It will surprise those that do not know me well or have not read my writing on the subject to learn that I do not believe in prayer. And while I do believe prayer comes as naturally as breathing to most human beings, especially in extremis, reflecting a relationship to God I do not believe in prayer as taught in the various religious systems including that of Christianity.

Quite recently in conversation with a fellow about why I do not believe in prayer I gave him an example from the film Death Hunt, where that really ugly guy demands Lee Marvin go after Charles Bronson. Marvin tells him he is going to pray this ugly fellow just goes away, lowers his head and closes his eyes for a moment; then opening them and seeing this guy still standing there says “I never did have much luck praying.” And that pretty well sums up my own experience with prayer. So years ago I gave up on prayer as an exercise in futility. If God doesn’t know by now the mess we humans have made of things he never will.

Since I’ve literally memorized the Scriptures and preached the sermons on the subject of prayer there is no need of anyone quoting Scripture as if they were going to somehow mystically transform my point of view. In short: Forget it. Not going to happen. Lived too long and know too much. Wars, religious and political hatreds continue without let, women and children continue to be the victims of monsters in human guise preying on them, and if God cannot hear the cries of children especially and deliver them from their abusers and murderers I am not about to bend God’s ears in the hope he is going to bless a lottery ticket. Not that I have ever bought a lottery ticket, but you get the point.

As a feel good exercise few things can beat prayer, and when someone says “I’ll pray for you” I understand such a thing is usually said with the best of intentions. But in most cases such a thing falls into the category of some bum on the street saying “God bless you” for your giving him a buck; whereas the Scripture clearly declares only the greater are qualified to pronounce such a blessing upon the lesser. This bum thinks he is greater than you?

And now for the anticipated qualifier: I talk to God all the time. But I long ago left off asking for anything either for myself or anyone else, I long ago stopped believing God was going to intervene on my behalf in any given situation, or for that matter on behalf of anyone else just because I ask him to.

The basic reason for my coming to this conclusion about prayer some years ago is my concluding it is the responsibility of humankind to address the issues plaguing our world, not that of God. So I stopped believing God was going to wave his magic wand and fix things that we humans refuse to fix ourselves.

At this time of year many children are writing letters to Santa, sitting on his lap and letting their requests be known, but who buys the gifts; parents or other loving adults in the child’s life. Works for me. But in my opinion God isn’t Santa Claus.

The subject of prayer does open a wide area of speculation, which is why I devoted quite bit of my writing to the subject when I began to confront it objectively rather than religiously. If we dispense with the religious notions of omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, attributes that according to the Bible God does not claim for himself perhaps he does need our input about our lives and world conditions? But I don’t know. What I do know is that like Lee Marvin “I never did have much luck praying.” But if luck is a factor, go ahead and pray for that lottery ticket.

It may be that God favors some over others, but that is entirely metaphysical speculation in the same vein as my talking to God and departed loved ones, which may be of no more reality than talking to myself or the resident cat; and just as the cat is not much of a conversationalist neither am I hearing voices from God or my departed loved ones. But I do find comfort in these ongoing “conversations” with God and departed loved ones and settle for that.

But when it comes to trying to talk to living, breathing human beings and trying to get the attention of corrupt politicians it seems we may as well give in to prayer. When it comes to efficacy perhaps prayer is all we have left to give us any hope. However, it remains my belief it is our responsibility as human beings to confront and overcome evil. One of the results of my no longer believing in prayer and coming to terms with human responsibility was this:

Proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution

An adult convicted of the molestation of a child will be sentenced to prison for a term of not less than ten years.

If the child dies as a result of the molestation the person(s) convicted of the crime will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A child as defined by this article shall be one who has not attained their sixteenth birthday.

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

While I have a web site dedicated to this amendment and the justification for it, I will say here when it comes to doing our part as human beings, as Americans, rather than asking/blaming God by prayer the proposed Constitutional amendment to protect children from child molesters is a good place to start doing our part. But my overriding concern is the fact that no nation can survive that does not cherish its children. I ask further: Can a world survive that does not make children its priority? Children, their future as the future of our species, should provide the basis of dialogue between nations. But we have never seen this happen.

It is my conviction that America, given its historical character and as the freest nation in history, has the obligation to lead the way in this dialogue, to open it by way of the proposed amendment through being the first nation in history to make such a commitment to children by its foundational charter of government; our Constitution.

And while it doubtless requires the kind of perseverance evidenced by those dedicated to the abolition of slavery and women’s suffrage the amendment will prove to be the right and wise thing to do. I cannot think of anything of greater import or impetus that would restore the soul of America; that would create such a noble national identity and national purpose as a people than the proposed amendment.

Discounting the pompous asininity of the source being someone that had never known poverty or missing a meal, had never had to shoulder a rifle in defense of his life or America, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country” had the germ of the truth concerning prayer in my opinion; that being don’t ask of God those things which are our responsibility. And the greatest responsibility we have as Americans is the welfare of our children!

We cannot cure the ills of other nations, especially not those of Muslim nations. But We the People are responsible for our own children! And there are too many children suffering right here in America, whether suffering at the hands of monsters, suffering hunger and inadequate health care, suffering a failed educational system, suffering being born without hope of any future beyond welfare and crime, the hypocrisy of failing our own children while pretending concern for the children of other nations must be a stench in the nostrils of God! Remember that when you “say your prayers.”