May 7, 2015, will be the National Day of Prayer, observed on the first Thursday of May every year since 1952. Although the day has been observed by people of the diverse religious traditions of the country, for the most part it has been developed, promoted, and observed by more conservative groups of Christians.

To volunteer as an organizer through the official National Day of Prayer website, an individual must give a statement as to their “relationship to Jesus Christ,” and further indicate whether they agree or disagree with a statement of faith which includes several assertions characteristic of conservative Christianity: the infallibility of the Bible, the deity and virgin birth of Jesus, the blood atonement, bodily resurrection, and final judgement to life or damnation. That affirmation alone excludes many Christians, not to mention Jews, Hindus, Buddhists or Zoroastrians.

There have been efforts to expand events on the National Day of Prayer to include the diversity of the American religious scene, while others have suggested that the Day is a violation of separation of church and state, saying it is inappropriate for the government to “tell people when to pray.”

What do you think? We invite your comments below.