MARCH 17, 2020 BY MICHAEL STONE
Because Nothing Fails Like Prayer: Earlier this week President Donald Trump declared a National Day of Prayer in response to the coronavirus crisis, yet the prayers failed, and the coronavirus crisis continues.
Announcing the National Day of Prayer Trump tweeted:
It is my great honor to declare Sunday, March 15th as a National Day of Prayer. We are a Country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these….
….No matter where you may be, I encourage you to turn towards prayer in an act of faith. Together, we will easily PREVAIL!
Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump · Mar 13, 2020
It is my great honor to declare Sunday, March 15th as a National Day of Prayer. We are a Country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these….
Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump
….No matter where you may be, I encourage you to turn towards prayer in an act of faith. Together, we will easily PREVAIL!143K6:54 PM – Mar 13, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy45.9K people are talking about this
Many prominent conservative Christians celebrated Trump’s declaration of a National Day Of Prayer. For example:
Franklin Graham✔@Franklin_Graham
I am grateful that President @realDonaldTrump has designated today as a National Day of Prayer for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Now is the time for Christians to be strong & courageous, knowing that Almighty God is with us.21.7K8:42 AM – Mar 15, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy5,135 people are talking about this
Faith in God is part of the very foundation of America, and on this National Day of Prayer, it’s clear that we need His guidance and favor now more than ever.
Please join me in taking a moment today to give thanks to God and to pray for our country.32K8:18 AM – Mar 15, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy12.9K people are talking about this
Rep. Doug Collins✔@RepDougCollins
On this National Day of Prayer, we come together to pray for all who have suffered from and been affected by #coronavirus here in the United States and all across the world.
Today we unite, as one nation under God, to ask for His comfort and healing.16.4K7:00 AM – Mar 15, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy4,615 people are talking about this
Today on National Day of Prayer, we pray for every person in our Country. We will continue to put the American people first and do everything we can to protect their health and well-being. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-national-day-prayer-americans-affected-coronavirus-pandemic-national-response-efforts/ …Proclamation on the National Day of Prayer for all Americans Affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic…In our times of greatest need, Americans have always turned to prayer to help guide us through trials and periods of uncertainty. As we continue to face the unique challenges posed by the coronavi…whitehouse.gov15.1K11:40 AM – Mar 15, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacy3,970 people are talking about this
However, despite all the excitement and reassurance, the prayers failed, and the coronavirus crisis continues.
As for a National Day of Prayer, the uncomfortable truth that many simply cannot accept is that God does not exist, and that prayers are ultimately futile gestures – empty expressions of existential desperation and metaphysical confusion.
For all intents and purposes, prayer is spiritual masturbation: it might make the person doing the praying feel a little better, but prayers do nothing to effect change in the real world.
An exercise in religious superstition and ignorance, a National Day of Prayer is more than just an insult to common sense and reason, it is a clear violation of the Establishment Clause to the First Amendment of the US Constitution. As such, a National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional: it is nothing less than a government endorsement of religion.
In short, prayers are not the answer. More religion is not the answer. In fact, prayers and religion are often the problem.
If not prayer, if not religion, what are we to do?
We must rise above the religious superstitions that divide us. We must be honest with ourselves and our communities. We must respect the science and medical reality of the coronavirus crisis, and act accordingly.
Bottom line: In a stupid and futile gesture President Donald Trump declared a National Day of Prayer in response to the coronavirus crisis, but the prayers failed, and the coronavirus crisis continues.
