"It may be that ministers really think that their prayers do good and it may be that frogs imagine that their croaking brings spring." Robert Green Ingersoll, "Which Way?" (1884)"

Yesterday was the National Day of Prayer. Every year, true believers – mostly Evangelical Christians gather to encourage "every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer" and to mobilize Christian community "to intercede for America and its leadership in the seven centers of power: Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family."

In short, these Christians are praying to God to intercede in America's welfare. To set things right. To watch over us. They need this special day to pray to God for America, as if the many millions of American who pray at church each week have no qualitative difference in America's welfare at all. No, the National Day of Prayer is at least, one more desperate attempt to get god's attention.

But do these Christians make a difference with their prayers? As I read the headlines today, we find that murders, gun violence, deceit, unemployment, child abuse, as well as the continual problems of homelessness, starvation, and war afflict the United States without a noticeable pause. Surely, if man is created in His image and America is the favored nation above all of God's other nations, it is only incumbent on God to do something. Anything. As the NDP website instructs, that "love = prayer" so what is God doing with all this love? Saving it? Christians give and give and give and none of it is ever returned. It's like there is no God out there answering these prayers. Funny that.

The National Day of Prayer had exactly the same effect on the nation as last year:

Zippo.