I just heard on NPR: Church congregations, across the nation...

[BlueJazz]

...are praying for the people in New Orleans.

[xmas74]

1. We did today.

And all of today's coffers were for NO and the Gulf.

[Left Is Write]

2. And....?

Is this praise or condemnation?

[BlueJazz]

4. Oh..I'm sure some Duer's understand...

..EXACTLY what I'm saying...

[Left Is Write]

5. Well, I don't, and I'd like to.

So I'll ask again: is this condemnation? Is there something wrong with churches across the nation praying for the victims of the hurricane? Is it somehow meant to imply that that is ALL the churches are doing?

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

10. I don't think that is what the original poster meant .

I think that the poster is talking about the outpouring of support for those who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina .

[Left Is Write]

14. I hope so, but his cryptic answer to my question made me think otherwise.

[BlueJazz]

15. What I'm saying is that>>>>

1. I find it depressingly ironic that (probably) 80 percent of the people who attend church, voted for this Republican joke-of-an-administration...who sat on their asses while experts warned them over and over that something like this would happen to New Orleans within the next few years.

2. Plus the fact that they're praying to some spirit that, if She/He/It existed, (obviously) didn't give a rats ass in the first place....I mean, this spirit is going to help them now?...yeah..Right!

3. One other poster said something like "If it makes them feel good"

4 I won't even tell you how much I give a shit whether it makes them "Feel Good"..or not.

5. They can take their Phony-Bologna prayers and stick them up their ass...and maybe start educating themselves and start living in the real world..

[Left Is Write]

16. I see.

I am a lifelong Democrat who has been praying daily for the victims of the hurricane.

[BlueJazz]

20. I don't think you see my point ..fellow DUer...

You..are the 20 percent that has very right to pray for..whatever.

The 80 percent that pray their asses off and then ....by their voting record....allow such pieces of human trash to occupy the highest offices in the land, also deserve to pray.... but for them though..I find them Phony and disgustingly ignorant.

[friesianrider]

22. I am with you, BlueJazz.

I knew what you meant from the get-go.

With all due respect to praying Americans (and I consider myself one of them, and have prayed since this tragedy began), these people don't need prayer so much as they need MEDICINE. Not so much as they need FOOD. Not so much as they need WATER. And, not so much as they need rescuing from their rooftops (at least, those who are still alive and have not died from heat stroke or stress or trauma or lack of basic medicine or cholera or typhoid fever).

I think many of the hypocrites who put this piece of shit in office think their responsibility to the victims ends with praying for them. Pray, yes, but they are also very real things these people need too.

[BlueJazz]

25. Thanks!...Isn't it strange to (in effect) cause the very Hardship,

...and Suffering that have effected so many people and then dress yourself up.... drive to a place of worship and pray that the very people that you Completely Fucked are going to "Weather this Storm??...AGGGG!!!

[RayOfHope]

32. Well, some of us are praying AND donating $, supplies, time, etc n/t

[BlueJazz]

33. That's because you are .....

..a caring, kind person and not a phony.

[Tallison]

18. Re: #5

Who are you to judge the sincerity of people's prayers? That's backward and close-minded, IMO, and not at all progressive.

[friesianrider]

23. I think..

That he is not doubting the sincerity of someone's prayers, but that most of the people doing the praying (let's face it - the majority of frequent churchgoers voted for *) put this piece of scum in office. He was giving reference to the fact that someone said "hey let them if it makes them feel good" and the OP was simply saying that people should not say a 30 second prayer and think their responsibility to the victims ends there. Yes, peay...but they need real, substantive help now too.

[Tallison]

24. Prayer offers a chance to reflect

Something that especially conservatives could use. I fully support this and the humanitarian efforts it hopefully inspires.

[friesianrider]

27. I doubt though that these church-going * voters...

Are praying for any other reason than to feel they "did their part" by saying a silent 30-second prayer. Granted it's more than some people have done, but still. If the posts over in Freeperville are any indication of this lot, they're spending twice as much time praying that * doesn't receive any problems from this and he gets to appoint Scalia to the top SCOTUS post.

As I said, it is perfectly good to pray, but prayer alone will not put water and food in the mouths of 20,000 refugees this evening.

[progmom]

35. so what are we supposed to do?

i donated. i have called my congress people repeatedly. i feel helpless. i pray.

i can't directly put food in these peoples' mouths.

what are you suggesting i do?

[skygazer]

3. I'm not a christian

And I don't really believe in the power of prayer. But like so many other things, joining together and praying gives people a sense of doing something at a time when we all feel helpless. And hey, if it DOES happen to work, how can that be bad?

[Tallison]

6. Prayer can be very psychologically beneficial

It can help w/feelings of grief, hopelessness, and resentment and replace them w/serenity, hope and the mental energy to get constructive about challenges.

