On this national day of prayer, I pray that there will be less prayer in the future. As we know from statistical evidence in the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS 2008) (pdf) Religious identification in US has been slowly decreasing. You can also see a 10.2% decline in the total number of Christians from 1990 to 2008 (Catholic and Protestant) despite the influx of overwhelmingly Catholic Latinos.
While it can be said that prayer has some benefits not too different from meditation, the benefits are tangential. The idea that prayer has any other literal benefits is irrational, lacks evidence, and has been detrimental to children and adult physical well being when used a substitute for scientific/medical examination. I also think that seriosly relying on the supernatural for anything in your life is potentially detrimental to one's ability to be a responsible human being.
Religious people also claim that morality can only come from God and religion, yet there is no reason why rational human beings cannot come to the basic morals that are in the best interest of the Human community. We do not need God to let us know that we should not steal or kill or otherwise hurt other human beings.
Religion provides convenient answers for the unknown which makes some religious people happier when coping with loss and adversity, but such convenient answers perpetuate ignorance of the real world and stymie progress. We need less ignorance and more progress, and taking prayer seriously perpetuates a certain lack of awareness that is endemic to the US society.
So my prayer for today is that I hope there is less prayer in the future and more realism, awareness, rational thought, scientific progress, and responsible human actions that deal with the real World problems. Let's not close our eyes but look forward with eyes wide open.