Friday, November 9, 2007 | Reason : Wingnut News | print version

Georgia plans service to pray for rain

by Shannon McCaffrey, AP

Reposted from:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/11/08/georgia_turns_to_prayer_to_ease_drought/?p1=email_to_a_friend

sonny

ATLANTA --What to do when the rain won't come? If you're Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, you pray.

The governor will host a prayer service next week to ask for relief from the drought gripping the Southeast.

"The only solution is rain, and the only place we get that is from a higher power," Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley said on Wednesday.

Perdue's office has sent out invitations to leaders from several faiths for the service, set for Tuesday.

Perdue has several times mentioned the need for prayer -- along with water conservation -- as the state's drought crisis has worsened. Over the summer, he participated in day of prayer for agriculture at a gathering of the Georgia Farm Bureau in Macon, Ga.

Perdue, a Baptist, has enjoyed strong support from Georgia's Christian conservatives.

The Southeast has been suffering from an intense drought in recent months that has threatened supplies of drinking water. Georgia has been locked in a battle with Alabama and Florida over how much water should be sent downstream from the state's dwindling reservoirs.

Governors from the three states reached a temporary agreement after meeting with Bush administration officials in Washington.

The prayer service will be held outside the state Capitol on Tuesday. Unless, of course, it rains.

"Then we'll move it inside, thankfully," Brantley said.

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1. Comment #86562 by Mango on November 9, 2007 at 4:06 pm

I'd like to see him invite some Native Americans to perform a rain dance.

Other Comments by Mango

2. Comment #86569 by BaronOchs on November 9, 2007 at 4:14 pm

Mango that should by all means be the case!

Other Comments by BaronOchs

3. Comment #86572 by Quine on November 9, 2007 at 4:20 pm

Let's ask them to drop the CO2 levels while they are at it.

Other Comments by Quine

4. Comment #86576 by atkinson on November 9, 2007 at 4:30 pm

The gov ought to heed the advice in Mark Twain's Notebook: "It is better to read the weather forecast before we pray for rain."

Other Comments by atkinson

5. Comment #86586 by aquilacane on November 9, 2007 at 4:52 pm

If it does rain, they will use it as proof of god. If it doesn't rain, they will use it as a sign of god's anger. If it rains bloody fire and brimstone, and a tall man with a white beard comes down from the sky, and banishes them all to hell for disturbing him at a very important part in his great plan, I'll use it as proof of god.

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6. Comment #86591 by JamesDB on November 9, 2007 at 4:56 pm

This reminds me of a comment my grandma made this summer in front of a bunch of my family at a reunion we had.
"well i prayed for good weather but god just couldn't come through for us"
I grumbled under my breath seeing as its my grandma and i hate the idea of tearing into her for such a small offence but do any of these people ever watch the news. Do they figure that the meteorologists are talking to god about what the weather is going to be like tomorrow.

Bah this ignorance is a perfect example of the problems the US has with its public officials.

Other Comments by JamesDB

7. Comment #86596 by phasmagigas on November 9, 2007 at 5:03 pm

idiot. thats all i can say. the british have prayed for sun for 1000's (well 10's of years for sure that ive heard of first hand) of years and they still never get any.

Other Comments by phasmagigas

8. Comment #86601 by bwana ndege on November 9, 2007 at 5:11 pm

20% chance of light showers predicted for next tuesday in Georgia I see from the National Weather Service. Do you think he's got their website in his favourites?

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9. Comment #86620 by Pilot22A on November 9, 2007 at 6:01 pm

If these guys believe in prayer, and an equal number of people in some other State pray that it doesn't rain in Georgia, whose prayer gets answered? I mean, let's say people in an adjoining State don't want people in Georgia to drown in floods, or think Georgia has enough water already, which prayer would more likely be heard by the xian invisible god?

Other Comments by Pilot22A

10. Comment #86623 by Spinoza on November 9, 2007 at 6:14 pm

I see someone's been watching our videos...

Wasn't it just recently that that guy sang the song "Nothing Fails Like Prayer" (Freedom From Religion foundation?), where one of the lyrics goes "Better to check the report, before you pray for rain..."

OR something like that... kinda uncanny that this guy actually DID IT.

Other Comments by Spinoza

11. Comment #86624 by Crazymalc on November 9, 2007 at 6:17 pm

If it just happens to rain when they do pray, then we'll get a B.F.Skinner effect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_f_skinner#Superstition_in_the_Pigeon

and superstition will flourish

Other Comments by Crazymalc

12. Comment #86630 by ChrisMcL on November 9, 2007 at 7:13 pm

Idiot!

