And finally… price of prayer

They found that Christian participants were willing to pay for thoughts and prayers from others while non-believers were willing to pay to avoid them.

Linda Thunström, an economist and an author of the study at the University of Wyoming, said: “That was a big surprise. Atheists and agnostics are actually willing to give up money to avoid people’s thoughts and prayers.”

Public figures have faced increasing criticism for their use of language when tragedies occur.

“It may reflect the political climate we are in,” Thunström said.

“Some of these people might feel they hear the phrase ‘thoughts and prayers’ all the time, and perhaps it provokes something in them.”