Kevin, I'd be interested to know how we reached this point. I made an observation that if praying does no harm, why not give it a crack? If you're right that nobody is listening, then you're no worse off. If you're wrong, you may be very glad that you were willing to reconsider your position. Imagine a free-of-charge vehicle servicing and you'll get my intended flavor. Then imagine somebody who says he refuses a free-of-charge servicing because the engine is fine and it's based on fear. Of course I agree that there's a good chance that the engine may be fine. I'm happy to live and let live, and also to leave it there.
"... They ne'er cared for us
yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses
crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to
support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act
established against the rich, and provide more
piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain
the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and
there's all the love they bear us."
-- Shakespeare: Coriolanus, Act 1, scene 1