Other Comments by ChrisMcL

13. Comment #86636 by 82abhilash on November 9, 2007 at 7:35 pm

Does this not violate the separation of church and state?

Other Comments by 82abhilash

14. Comment #86638 by PeterK on November 9, 2007 at 7:41 pm

There must be too many homosexuals and abortionists in Georgia right now, and as a result, all Georgians are now being punished.
Look what happened to Nawlins. Shameful, I say.

Other Comments by PeterK

15. Comment #86641 by steveroot on November 9, 2007 at 7:55 pm

I can't wait to know the answer:
*YES
*NO
*WAIT

The suspense is killing me!
Steve

Other Comments by steveroot

16. Comment #86648 by MelM on November 9, 2007 at 8:20 pm

How lazy! No dancing or burnt offerings!

Other Comments by MelM

17. Comment #86659 by Steever on November 9, 2007 at 10:03 pm

"The only solution is rain, and the only place we get that is from a higher power," Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley said on Wednesday.

Check this out: http://science.howstuffworks.com/cloud-seeding.htm

Dunno how effective "cloud seeding" is, but regardless, it appears that Chinese scientists disagree with Brantley's assertion that praying to an imaginary sky-father is the only way to encourage rainfall. At least the Chinese are tackling the problem head on, rather than mindlessly beseeching their imaginary friend to fix everything for them.

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18. Comment #86662 by dlitt on November 9, 2007 at 10:29 pm

When it rains - and it will eventually - he'll have his tesimonial of God's power. What a putz!

Other Comments by dlitt

19. Comment #86702 by Conrad on November 10, 2007 at 2:12 am

People ELECTED this man to work for their betterment. And his answer to problems is to pray? I'm beginning to think I should go into politics. Anything is smarter than proposing prayer as a way to get rain. Even if I suggest swallowing your spit I'll be elected in a heart beat.

Other Comments by Conrad

20. Comment #86715 by scottishgeologist on November 10, 2007 at 2:44 am

This nonsense happened last year as well, in Lubbock:

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/2006/07/24/lubbock_texas_plans_to_pray_for_rain/3430/

....sigh....

Other Comments by scottishgeologist

21. Comment #86716 by Mike O'Risal on November 10, 2007 at 2:45 am

Again?!?!?!

Perdue did this five months ago, in early June. It didn't work that time, either.

Gee, wonder why.

Other Comments by Mike O'Risal

22. Comment #86734 by Duff on November 10, 2007 at 3:22 am

Isn't it wonderful how these simple people start praying after the drought has been going on for a while and then, just like magic, it rains and they think god has finally noticed their plight and has decided to answer their prayers and give them a little rain.
We'd all be more impressed if they would pray for rain to fall every wednesday and god answered that prayer.

Other Comments by Duff

23. Comment #86735 by k1mgy on November 10, 2007 at 3:24 am

"Does this not violate the separation of church and state?"

Not when they have merged.

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24. Comment #86759 by bwana ndege on November 10, 2007 at 5:12 am

"Does this not violate the separation of church and sleet?"

Had a visit to my school from a catholic priest yesterday. My suggestion that he be searched for any video recording equipment went down well.

Other Comments by bwana ndege

25. Comment #86766 by EgoSumNemo on November 10, 2007 at 5:37 am

You, know...something strikes me when I'm reading this article. IF they believe that they can get rain solely by praying for it, why not pray for something more important? I mean, aren't they supposed to be a "friendly" religion (like all say they are)? Then why not pray for world peace? Or even better, that every person on earth becomes happy and has a good life? (which indirectly would mean world peace)
So, why don't they?
You wanna know what I think? I think it's because they don't really care about such things. They're just selfish superstitious fools, no matter what they say.

Other Comments by EgoSumNemo

26. Comment #86767 by Flagellant on November 10, 2007 at 5:48 am

Georgia could, instead of praying, perhaps appoint someone appropriate to deal with the drought.

In 1976, the UK had a terrible drought (make that 'nice summer', phasmagigas) lasting many months. Like all countries with a proper, constitutional church-state, they weren't prepared to leave it to god. Instead, they appointed a (political) Drought Minister, Denis Howell. I don't think he had to do much and it immediately started to rain.

