For the government to take on the task of promoting 'godly principles,' it would first have to determine what’s godly and what’s not. It would have to elevate one version of faith over others and never be neutral on matters of theology.

While the ruling is limited to the issue of legislative prayer, it’s still troubling. It is yet another in a problematic line of recent decisions that allow government entities to endorse and promote religion (just about always Christianity) as long as it’s being done for 'historic' purposes.

Through the National Day of Prayer, the government prods and provokes and says that prayer is something you ought to do – maybe it’s even something that real Americans do, and if you choose not to, you’re somehow a lesser citizen.