National Day of Prayer; May 3, 2007

Just a reminder to those of us who might care to offer up one...

God Bless All
Ben

 

Make your own decision based on the history of this "event".

History of the National Day of Prayer

There have been several national days of prayer in the U.S. before the day was made official in 1952. The Continental Congress issued a day of prayer in 1775 to designate "a time for prayer in forming a new nation". Thomas Jefferson argued however, that although individual religious organizations had the right to designate a day of prayer, the U.S. government should not have that right.

On April 17, 1952, President Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law. It was in 1972 that the National Prayer Committee was formed. It went on to create the National Day of Prayer Task Force, with the intended purpose of coordinating events for the National Day of Prayer. In 1988, President Reagan signed a bill into law decreeing that the National Day of Prayer should be held on the first Thursday of May.

The intention of the National Day of Prayer was always that it would be a day when members of all faiths could pray together in their own way. It would involve Christians, Jews, Muslims, as well as Buddhists, Hindus, Aboriginals, Zoroastrians, and all others, of any faith or of no organized religion, who wished to participate.

National Day of Prayer Task Force

The National Day of Prayer Task Force is a non-governmental organization created by the National Prayer Committee to help coordinate events on National Day of Prayer. Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, they work out of facilities from Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian organization. Shirley Dobson (wife of prominent evangelical and Focus on the Family founder, James Dobson) is currently at the head of the Task Force.

The Task Force's charter is tolerant of all religions, although it does not allow members of all religions to participate equally. The Task force's website says in their FAQ section: "Americans of all faiths are encouraged to participate in the [National Day of Prayer] according to their own traditions. However, the [National Day of Prayer] Task Force [only] provides promotional materials and sponsors several events in keeping with the Judeo-Christian tradition". The application for volunteer coordinators with the Task Force lists the following as a primary qualification, "Commitment to Christ. A volunteer must be an evangelical Christian who has a personal relationship with Christ. I acknowledge that I am working for the Lord Jesus Christ and the furthering of His Work on earth and agree to perform my work with the highest standard of Christian faith."

 

^^^ Tainted/Skewed Wikipedia Information. please come up with something better Meon...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Prayer

I'm Praying For You
Ben

 

Ask your imaginary friend for next weeks lottery numbers for me. I have an extra buck to throw away. :bow:

 

Besides world peace and the ability to bear all the pain of even one child, I'll ask him to Bless You and Your Family with all you desire as well...

God Bless You
Ben

 

I heard that he liked it when you take the high road and turned the other cheek. He'd probably like it even better if just one of his devoted followers could talk the talk and walk the walk. Don't see many folks taking that path these days. :thumb:

 

Oh, don't worry I still consider your views childish and idiotic. But, I snuck in a prayer for that as well...

 

National Christian Prayer day...in other words Thurday.

 

Much like Ramadan I guess, except it's only for one day.

 

Thursday was named after the god of Thor.

May Odin be with you.

Actually we are having a dought down here.
The norse gods have abandoned us. Find me a virgin.

 

Chuckle, your acting like Loki has influenced you.

 

I can go along with this without any problem what so ever! It's one of the best things about being in the majority and living in America. :thumb:

 

Here is the way I see prayer.

You are assuming that there exists an omnipotent diety who created and controls everything around us. In your prayer you are submitting a request that he ( I'm using he in a generic sense for convenience), supernaturally,alter the course of events that he has set in motion.What you're doing ,as I see it, is suggesting that, perhaps,your diety has made a mistake and that he should,in order to correct this,make some subtle alterations to his plan.

Stuff happens.If you don't like what happens you should try and do something to change it.I just don't think telling an all knowing,all seeing entity that he should try to correct his errors is the way to go about it.If he really exists you might annoy him.

Bill

 

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. ~Seneca the Younger

 

Thanks for the post bone.
May God bless you as well.
Dan

 

True in many ways.

I always viewed it as there is religion and there is god. Religon is only as good as we make it. But why is it that those who claim there is no god want to force their lack of belief on others as a belief.

 

Billy Graham said "The foundations of civilization are no stronger and no more enduring than the corporate integrity of the homes on which they rest. If the home deteriorates, civilization will crumble and fall."

