And the Bible simply saying “let’s reason together” is a whole different matter from actually doing it.

Also, the supposed most erudite atheist in the world are gathering in Australia for their convention while refusing to debate Christians:
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-34463-Albuquerque-Christian-Apologetics-Examiner~y2010m3d4-Atheism–celebrate-reason-while-absconding-from-reasoning

Reason? No, merely self-aggrandizing and self-professed pseudo-erudition.

It seems this George washington kneeling in prayer BS is yet another example of the complete lies religious leaders are willing to perpetrate to support their cause. What about “thou shalt not lie”?

Anyway, we’ve raised the link limit to 8, so hopefully your comments won’t go to moderation again.

In my previous post, I wanted to make clear that this “National Day of Prayer task force” notion is a ruse by this not-for-profit, privately funded evangelical christian organization to make it look like it is more important than it is.
In the about section of their website it says what they really are:
http://www.ndptf.org/about/index.cfm
They are not federally funded, and have no connection to the government. If they did, they would have the ending web extension .gov, instead of .org which they currently have.

Also, below is an actual history and what role this idea is really meant to play in the tolerance of all religions in the US.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/day_pray2.htm

As for the columnist from the UK, well I don’t think, besides “God save the Queen!” or some relics of social protocols that much of anything is directly related to the Anglican or any other church at this time.
However this organization seems to think it is of great importance:
http://www.christian.org.uk/html-publications/schoolcu.htm
scroll down about 40 lines. It describes the 1988 Education reform act and the importance of this statement (to this religious organization).

Of course from all of the sites remarking on the UK’s 10 minute per school day prayer session, it seems that for the most part no one gave it much thought, or thought of it as a nussiance, much like the reciting of the pledge of allegiance in the US. It was a formality of the school day, not an admission of recognition of “God”, or even much of an “Oath”.

I am however glad that this tradition has been removed from much of America’s classrooms at all age levels.

the UK would probably also benefit from a “National Day of Reason”, given that one Johan Hari (columnist for ‘The Independent’ national newspaper) wrote an article today entitled “Dear God, stop brainwashing children” in which he says (quote) ‘..British law requires every schoolchild to participate in “an act of collective worship” every 24 hours.’.
child abuse IMO.

However, the original resolution by Congress in 1952 states:
“The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.”

The “task force” that is this organization is not publicly funded, and has taken the task of “unifying the Judeo-Christian tradition” upon itself.

As is stated in the paragraph below the historical footnote:
Our Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible.

So the only “recognized” status it has is that it is a Not-For-Profit Organization like any other religious organization can apply for.

This information is found on their “about” page:
http://www.ndptf.org/about/index.cfm

While this organization’s goal is to “edge out” other religions, which is hypocritical and goes against the actual spirit and intent of the national day of prayer idea of national unity and hope for the benefit of the country, the actual history of this type of gesture of “religious unity for the benefit of the nation” is part of the US National history.

Here is a relatively inclusive history, as well as the actual invocations of the day by a wide variety of religious groups throughout the religious pantheon and held in high regard by many presidents Federalist/Anti-federalist, Republican, and Democrat alike.

Again this religious “Task Force” which was founded in 1972, is not federally funded, nor affiliated with the US government in any way other than it is recognized as National Day, like
Mayday, May 1st – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day
Speak Like a Pirate Day, Sept 19th – http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html
Chocolate Eclair Day June 22nd -
http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/June/chocolateeclair.htm

1972: The National Prayer Committee was created. It is an Evangelical Christian organization. The National Day of Prayer Task Force is a project of that committee.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/day_pray2.htm

I think the actual best response to this day from an atheist would be “Who cares?” because, what harm are a bunch of people wishing the people of the country well in their own congregational methodologies. Is this a threat to our freedoms, or our personal beliefs (positive or negative)?
As a paraphrase of the video commenter from “Door to Door Atheism” said, as long as you don’t come knocking on my door on the first Thursday of May or any other time for that matter, who cares what you do with your own time?