Right around the turn of the century, Christians stopped referring to private worship or private prayer as worship or prayer. Instead, they chose to use the phrase "Quiet Time." Thus, saving them the embarrassment of admitting they pray or worship in their homes. It was also a neat way for the religious right to further equate silence, much like what is found in a "moment of silence" in some public schools, to prayer time.

It has also become a source of boasting, as followers of Christ who are told to pray without ceasing can now boast about spending 20 minutes to an hour in quiet time praying. The length of one's quiet time is seen to have a direct relationship to the value of one's soul. And God laughs.