Two congressional representatives are sponsoring a resolution to create a secular alternative to the National Day of Prayer. No big deal right? Wrong! The nice Fox News Christians on Outnumbered say that this is another attempt, by "mean" atheists, TO DESTROY OUR CHRISTIAN AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE!
Sandra Smith began with the patented Fox anti-PC reference: "It looks like PC craziness is spreading from college campuses to college campuses to Capitol Hill." She reported that two lawmakers "are introducing a measure to designate May 15th as a National Day of Reason" which, as she noted coyly, is the same day as the sacred National Day of Prayer. She described the stated purpose of the measure - for "religious and non-religious Americans to come together" (totally unacceptable in the Jesus loving world of Fox News, America's Christian network) "and recognize the importance of reason in the betterment of humanity." (not highly valued on Fox)
Smith referenced a poll which shows that those who are very religious are happier than those that aren't. She didn't mention that 20% of Americans are not connected to any religion. Eboni Williams said that while she respects those who don't share her spirituality, she doesn't "understand the point of this day." She asserted that "if you don't want to subscribe to the National Day, then don't, but why a separate, designated holiday." Smith snarked "atheists will say that we need a day, too."
#Oneluckyguy and former CIA agent (?) Mike Baker expressed joy that they were discussing this as "it shows the downward decline of this nation." He opined that "church is very important to us, you get the community, you get the friendship, you get the support (and the shaming and the guilt...) all the things that we used to get and people say, now the government needs to provide that." (Uh, what does that have to do with the Day of Reason?)
The gals chuckled as he continued his incoherent rant: "It's like a vegan, a raw vegan, it's not good enough for them to be a raw vegan, they want you to be a raw vegan...atheists are the same way. I don't care if you believe [uh, yeah, you do] but you don't have to shove your non-belief down by throat [so, how is a congressional resolutions shoving anything down anybody's throat] and I'm not going to proselytize to you." (But a National Day of Prayer isn't shoving a right wing Christian agenda down the collective throat?)
Sandra Smith continued to pimp the patented Fox anti-atheist agitprop: "Can't they just leave our National Day of Prayer alone?" Doing some concern trolling, Harris Faulkner that her "biggest problem" is that this "causes a day of judgment" because it causes folks to ask others "why aren't you into the Day of Prayer, why are you only into the Day of Reason."
When Baker quipped that he liked her idea of a day for judging, Andrea Tantaros, with her comment about how "every day is a day for judging," actually described Fox News! She "joked" that it is "rich" that those in Washington are calling for reason. Devout Christian Tantaros worked in the propaganda coup-de grace: "I think atheists in our culture have caused this culture to become so secular, so coarsened, and so godless. I think the atheists have won a lot of battles and they get most days in this country. Let the Christians have the National Day of Prayer, I mean really."
Ya want to talk "coarsening" of culture - let's start with the very Christian and prayerful Fox News which continues its own war on "nasty" atheists who, sorry Outnumbered gals, don't want to take away your precious Day of Prayer. I mean, really....
Nobody is saying don’t pray, if you want to pray. But people on Fox News are taking away my freedom to REASON?
Maybe they’d be better off putting into practice what Jesus said on the subject of prayer:
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:9-14, KJV)
It also brings to mind a wonderful speech given by Julia Sugarbaker (portrayed by the late Dixie Carter*) in the “Designing Women” episode, “The Candidate”:
“Because I’ve got news for you, Mr. Brickett………..all liberals are not kooks, anymore than all conservatives are fascists!! and the last time I checked, God was neither a Democratic nor a Republican! And just for your information, yes I am a liberal, but I am also a Christian. And I get down on my knees and pray everyday
*Dixie Carter, while portraying one of the most firebrand liberals in TV history, was, in real life, a conservative (but, by today’s standards, she’d be a moderate).
