National Day of Prayer

{{uspolitics}}The '''National Day of Prayer''' (celebrated on the first Thursday of May), which has also been referred to as the "National Day of Wishful Thinking," is a day when politicians can pander to [[American]]s who chose the correct [[religion]] and come together and [[prayer|ask]] [[God]] to please refrain from [[Examples of God personally killing people|smiting]] them. The day is generally endorsed by the [[United States]] federal [[government]]; and though it does not specify any particular religion, there is a clear bias towards the [[Judeo-Christian]] God, with some general lip service to the [[Muslim]] god. It is generally not considered appropriate to have a [[Neo-pagan|Neo-Pagan]] Bacchanalia prayer, nor has the federal government ever included the bongs, gongs, and chants of Mahayana [[Buddhism]].

In 2008 some pesky [[secularist]]s established the National Day of Reason as an alternative for those who prefer to do something a bit more [[Materialism|material]], such as organising blood donations, 
sacrifices to Darwin
, praise of the {{wpl|Humanist Manifesto|''Humanist Manifesto''|,}} and other [[hippy]]-[[liberal]]-[[Environmentalism|tree-hugging]] celebrations.

==Origins==
As a recurring annual event, the day was originally proclaimed in 1952<ref group=note>Cue: This was during the bloody stalemate phase of the [[Korean War]] and the heyday of the [[McCarthyism|McCarthyist]] [[Red-baiting|Red Scare]], and the idea {{wpl|National Day of Prayer#History|seems to}} [http://pluralism.org/reports/view/66 have] [http://billygraham.org/story/a-legacy-of-revival-in-the-nations-capital/ originated] with [[Billy Graham]]. Ah, them 1950s [[good old days]]...</ref> by President [[Harry S. Truman]] following a joint resolution by Congress.<ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=87332&st=national+day+of+prayer&st1= Proclamation 2978 - National Day of Prayer, 1952]</ref> Truman's original proclamation established an annual event, but did not specify a day on which the event would occur, leaving that up to each President to decide (Truman chose the 4<sup>th</sup> of July). In 1988, [[Saint Ronnie]] designated the first Thursday of May as the day the event would fall on each year.

There had been days of prayer prior to 1952, albeit normally invoked during significant periods in American [[history]], such as:
*In 1775, when the Continental Congress set aside July 20<sup>th</sup> to ask for divine guidance and aid in (re-)establishing their proper [[Liberty|liberties]] vis-a-vis the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[British Empire]] (and instead ended up getting the [[American Revolution]] and the [[United States]] as an [[State|independent]] [[republic]]…).<ref>{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9es9WWz8Ac8C&pg=PA84 |pages=84–85 |last=Davis |first=Derek H. |title=Religion and the Continental Congress, 1774–1789: Contributions to Original Intent |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2000 |isbn=9780195350883}}</ref>
*During the [[American Civil War]] when [[Abraham Lincoln]] proclaimed April 30<sup>th</sup>, 1863 a ''Day of National Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer''.<ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=69891 Proclamation 97 - Appointing a Day of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer]</ref>
*At the surrender of the [[Japan]]ese in [[Hiroshima and Nagasaki|1945]].<ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=12388 Proclamation 2660 - Victory in the East--Day of Prayer]</ref>

==Is it constitutional?==
A government-mandated day of prayer may [[Irony|breach]] the [[Establishment Clause]] of the [[First Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]]. It is arguable that the government prescribing a day of prayer constitutes the enforcement of religious observances, even if participation in prayer is not a [[legal]] obligation.

Contrary to [[The United States as a Christian nation|claims]] of some [[Christian fundamentalists]], the [[Founding Fathers]] were generally not gung-ho Christian
whackjobs wishing to see the state controlling the religious beliefs of Americans. In 1808, [[Thomas Jefferson]] wrote the following on this topic:

{{cquote|Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it. ...civil powers alone have been given to the President of the United States and no authority to direct the religious exercises of his constituents."<ref>Letter to the Reverend Samuel Miller.</ref>}}

Jefferson, quite sensibly, wished for a [[president]], not a [[Monarchy|king]] or a [[pope]].

===No (probably)===
On the 15th of April 2010, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb found that the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional, stating:
{{cquote|It goes beyond mere 'acknowledgment' of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context. In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.<ref>[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-04-15-prayer-day_N.htm Associated Press: Federal judge rules Day of Prayer unconstitutional]</ref>}}
The [[Obama]] administration has not cancelled the Day of Prayer,<ref>http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/prayerday.asp</ref> and is appealing. Due to the [[Religious Right|nature of American politics]], he has his hands tied here.

===But too bad===
But wait! That ruling was later vacated by the Supreme Court, not on a finding that the National Day of Prayer was constitutional, but that the plaintiffs lack standing to seek relief in regards to it.

==Which god?==
The Day of Prayer prescribes no specific God or religion. Truman's 1945 proclamation contained [[language]], that while not specifically mentioning Christianity by name, was certainly directed towards the male [[Abrahamic religion|Abrahamic god]]:
{{cquote|I call upon the people of the United States, of all faiths, to unite in offering their thanks to God for the victory we have won, and in praying that He will support and guide us into the paths of peace.}}

Truman's 1952 proclamation did not invite other [[faith]]s, preferring to ask for people to talk to "Almighty God." You don't have to be Christian to pray here, but it sure helps. Groups such as the non-governmental National Day of Prayer Task Force ensure that the day is celebrated as 
crackpots with no knowledge of American history and the Constitution
 the [[Founding Fathers]] intended.<ref group=note>The National Day of Prayer Taskforce is run by [[Focus on the Family]], which kind of gives you an indication of their agenda.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

[[Category:United States politics]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Government incompetence]]

Categories: United States politics, Religion, Government incompetence