People were always inclined to view him as a bumbling twit, but he obviously had things going for him. I heard him speak in the Commons, once. He was very lucid. I think he died in 1998. We might be able to disinter him and send him over, Georgia. There was obviously something about him that this 'god' fella hasn't got...

Religion – an activity for consenting adults in private.

[Edit: updated for spelling and more information.]

Other Comments by Flagellant

27. Comment #86775 by alexmzk on November 10, 2007 at 6:13 am

""The only solution is rain, and the only place we get that is from a higher power," Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley said on Wednesday."

i laughed out loud when i read this. Perdue could have been reading straight from the Koran at this point.

Other Comments by alexmzk

28. Comment #86780 by STLstrike3 on November 10, 2007 at 6:25 am

Methinks someone needs a meteorology lesson.

Other Comments by STLstrike3

29. Comment #86795 by Vendetta on November 10, 2007 at 7:02 am

As Dennett would say, "yes, thank you, but have you sacrificed a goat?"

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30. Comment #86810 by mcadamsdj on November 10, 2007 at 7:42 am

It's a good thing he's in a position of power...

What's next, a government "love in" to solve the homeless situation in Atlanta?

Moron.

Other Comments by mcadamsdj

31. Comment #86816 by Cwazy Cat Lady on November 10, 2007 at 8:01 am

"When it rains - and it will eventually - he'll have his testimonial of God's power. What a putz!"

Quite!!

Let's force him to put a time constraint on that prayer--how about by tomorrow? What's he willing to bet...?

Other Comments by Cwazy Cat Lady

32. Comment #86826 by Flagellant on November 10, 2007 at 8:37 am

OK, so no-one likes the idea of sending the remains of Denis Howell. While Vendetta's Dennett suggestion has merit: 'try sacrificing a goat', I'm not sure that it has the essentials of a sacrifice. I learnt at Sunday School that a sacrifice had to be something really valuable, otherwise it wasn't really a sacrifice. (In a modern context, god might see the sacrifice of one goat simply as an esoteric extension of the Monty Hall problem.)

God once required Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac until, at the last minute, god relented and accepted a ram, caught by its horns in the thicket. (No consistency and no constant values, this god.)

Now, I have a neighbour with a very valuable, thoroughbred dog. It's also a nuisance - yapping at all times of the day and night. Do you think this animal might meet the criteria?

Alternatively there could be a famous father and son pair of politicians who might be persuaded to help out properly...

Religion - an activity for consenting adults in private.

Other Comments by Flagellant

33. Comment #86882 by Corylus on November 10, 2007 at 11:15 am

Flagellant

Alternatively there could be a famous father and son pair of politicians who might be persuaded to help out properly...

Huh? Tony and Hilary Benn? Surely not, they're vegetarians. No sacrificing of goats for them!

... Arrh – not the father and son politicians you meant ;)

Other Comments by Corylus

34. Comment #86887 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on November 10, 2007 at 11:19 am

"The only solution is rain, and the only place we get that is from a higher power," Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley said on Wednesday.

Man, that these people can keep a straight face. Besides, what about cloud seeding? Or building aqueducts? Wasn't someone doing that like 2500 years ago?

These people really need to get into the iron age.

Other Comments by briancoughlanworldcitizen

35. Comment #86944 by nancy2001 on November 10, 2007 at 1:46 pm

Sacrificing a goat might work. Better yet, let them sacrifice a Fundie.

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36. Comment #86951 by fin on November 10, 2007 at 1:59 pm

steveroot:

I can't wait to know the answer:
*YES
*NO
*WAIT

... which is explained in:
http://godisimaginary.com/video8.htm

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37. Comment #86957 by Vendetta on November 10, 2007 at 2:27 pm

35. Comment #86944 by nancy2001 on November 10, 2007 at 1:46 pm

Sacrificing a goat might work. Better yet, let them sacrifice a Fundie.

Now now, Nancy... Even though the world would be a better place without fundies, the ends don't justify the means. We want to be better than fundies :)

Other Comments by Vendetta

38. Comment #86962 by steveroot on November 10, 2007 at 4:51 pm

36. Comment #86951 by fin on November 10, 2007 at 1:59 pm
steveroot:

I can't wait to know the answer:
*YES
*NO
*WAIT

... which is explained in:
http://godisimaginary.com/video8.htm

Good catch! And don't forget:
http://www.whydoesgodhateamputees.com/
Steve

Other Comments by steveroot

39. Comment #86979 by Satanburiedfossils on November 10, 2007 at 8:43 pm

If the Almighty can spontaneously create water, wouldn't it be more expedient to just pray for God to supernaturally fill all the depleted wells and reservoirs with water?

