VP Vance frames this as a left-wing argument opposed to faith, but that's not how it's worked. Faith leaders *themselves* regularly made similar arguments — including in his own tradition, Catholicism. E.g., this is a statement from Sisters of Mercy of the Americas (Catholic nuns) on the shooting.
Whoever instructed Vance in preparation for his reception into the Church did a so-so job.
I’ve been on the Zen path for more than a decade and I’m still reticent to espouse its teachings to others. Yet JD regularly spouts off as if he was the flippin’ Pope. Have some humility, my guy!
I was raised Catholic but it was done in conjunction w the saying “God helps those who help themselves.” These “thoughts and prayers” folks need to quit their allegiance to the NRA trough of donor money and actually work to fix the problem. I highly doubt that they will, tho. 😡
Vance’s ‘tradition’ is authoritarian grifting.
JD might try reading James 2: "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” Prayers without action are worthless!
Here's Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, in his response to the shooting.
Hey JD, the Sisters of Mercy say, “Our response can no longer be "thoughts and prayers" alone. Children were literally praying during the attack. The obsession with the gun ownership in the United States has denigrated our ability to respect the image of God and human dignity of all persons.”
bsky.app/profile/brcr...
Vance is a massive hypocrite. Even if trump leaves office soon -- which would be greatly welcomed by all decent human beings -- that smug phony would be just as bad (but wouldn't have the fanatic loyalty his bloated dear leader does). Sadly, we're a long way from ending this fascist nightmare.
It is also a bit of a crappy take to take someone saying "prayers are not enough," and claim he is attacking prayer. I know JD is educated enough to have basic reading comprehension, so he is purposefully deflecting and attacking the original post.
I mean, if anything suggests prayer is an empty and ineffective gesture, it’d be the sheer weight of prayer expressed for the victims of American gun violence.
I’ve never heard a left winger say “Don’t pray for the victims.” Ever! But politicians that have the power to stop these shootings only offer thoughts and prayers and then do nothing. JD needs to turn to James in his Bible: Faith (prayer) by itself, if it does not have works (ACTION!) is dead!
Wow. That is the most powerful thing I have ever seen Psaki say. And I TOTALLY agree.
The underlying issue is nuns are women. I mean who's closer childless cat ladies” than nuns, "who are “miserable”. He also devalues single women saying " people who have children should have more votes than people who don’t have children" which applies to every nun since the beginning of time.
It's been said a million times, and in language even the densest can absorb: "God helps those who help themselves." or the classic: Woman prays daily to win the lotto. For years – nada. Finally, "Lord, I want only this one thing. Even just a scratch-off!" God yells, "LOIS! JUST BUY A TICKET!"
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. WATCH WHAT THEY DO; NOT WHAT THEY SAY.
"THOUGHTS N PRAYERS" IS JUST AN OLIGARCHY CONDESCENDING PHRASE OF "LET THEM EAT CAKE!"
this generation of Reform thinks 'Works' are not just useless but actively un-Christian. Sola fide bro!! The apple has fallen far from the tree and it appears to be still rolling
