Dear "Kelly at Fox News dot com":

Are you out of your mind talking to an ordained minister as if he's anti-religion? I'm all for confrontational journalism but you instigated a hostile debate with The Rev. (yes, that's Reverend, as in ordained minister) Barry Lynn on the issue of this stupid National Day of Prayer thing. Rev. Lynn is also Executive Director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Maybe it's because, in part, he doesn't like Congress telling him how to do the church thing? And you act like he's pooping on Baby Geebus or something. Get a grip.

A federal judge decides quite rightly that "National Day of Prayer" is unconstitutional. So you decide to show her face and name on the air more than once in this segment. What is up with that, Megyn? Psst, back in the day, it was us Christians who got fed to the lions. Shame on you.

The "National Day of Prayer" is a silly convention that Washington DC uses to suck up to the constituency that is comforted by such nonsense. For those of us who pray daily this kind of political pandering makes little difference, and for those who don't, the National Day of Prayer "reminder" is Christianist jingoism, pure and simple.

Americans United argues quite rightly that this "National Day of Prayer" has been completely hijacked by the Religious Right, which uses it to promote religious bigotry:

In recent years, most NDP activities have been coordinated by the “National Day of Prayer Task Force,” an organization based in Colorado Springs and run by Shirley Dobson, wife of Religious Right radio broadcaster James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family.

The efforts of Focus on the Family to fund-raise and organize based on congressional dictate is clearly unconstitutional. Of course, the religious right has more than Mrs. Dobson pushing this Christianist mumbo jumbo, Ms. Kelly. Now they've got you. Nice journalism, there.

Well worth the click: more from Americans United on this ruling.

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Steve Benen draws our attention to a speech given by Sarah Palin last Friday in Kentucky to an evangelical women's group called Women of Joy, one in which she appears to deny the existence of church-state separation:

I beg you, Women of Joy, to bring light and be involved, loving America and praying for her. Really, it is our solemn duty. Praying for true spiritual awakening to overcome deterioration. That is where God wants us to be. Lest anyone try to convince you that God should be separated from the state, our Founding Fathers, they were believers. And George Washington, he saw faith in God as basic to life.

As Greg Sargent observes, this is historical nonsense; many of the Founders were practicing Deists who ardently believed in separating religion from the conduct of secular politics:

There was a time when this sort of thing would provoke widespread media mockery and perhaps even be seen as a potential disqualifier for the presidency.

Ah, but we live in an age where a cable-TV network is doing the presidential qualifying for us.

What was perhaps most noteworthy -- and disturbing -- about Palin's speech, though, was how she publicly called out and thanked the "Prayer Warriors" who were out there on her side:

Palin: Given the chaos these days, just kind of standing up and speaking out for common sense has kind of become a full-time job. And it's keeping me pretty busy. And some days are kind of crazy. And my faith, my family -- they are what keep me grounded, keep me going.

Prayer Warriors all across the country -- and I know some of you are here tonight -- your prayer shield allows me and others to go forth. You give out strength, providing a prayer shield. That is the only way to put one foot in front of the other, and get through some of these days with joy.

I don't know how any politician could, or would want to do this, without knowing that there were prayer warriors out there, holding you up and seeking strength and wisdom for you. ... I am so appreciative of their efforts.

Thanks largely to the reportage of Max Blumenthal, we've known for some time that Palin was religiously affiliated with the "Prayer Warriors," but this is perhaps her first open public acknowledgment of it.

Who are the "Prayer Warriors"? Funny you should ask that: Bill Berkowitz explored that question for AlterNet:

Imagine a religious movement that makes geographic maps of where demons reside and claims among its adherents the Republican Party's most recent vice presidential nominee and whose leaders have presided over prayer sessions (one aimed at putting the kibosh on health-care reform) with a host of leading GOP figures.

