Your opinion on "Prayer Shaming"?

[Aroura]

True story:

I had a downstairs neighbor who told me she sa'ved a sick, premie baby by praying over it really hard.  Seriously.  I even asked her if the parents weren't probably praying as well? She said they were too distraught to "pray effectively, and she KNOWS it was her prayers that saved that baby.  She spent a lot of time patting herself on the back, and told that story often. Anyway.

Overall, I have little issue with people praying during or after a crisis.  But in this case, the newspaper was specifically targeting politicians who say they will pray, who have the power to make effectual change, but instead continue to push forward with political agendas that only worsen social ills.  So, they needed calling out, IMO.

Just out of curiosity, did the neighbor happen to acknowledge any of the trained medical staff who put their skills into treating this premie? Because you know, I would have loved the opportunity to debate that with your neighbor. I'll be that would have been fun watching her turn a million shades of crimson.

No, she was one of those people who believe humans are hands of god, any good is credited to god, evil is credited to human agency and the devil.

I never argued with her because she was on kidney dialysis, heart problems and diabetes from her obesity. I obviously made her feel good to think she was so important to have saved a child, I was not going to take it away from her. It still sickened me though.