On the National Day of Prayer

“A federal judge in Wisconsin declared Thursday that the US law authorizing a National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional” (Warren Richey The Christian Science Moniter). (Weblink: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2010/0415/Federal-judge-National-Day-of-Prayer-is-unconstitutional)

A friend of mine (perhaps it is relevant to point out that he is religious, Christian to be specific) was substantially upset by this outcome. He argued that the establishment clause of the first amendment of the Constitution was written to protect religions from government infringement and not, as he put it, to remove religion from American life. He went on to say that if the government where to ignore religion, as in not having such things as a National Day of Prayer, they would be “alienating” themselves from a majority of the population.

I don't think anyone is arguing that the government should remove religion from american life--that would be very much against the Constitution. However, the government setting aside a day for prayer is a problem, because, as the judge stated, it serves no secular purpose. Which means: it should have never been created in 1952. She also stated that there is no problem with the government's recognition of its religious citizens, however, a National Prayer Day is a deliberate move by the government "to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer..." People can pray whenever they please; creating a National Day of prayer is not only intrusive to non-theists, but to theists who shouldn't have any form of pressure from their government regarding when and where to practice their belief. If a majority of theists freely decide on a single day to "pray together," then so be it--it just doesn't belong as a national holiday. Come to think of it… I am not sure what does.