Article January 31, 2000 Issue

On the ethics of prayer

Are your prayers following the Golden Rule?

Channing Walker

In December 1944, while Europe reeled under the last major German advance of the war, the harshest winter weather in memory slammed down on the battlefield and nearly froze out the Allied response. General George S. Patton, in command of the United States Third Army, called for an unexpected maneuver. He ordered his senior chaplain to write a prayer to change the weather. According to a cinematic version of the events, the chaplain balked at the order because of qualms about using prayer to forward killing, no matter how necessary it appeared to be. But Patton was insistent, the chaplain complied, the weather changed, the war continued.

Prayer isn't designed as the means for us to advise God.