Vague nonsense is standard fare in U.S.

I really hate when there's a tragedy and someone on TV says "our prayers go out to the family and friends of whoever". Indeed.

Exactly how do these precious prayers "go out"? Were they inside before, and now you've released them like doves or balloons? And exactly what is this thing you're sending "out"? Will the recipients know when it "arrives"? I mean, do you put a special wrapper and a return address on "it" when you direct it to "go out"?

If people's minds weren't befuddled by nonexistent gods, they wouldn't say meaningless things like this -- and certainly not to people who've suffered a terrible loss. Saying a prayer is as meaningful as singing "Ring Around the Rosie". Why not make a dinner for the bereaved, instead? Or send them some cash or groceries. And with these, you know, real gestures, the people would actually get something. Special bonus: they'd know when the items arrived.

Prayers are cheap and meaningless. Plus, I'll bet most of the people who say they'll pray for others don't even bother to do so. Not that it matters, of course.

Note: My draft of this post went out yesterday by accident. I never intended that to happen. If you read it, wipe the memory from your mind and read this version.

Religious twits

In the New York Times today:

LONDON (AP) — The Church of England has published a prayer in advance of the royal wedding asking God's help for Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton to be faithful. 

The prayer published Thursday seeks God's help so that the couple can live in lifelong faithfulness to each other. They plan to marry April 29 at Westminster Abbey.

The new prayer seeks God's help to strengthen the couple's will and deepen their love for one another. 

Roman Catholic leaders in England and Wales have also issued a similar prayer on behalf of William and Middleton. 

 Isn't that special? It must be grand to be a religious "leader".

"What did you do today?"
"I issued a prayer."
"Marvelous!"

Issuing a prayer. Nice work if you can get it. Religious twits.

Religious twits running loose in the world

When I lived in Manhattan, I was once a patient at St. Vincent's Hospital in the Village. While there, I saw an appalling thing. Even today I shudder to think of it.

There was a knock at my door one morning and a priest stuck his upper body into my room. Ugh. He had a rosary dangling from one hand and some sort of spooky religious "vestment" in the other. Ugh.  And he said, in a sweet voice:

"Would you like a prayer?" 

Ugh! It was like he was some kind of mad cigarette girl at an old-time nightclub, but marketing prayers instead of smokes. I looked at him with open disgust and said, in my best Bea Arthur voice, "No! Get out."

What is wrong with these people? They should hide in darkened churches and leave normal people alone. There are a lot of sick people in hospitals and not one of them is in need of a prayer.

"Would you like a prayer?" Ugh!