Praying for lower gas prices: An invitation to fallacious reasoning

Yes, people are once again praying for lower gas prices.

If gas prices go down following the prayers, should the prayers be credited for the lower prices? This is Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc in action: “After this, therefore because of this.” The presence of rain after I do a rain dance does not indicate that the rain fell due to my special dance. Thus, the temporal succession of events does not necessarily establish a causal connection between them.

I went to church a two weeks ago. Then gas prices went up. Did gas prices rise due to my church attendence? Well, ok, I didn’t really go to church two weeks ago. But I think you get the point.