There is a particular disdain for religion that has been simmering among some progressives and liberals for quite some time. Generally, this view stems from a frustration that there is a group of people in this country that see something other than government as their primary authority and source of life. Then-candidate Barack Obama exemplified this attitude in 2008 with his now-famous statement that working-class Midwesterners “cling to guns or religion” to explain his difficulty in garnering their support. Following the San Bernardino terror attacks, the mask slipped again and a significant number of prominent liberals declared the true enemy is those who offer “thoughts and prayers” for the victims, not the terrorists. While certainly not representative of all Democrats, a substantial number of elected officials and pundits sought to shame those whose first reaction to acts of terror was prayer.
What is behind such statements is resentment that following a tragedy, a religious person’s first inclination is not toward a government solution. These liberals believe the god of government is our protector and our provider, and those who believe otherwise are blasphemous fools that must be shamed into bending the knee to the almighty State. Thus, instead of rallying a country in support of terror victims, liberals decided to use this moment to attack anyone who believes prayer to be a force for good.
No, prayer will not end terror attacks (and by the way, neither will more gun control), but it may change the hearts and lives of those affected and those praying, which ultimately could have eternal impact far beyond this life. As the survivors of the attack held hands and prayed outside the Inland Regional Center, some liberals saw fit to mock anyone whose first reaction was to pray. In their mind, people should be breaking down doors to kneel at the altar of big government so it can save us from ourselves.
What they don’t understand is that prayer is at the heart of Christianity (and other religions); it is something we do instinctively, not to end all the world’s problems, but to grow ourselves and others closer to God. God, not government, is our source of strength and hope in good times and bad. Life is more than providing solutions to problems; these liberals would do well to realize that prayer can do far greater things for a person than another government program will ever do.
Zack Pruitt
Zack Pruitt holds a J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and is the Founder and General Editor of www.politicalbeacon.com.
