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Patton’s Prayer for Fair Weather and the Turn of World War II

Posted by XenokRoy 8 years, 9 months ago to History
19 comments | Share | Flag

“Chaplain, I am a strong believer in Prayer,” said Patton. “There are three ways that men get what they want; by planning, by working, and by Praying. Any great military operation takes careful planning, or thinking. Then you must have well-trained troops to carry it out: that’s working. But between the plan and the operation there is always an unknown. That unknown spells defeat or victory, success or failure. It is the reaction of the actors to the ordeal when it actually comes. Some people call that getting the breaks; I call it God. God has His part, or margin in everything. That’s where prayer comes in.”

There are some that will not like the religious context of this article. Do not read it if you are one of htese. To me it is two things. A great example of the tool of religion being used to accomplish great things and a really awesome story from history.


All Comments

  • Posted by xthinker88 8 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes. But only an idiot would believe the two events were related. But then again, Patton also believed in reincarnation. As Ayn Rand pointed out - men who use force and mystics are often allied - sometimes in the same man.
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  • Posted by xthinker88 8 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    They probably used more force than was necessary but they drove the moochers from their temporary habitats.
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  • Posted by freedomforall 8 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Just following orders. Disgraceful for Patton, Eisenhower, and especially their commander, General MacArthur. Patton and MacArthur earned court martial that day.
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  • Posted by khalling 8 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    He would have risked court marshal otherwise. I do think it's a shameful episode in american history.
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  • Posted by Itheliving 8 years, 9 months ago
    What Patton asked the Padre to pray for was a change in the weather. I pray daily for no more DVR failures as I do not want to miss an episode of "I am Cait".
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    Posted by sdesapio 8 years, 9 months ago
    Dear Jesus,

    Please convey to your followers that, while we appreciate their presence here in the Gulch, there are probably more appropriate places on the web to post articles celebrating prayer, and faith, and religion and stuff like that. Let's just say the Gulch isn't really thrilled about that whole worshiping a deity thing, so... you'd make my life a whole lot easier if you could just pass along the message.

    Also, can you please stop with all the wars?

    And one more thing, just in case you're listening, please don't let ewv catch wind of this post or there will be SERIOUS HELL TO PAY. He's... uhm... special.

    Oh... and my back hurts. What's up with that? Cut the sh*t already, ok?

    Thanks. Amen. Hallelujah. Fist pump.
    Scott ;)
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 8 years, 9 months ago
    I have heard there is evidence that prayer can hurt morale along the lines of, "They're going to say a prayer!? Oh no. I didn't know things were looking that bad for us."
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  • Posted by Zenphamy 8 years, 9 months ago
    So a religion of peace and sacrifice, and love of thy neighbor and turn the other cheek and etc supported Patton in killing and blowing a lot of men up in other people's property and countries.
    Might be a little oxymoronic there.
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  • Posted by conscious1978 8 years, 9 months ago
    The article is a great example of our ability to arbitrarily convince ourselves that anything is true. It packages an irrational narrative that downplays the law of causality...and certainly three month's worth of 'prayers' before the one that 'worked'.
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  • Posted by khalling 8 years, 9 months ago
    I never get the praying for a good outcome deal. It's either like believing in a fairy god mother or completely ignoring why God allowed the War in the first place. seems completely irrational to me if you ask for a favor. I get contemplation and the meditative aspects of prayer-but it wasn't prayer that won that war. It was planning
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  • Posted by Itheliving 8 years, 9 months ago
    From the film I believe the Padre who got the job done for George received a promotion.
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