Rabbi Marc Gellman:

“When you come right down to it, there are only four basic prayers. Gimme! Thanks! Oops! and Wow!”

Gellman was commenting to Connie Schultz of the Cleveland Plain Dealer for a column published today.

But when you’re a Christian Rightist, the rules of prayer change. A new rule applies: That of smiting the people whom you don’ t like.

Says Schultz:

Religion has become the weapon of choice for many people in this country, particularly the far right, and it’s alienating a growing number of Americans. A lot of us don’t buy into a version of God who picks sides, not between good and evil, but between Democrats and Republicans. We don’t believe God cherry-picks religions, either.