 

Get them in a foxhole and they change their tune!:thumb:

 

well, I dont...I have always seen it as the other way around. I dont see atheists on the corner preaching to people, I dont see them on TV preaching and trying to convert people, I dont see a national day of non-prayer, I dont see 'we dont believe in god' or our money, I dont see atheist radio and TV channels, I dont see a house of non-whorship on every corner, I dont see atheists doing much at all save possibly trying to keep the religions from controlling everything which, many will freely admit they want to do. If that is forcing it on people...comparatively...it seems to me atheist do far less to try to force people to follow their way than the religious...but then again, they aren't asking people to believe in an all knowing, all powerful invisible entity....so it doesnt require people to make huge diversions from logic. those who believe in God, like old dan, seem to be comforted by having many around them with the same belief...like his little celebration about being in the majority. Its like a race to win, I just dont see it that way.

I think old dan should be allowed to worship anything he wants as long as it doesnt harm others. It helps when you are believing in an invisible super being to have many around you who reinforce this belief...it doesnt make you feel quite as silly...its easier to believe in something invisible if thousands if not millions of others also believe that the invisible thing exists...even people of other religions will do this, they just believe in the WRONG invisible thing But still, if they believe that invisible thing exists, it still reinforces to all that they arent doing something foolish by believing in an invisible entity...since in MOST cases in our life if one believes in invisible entities, people think they are crazy....If millions do...thats different Certainly it seems people like him would like to be a majority for a reason...and its not so they can assure a secular government where religious belief plays no role in the governance of our nation

As for the foxhole comment, that is just a statement made from ignorance to be honest, you simply have no clue as to what the majority of atheist do when they face danger or die....each person is different...certainly I have faced death and danger without converting...but if it makes one feel better to think that...you are free to typify things you dont understand, common human trait. That is what religion is for anyway...to make you feel a bit better and to explain questions that cant be explained and people dont want to leave unexplained so they explain it with the default answer...god. It used to be the sun god the river god, wind god, you name it we had a god for it...things we didnt understand....now we understand a lot more so we have a lot less gods...we still die, and we still cant fathom dying and not continuing to exist in some way (we are too important jst to stop existing right?) so we still need god to assure us we will live forever

As a person who does not follow a religion I realize I am a minority in the society. I certainly do not look to restrict religious people from doing as they please and I assume I, in turn, should not be restricted in doing as I please. I am not rabidly trying to make people into non-believers...I do however see that America is made up of many different beliefs and feel that its just fair that one religion does not force itself on others...thus I think that it isnt asking a lot not to have religion in government. I dont see this as forcing my beliefs on others as much as putting all people on a level playing field in a nation that has many diffrent beliefs that are largely subjective. Religions should be able to operate with freedom without doubt, and certainly people who subscribe to these religions will win elections and bring their viewpoints with them...thats fine...I just think that there is a church on every corner, several TV stations devoted to it, periodicals, radio stations, etc...I dont see why religion needs to be a part of government and school as well unless they truly just want to force it on everyone...I do not want antheism taught in school any more than god...I think church is for religion...

Also, anyone who believes that the absence of religion means an absence of morals is mistaken....you dont need threats of punishment or offers of reward or to be guided by the words written by man who claim to have been instructed by some god to know how to treat ones fellow man, not to kill, steal, etc...In my experience, that doesn't stop people from doing awful things anyway...so many scumbags who call themselves religious that do awful things...one just needs a healthy respect for human life, rights, etc...

People who want to force personal belief on a society and on others have a dubious agenda always...people who want to scare people into accepting god and religion by tactics such as foretelling the fall of society or morals or hell, or to paint other who believe differently as lacking...anyone who concerns themselves with another persons PERSONAL beliefs, in my humble opinion...has dubious intent.

 

I would think that atheism provides no basis for morality or ethics, so that atheists are unsuitable for governing. Once you determine that your fellow man is not made in the image and likeness of God, or is not a spiritual being, then there is no reason to treat people any different than insects; and exploitation for personal gain and pleasure becomes acceptable. Religion isn't an ironclad defense against this happening, but it's a start.