Generic Prayer

A survey of Christian websites reveal an almost universal distain for prayer to a “generic” god, as they pray to a “particular” God. There can be no such thing as a “generic” god. How could you possible embody all beliefs in a single word? Thus, the only group of people that a “generic” god would appeal to seems to be those who are not particularly religious but are “spiritual”.

It is well-known that most of those who are promoting prayer in public settings are evangelical and fundamental Christians. You generally do not hear “Moderate” Christians or members of non-Christian religions calling for formal group public prayer.

“Generic prayer” may violate the “Lemon Test”. To be constitutional, a statute must have "a secular legislative purpose," it must have principal effects which neither advance nor inhibit religion, and it must not foster "an excessive government entanglement with religion."

“Generic prayer” is divisive, is “watered down prayer” to a religious person and it may be illegal. Why do it?

Addendum: In the Board of Education of Kiryas Joel Village School District v. Grumet (1994), Justic David Souter, writing for the majority, concluded the “government should not prefer one religion to another, or religion to irreligion”.