Or, why not just pray for God to cause all the taps to produce water-on-demand?

But then, the biblical God has never been known to take the most logical and straightforward approach toward anything.

Other Comments by Satanburiedfossils

40. Comment #86987 by Satanburiedfossils on November 10, 2007 at 9:08 pm

This just in...

God apologizes for the inconvenience, but the celestial plumbing has developed a clog.

The Almighty is currently negotiating with the plumbers in heaven for an estimate on the repair. As God is dealing with contractors, this could take anywhere from a few days to eternity.

Other Comments by Satanburiedfossils

41. Comment #87007 by Kris Verburgh on November 11, 2007 at 1:28 am

Praying for rain: that's going back to 50 000 bc :-)

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42. Comment #87011 by scottishgeologist on November 11, 2007 at 1:47 am

Steveroot "Yes, No , Wait"

I once had the misfortune to attend a "mens retreat" which was full of charismatic types praying the usual "Lord we just want to ...." repeated ad nauseam

There was this pompous git who stood up at one point and gravely announced "God has 3 answers to prayer -Yes No and Wait" and then sat down.

Of course, there was much "amen brother" and sage nodding of heads. Man, it was embarassing. I think it was possibly that event that caused the trickle of doubt to turn into a full blown flood.

Actually, this business of "praying for rain" is actually quite useful. A lot of Christians would be embarassed by this. But why should they? After all their holy book promises them that whatever is asked for in "his name" they shall get.

Of course, what they tend to do is to pray like: "Father grant healing on this land" or "Lord we pray that your blessing might not be withheld" or " Grant us understanding Oh Lord to accept that your ways are higher than ours" or "we pray that your hand may be upon this child of god" and so on and on and on

In other words, when it is couched in verbose diarrhoea like this, it is sort of comforting, cozy, and acceptable. Gives them a warm fuzzy feeling and it sounds all very grand and stately.

Its all a pile of poo.

There is no difference whatsoever between praying this sort of stuff and asking specifically for rain, lower gas prices (honest, follow this link:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=1898442&page=1

or for suuccess on the sports field.

And of course, "nothing fails like prayer"

SG

PS: Just noticed that the outfit that were resposnible for the "pray for lower gas prices" thing , praylive.com currently have a suspended web site:

www.praylive.com

However there is no escape for them. The whole sorry tale has been ensnared by web.archive.org and you can see it here:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060911002919/http://praylive.com/events/LA_Prayer.htm

To quote Peter Cook and Dudley Moore: "Laugh? I nearly shat!"

Other Comments by scottishgeologist

43. Comment #87674 by zenmite on November 12, 2007 at 6:54 pm

I'm from georgia and this crap is just embarrassing, but very widespread. Years ago my father walked into his business and found an employee on his knees praying for god to 'heal' a piece of faulty equipment. Why not? It makes as much sense as praying for rain.

Other Comments by zenmite

44. Comment #87743 by Philip1978 on November 13, 2007 at 2:39 am

Starship_Deviant

Hurry up with the prayers/rain dance old chap, its still raining in Maidenhead! Or is your God a non interventionist in Maidenhead?

Philip

Other Comments by Philip1978

45. Comment #87804 by irate_atheist on November 13, 2007 at 7:41 am

Twat.

Other Comments by irate_atheist

46. Comment #87814 by Philip1978 on November 13, 2007 at 8:19 am

Starship_Deviant
I'm trying...honest, but its raining here in Farnborough too now.

Do or Do Not there is no try! :)

See look, God has got you sacrificing goats in a G String, its too cold for that stuff mate, at least put a coat on!

Curry goooood!

Philip

Other Comments by Philip1978

47. Comment #87823 by irate_atheist on November 13, 2007 at 9:09 am

Bell-end.

Other Comments by irate_atheist

48. Comment #87880 by bluebird on November 13, 2007 at 1:29 pm

Another page is added to the annals of backwards thinking:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2007/11/13/rainprayer_1114.html

Other Comments by bluebird

49. Comment #88352 by phasmagigas on November 16, 2007 at 5:56 am

whoops, looks like god misheard the prayers for georgia and unleased rain over bangladesh instead, its interesting as there will be millions praying for it not to rain anymore over bangladesh. Actually, no, thats not interesting as most know here.

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