atheist majority of this country is beyond me.
They begin their conclusion, as all good high school essays do, with a recapitulation of their Godly Patriotic message:
and
Strength for the journey. Yeah, that's what I was afraid of.
Finally, they deliver this last, terrifying line:
...I don't even know what to say in the face of that statement.
Posted by: Etha Williams | May 1, 2008 9:28 AM
The first lines of the '2008 Prayer for Our Nation' written by Dr. Ravi Zacharias just goes to show what a vain, self-important tool prayer can be:-
Clearly, when they were reading Luke 18, they got confused about which prayer Jesus condemned and which one He wanted people to offer. This is just another National Day of American Arrogance (God loves us so much that He gave us 366 days to be self-righteous and self-regarding this year).
Posted by: freelunch | May 1, 2008 9:29 AM
Jon Coulton has a song about todays more important observation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRhPeJ3uzOc
He also wrote a song about what it is to be a giant squid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RFEzpUsUBk
Interestingly, Coulton doesn't look entirely unlike PZ. Coincidence?
Posted by: Decoy | May 1, 2008 9:30 AM
But it really works you guys!
Posted by: danley | May 1, 2008 9:32 AM
I wonder just how many people who are praying today actually befall some hideous end or accident anyway, assuming i dont (die) today and im not praying it will be true to say god is either a cunt (because somebody somewhere who IS praying will probably have a car crash WHILST doing it!)or has something really bad planned for me. either way i wont be praying.
Posted by: extatyzoma | May 1, 2008 9:33 AM
I think that David Mabus is quite possibly mentally ill. Have you seen what he posted on the CFI forum?
I couldn't be arsed reading it all, but apparently he thinks that Nostradamus should win James Randi's monetary prize. Or something like that, anyway. It made my eyes bleed.
Posted by: Damian | May 1, 2008 9:36 AM
Like those fucking Norman Rockwell paintings. Insipid drivel.
Posted by: danley | May 1, 2008 9:37 AM
"Fuck the National Day of Prayer."
Oh great leader of the atheist cause, we poor followers who lack your great understanding do not understand your latest directive. We do not understand how copulation with a nonexistent being is possible, nor do we understand how copulation with the communication to said nonexistent being is possible, nor do we understand how copulation with a day honoring such communication is even possible. Please enlighten us Oh Great One. Perhaps a few anatomical diagrams would explain it to us poor ignorant fools. Our spirits are willing (i.e., we are horny enough) but our understanding is weak.
Posted by: Tom Marking | May 1, 2008 9:37 AM
Old saying in my house:
Spit into one hand and pray into the other then tell me which one fills up faster.
Oh, and FUCK The National Day Of Prayer.
Posted by: WRMartin | May 1, 2008 9:38 AM
"Fuck the National Day of Prayer"
Way to go PZ! Excellent post, this blog is getting better and better. Thanks.
Posted by: marco sch. | May 1, 2008 9:39 AM
Hell, I'm Christian and even I wouldn't be able to sign that agreement without lying (and laughing hysterically). At least my state was the last to support it last year:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070501/27188_N.Y._Governor_Last_to_Back_National_Day_of_Prayer.htm
From what I can tell so far, any events in NY this year are taking place in churches and without government funding. Good. My life (minus the Internet) has been fundie-free so far, and I would really like to keep it that way for as long as possible.
Posted by: Scott | May 1, 2008 9:40 AM
david mabus, #66
We all observe you're extremely delusional, it's ok...at one time most of us were, too...but it's time to WAKE the fuck UP!
Now put on your thinking cap and think about this: your worshipping and praying to a FUCKING GHOST!
Posted by: Latina Amor | May 1, 2008 9:45 AM
On the plus side, it's apparently Save the Rhino Day, too. I sure hope the rhinos aren't depending on prayer, though.
And at least this year Bush didn't declare it National Loyalty Day, as was done in 2002.
I'm going the 'wear red' route today, myself. Now if I can only find a ringtone of 'The Internationale.'
Steve "NonPrayers of the world, Unite!" James
Posted by: longstreet63 | May 1, 2008 9:45 AM
I would like to give blood today, but I have lousy veins, so I can't.
And I would like to give a bunch of money to a food bank (or other worthy cause)today, but I don't have a bunch of money, so I can't.
And I would like to spend all day volunteering at a nursing home, but I am coming down with a cold, so I shouldn't.
So today, on this day when so many xtians are begging their sky fairy to make the world better, I will sit down with my children and have a conversation with them about rational thinking and science. And I will have done the world mor