[governmentstillsucks]

I also have another thing to add: As I mentioned, I believe it to be true that Washington prayed an hour before and after bed time. IF a man is a deist (one who believes God created the universe but does not control or effect it), then why would a person pray? What would they pray for? I call myself a Christian and I don’t spend that much time praying. Well, why would a deist pray to a God who does not control the universe two hours every day? There is no way our Founding Fathers were deist or atheist.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, a Deist in the historical context of the Revolutionary War period is not the same as today's deist, which holds something called "God" basically as a cosmological place marker. Have you read David McCullough's, "1776?" Pretending I don't know what I do, McCullough's fairly well-researched and accurate portrayal of General George Washington doesn't strike me as that of a relatively noncommittal deist.

And it just hit me, why would atheist or deist ensure that there was inalienable (God given) rights? Deist don't believe God does not control the universe and atheist don't believe in a God at all.

You are correct: there is no point in prayer for a deist; and on a deeper level, if God does is not capable of intervening in the most fundamental natural processes, what good is prayer?

You've brought to mind an old joke that a very white and very American Buddhist guru told me years ago: He said that I shouldn't worry how badly I pray or meditate, because no one's listening anyway.

[do the dhue]

You've brought to mind an old joke that a very white and very American Buddhist guru told me years ago: He said that I shouldn't worry how badly I pray or meditate, because no one's listening anyway.

And I have a joke for him. If he is right, I am willing to pay for it. If I am right, he is going to hear about it.

OK, it aint that funny. I'll work on it. :-)