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The National Day of Prayer in the U.S. (NDP)

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Note:

This is not an official site for the National Day of Prayer (NDP). No such site exists. The NDP is simply a day recognized by the U.S. Federal Government as a time when Americans who are affiliated with all organized religions -- and none -- are urged to pray. It is similar to other special days, like Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, and Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

This is not an official site of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, an Evangelical Christian non-profit group with close ties to the Fundamentalist Christian group Focus on the Family. They are one of many non-governmental agencies which coordinates the organization of many prayer events across the U.S. on the NDP.

This is part of the ReligiousTolerance.org web site which supplies information about many aspects of religion to Americans and Canadians, while promoting religious freedom and religious tolerance.

Quotations illustrating different concepts of the National Day of Prayer:

Inclusivity: "On our National Day of Prayer, then, we join together as people of many faiths to petition God to show us His mercy and His love, to heal our weariness and uphold our hope, that we might live ever mindful of His justice and thankful for His blessing." President Ronald Reagan, 1988-MAY-5. (Emphasis ours) "The Congress... has called on our citizens to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society and to honor the religious diversity our freedom permits by recognizing annually a 'National Day of Prayer.' " President George W Bush, 2002-MAY-2. 1

Exclusivity: The NDP Task Force's "Application for Volunteer Event Coordinator" asks for: A personal testimony "How did you come to know Jesus as your Savior." The "local church or fellowship" that the applicant attends. "Ministries" that the applicant has served in.  2 "My people wouldn't come to a meeting that is an inter-faith event." Pastor William Keller, president of the Delaware County Evangelistic Association, 2003-APR-13. He organized an exclusively conservative Christian NDP event to be held on the same day in Muncie, IN as an inclusive multi-faith NDP event . 3

About the NDP:

The National Day of Prayer (NDP) is held on the first Thursday in May, according to Federal statute. Originally conceived as a time when Americans of all denominations and religions could gather to pray to their deity/deities, it has evolved into a mainly Evangelical Christian observance. However, there signs that may revert to a more inclusive event.

Topics covered in this section:

	Overview of the NDP
	History of the NDP
	Is the NDP legislation constitutional?
	Criticism of the evangelical Christian domination of the NDP, by Americans United
	Is the NDP inclusive -- for Americans of all religions?
	The relationship between the NDP and the NDP Task Force:
	Inclusive celebrations of the NDP: For all Christians, people of other faiths, and others
	Governors' NDP proclamations (some inclusive; others exclusive) For the year 2004 For the year 2005
	The National Day of Reason: An alternative celebration on the same day:

Reference:

1. George W. Bush, "National Day of Prayer, 2002: A Proclamation," at: http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/media/president.cfm
2. "Application for Volunteer Event Coordinator," at: http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/ You may need software to read this PDF file. It can be obtained free from:
3. Kieth Roysdon, "Day of prayer divides faiths," The Star Press, 2003-APR-13, at: http://www.thestarpress.com/

Copyright � 1999 to 2005 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally published: 1999-MAY-5
Most recent update: 2005-MAY-17
Author: B.A. Robinson

Web ReligiousTolerance.org