It's a movement whose followers played a significant role in the battle over Proposition 8, California's anti-same-sex marriage initiative, and Uganda's infamous proposed Anti-Homosexuality Law, more commonly associated with the Family, a religious network of elites drawn from the ranks of business and government throughout the world. But the movement we're imagining encompasses the humble and the elite alike, supporting a network of "prayer warriors” in all 50 states, within the ranks of the U.S. military, and at the far reaches of the globe -- all guided by an entire genre of books, texts, videos and other media.

Imagine that, and you've just dreamed up the New Apostolic Reformation, the largest religious movement you've never heard of.

Continue reading »

Speaking as a believing, praying Quaker, I gotta say a little Bush-era Lewis Black is the perfect antidote for today's National Day of Prayer mumbo jumbo.

Open thread below....

Blue Gal subbing for Mike, who's travelling today and will be back tomorrow.

L'ennui Melodieux: Tales of Terror!

The Dean's Office: Did I miss the National Day of Prayer? Holy crap!

Citizen Crain: DNC's "Talk to the Hand" Outreach

New blogs on the block: Physioprof, Rawrahs, and Underground Radical.

Liberty Street: Georgetown has decided not to renew Douglas Feith's contract.

Majikthise: A coalition of New York legislators say the Sean Bell case not closed yet.

MyDD: More 'Straight Talk': John McCain breaks two pledges at once.

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What happened when Edward Teller tried to landscape Alaska with H-bombs. What happens when KGB agents and gangsters get their own country? What will happen when Matt Yglesias talks about his new book? All these questions are answered in The Opinion Mill's Sunday Bookchat.

HOLY CRAP: Jeremiah Wright has always had far more theological depth and nuance than his detractors...What's worse than Mel Gibson's Passion ? A biography of Jesus by the director of Showgirls...Faith-based health failure...Media Roundup...Religious Right trying to hijack National Day of Prayer... Rod Dreher mistily reminiscing about David Koresh...Did you know that the human body is 90% Lego?...NC pastor - homo no mo'

image from here

Talk To Action:

Every year, there are controversies over the "National Day of Prayer," which has somehow become the exclusive province of the Dobson empire. This year it is being held on May first -- and the fireworks have already started. But lest you think that this is an obscure bit of Bush administration taxpayer financed pandering -- note that even Democratic governors in blue states -- such as the Democratic governor of my state, Massachussetts, Deval Patrick -- are issuing proclamations as drafted by Focus on the Family.

The problem, of course, is much larger than a single day of pandering by politicians to the Religious Right. Mother Jones points out there are even efforts to exclude non-Christians from the National Day of Prayer!

And our President thinks of the Constitution as providing an "important bridge between church and state." Um, Mister President? Thomas Jefferson said it was a wall, not a bridge, and as an architect of both Monticello and the nation, he ought to know the difference.

As First Freedom First co-director Barry Lynn points out in this video, the Religious Right and their battle against church-state separation impacts Americans in their everyday lives. More of this program is available here. (h/t Progressive Media):

The Blue State: Live blogging the Gonzales hearing...

The Osterley Times: If the reason for restricting our rights is to protect us, then surely governments would restrict our rights in the places most likely to reduce deaths amongst the population. Don't (just) mourn, do something!

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Brad DeLong: The sad, strange little man who the McCain campaign financing chief and Republican fixer, Fred Malek

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HOLY CRAP: God and/or Bible is not an excuse...National Day of Prayer?  How about a National Day of Reason?...Uh oh, the Pope is against our Holy War...$1 billion spent on BUSHCO abstinence programs that don't work...James Madison on faith-based initiatives...Theocrat of the Week...What about The Beatitudes?...Uh oh, it's the Carnival of the Godless!...When religion is an addiction...Are their fundies are crazier than ours?...Atheists demonized...Anointing Oil, Blessed Salt, and other items to protect your home from Spiritual Darkness...Get these and much more in this handy canvas tote of Sacramentals!

So sayeth Tom at National Day of Prayer.

Download | play -WMP

He also talked about humility, and soap boxes.

Dear Tom, we are judged by our actions, not by our words.