I would think twice before belittling the practice.

[tjwmason]

7. Not just across the nation

We had prayers for New Orleans at Mass this morning too.

[tjdee]

8. They also took donations for Katrina.

That's what churches do--encourage people to pray. I know so many DUers have a problem with that :eyes: but I know for a fact that many of these churches have started fund drives / care package sort of things for the survivors/victims.

Praying doesn't mean they did nothing else.

[Left Is Write]

13. Absolutely.

Churches across the country have organized or are participating in donation drives, collecting money, food, supplies, and clothing. Churches are full of volunteers sorting donations, distributing supplies, and mobilizing their members and neighbors. There are churches and congregations providing housing, transportation, and necessities to those who have been devastated by the hurricane.

My own husband and a colleague of his are working with local churches to round up buses for the purpose of hands on help in the Houston area distributing supplies and transporting evacuees.

Across the country, churches are encouraging their members to live up to this simple commandment: Love your neighbors as yourselves.

[tjwmason]

19. I agree with you utterly

Indeed I would note that Catholic Charities were getting geared up for this before it hit N.O., and were already clearing up some of its smaller effects in Fl. by the time it arrived in La. too.

Unfortunately - some folk on here don't seem to have much time for religious people being religious even when it's in their own time, in their own church.

We go to church to pray - given the circumstances it would be utterly ridiculous not to pray for N.O.

[auntAgonist]

9. and this is or isn't

a good thing in your estimation?

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

11. Ok I really think ( and hope ) that the original poster

is talking about the outpouring of support of people all across the nation ( and world ) for the victims .

[BlueJazz]

21. YES...But..Only when they haven't caused the problem in the first place.

(By their voting record)

[I Have A Dream]

37. I wonder if what you're saying is that, rather than praying, it would...

be more helpful to our country and even the victims of this disaster if those that voted for B* would finally have an epiphany so that they'd realize that they are part of the problem that caused this situation. My guess is that you resent the B* voters not recognizing this and praying, oblivious to the damage that they've allowed to happen on their watch. Personally, I think that this is what Jesus would prefer also.

For those people who already realize that B* is responsible for this horrendous situation, I personally think that prayer is an appropriate step at this point.

[hfojvt]

39. I must be too ignorant

because I missed the part where Bush caused the hurricane. I read some of Elorial's thread collection about LIHOP/MIHOP but that is a little bit too paranoid for me even though I am LIHOP about 911. It is harder for me to see an obvious benefit to the BFEE from their incompetence in this disaster. I do not hear that much about their incompetence from local or ABC news either.

Of course, they can learn by reading Punpirate's excellent essay, but reading this site there also seems to be a fair amount of "and now it's raining again, that fu$%ing Bush" or, as in this thread "Bush voters are praying. Praying sux, fu$% Bush voters!" I am sure that is a very compassionate and noble sentiment or at least justifiable since they have fu$%ed us all, but does it play in Peoria? Does it help us win in 2006? I highly doubt it, especially since it does not even play well with some DUers.

[arwalden]

12. Hands That Work Are Better Than Lips That Pray...

... assuming of course that FEMA actually lets them IN to the affected areas to actually DO some work.

[trof]

17. I don't take offense when people pray for me.

Given my lifestyle, they do it a lot.
I don't believe in it, but I think it's sweet that they care.
:-)

[BlueJazz]

26. I completely feel the same way....But..

..If they were the ones that Rammed the 2X4 up my ass in the first place then...well..you know... :)

[RevCheesehead]

28. Here we go again....

I'm sitting this one out. :popcorn:

[BlueJazz]

31. (With respectful Kindness)...No...this is/was not about Christians..

(True Christians) or even praying.
Just Phonies who pray because a part of them allow themselves to inflict their hurtful ways on the rest of us... :)

[undeterred]

29. Hide thread button.

[RevCheesehead]

38. it ain't working at level 3

:popcorn:

[Rabrrrrrr]

30. We prayed AND collected money to send there

Not sure why you have such a craw up your ass because people prayed (and yes, I read your other posts in this thread). I bet you'll find that most of those churches also raised money, and that collectively, they will send a ridiculous shitload of it; along with thousands of volunteers who will volunteer to go there precisely because of their Christian faith (not to mention those who will go because of their Jewish, Muslim, and other faith). And, a lot of those volunteers, and money senders, will be rightwingers who probably also voted for Shrubbie McDickLick.

I see no reason to be offended and to be so dismissive of millions of people doing what their faith calls them to do - offer their suffering, and the suffering of others, to God.

Just seems a natural outgrowth of one's faith.

Perhaps you'd rather see people just send money, and forgo the praying?

[progmom]

34. hey

:hug:

thanks for that. i don't have to say it now.

[RPM]

36. how about bringing some of them into their homes?

works better than praying... or will god provide?