Religion Kills: Iowa Gov. Declares “Day of Prayer” Against COVID-19

Instead of Being Sensible, Iowa Gov. Declares “Day of Prayer” Against COVID-19

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By Hemant Mehta

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, still hasn’t issued a statewide stay-at-home order, putting the entire state in further jeopardy as COVID-19 destroys lives.

But don’t worry. She declared today a “Day of Prayer” throughout the state, also promoting an online prayer breakfast and sermon. So everything will be okay!

“The power of prayer and faith in God is something that has guided so many of us in good times and bad,” said Gov. Reynolds. “We have all been impacted by COVID-19. Some of us have lost a loved one and others know those who are sick. Whether you are a nurse on the frontlines of fighting the pandemic, a grocery store worker at the register, or the truck driver delivering a shipment, or someone laid off at home, this has been a challenging and stressful time. Let us join together and pray for our neighbors, communities and state.”

The actual order looks like this:

WHEREAS, our nation and world are suffering from a pandemic which has profoundly affected the well-being and livelihoods of millions of Americans; and

WHEREAS, this health emergency has created fear and anxiety in the minds of thousands of fellow Iowans during this uncertain time; and

WHEREAS, our nation’s motto is “In God We Trust”, with America being founded upon Biblical Judeo-Christian principles and values; and

WHEREAS, God’s word teaches us to “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying”; and

WHEREAS, throughout our history Iowans have found peace, strength, and unity through prayer to God in humbly asking for His strength during times of difficulty; and

WHEREAS, prayer provides peace that surpasses all understanding and wisdom in times of crisis and conflict, turning us to God for His comfort and blessed assurance; and

WHEREAS, God’s unconditional love by sending His Son, Jesus, to be Savior of the world is remembered and celebrated by Christians during Holy Week of Easter each year:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kim Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim Maundy Thursday, April 9, 2020 as a

DAY OF PRAYER

in the State of Iowa and encourage all Iowans to unite in prayer and ask God to comfort and bless all severely impacted; to protect medical care workers, first responders and all who are serving during this crisis; to grant wisdom, courage and strength to our local, state and national leaders; and give us all the hands and hearts to be generous with our time, skills, and resources to serve our neighbors within and alongside the many churches, non-profits, businesses, and other organizations providing relief.

There we go. A proclamation telling Jews, Muslims, and atheists to suck it. All while Reynolds refuses to do the one thing in her power that can actually minimize virus risk: requiring everyone to stay indoors excepts for essential services.

Remember that Donald Trump also issued a Day of Prayer proclamation on March 14.

It didn’t help. Kim Reynolds hasn’t learned a damn thing.

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The Wages of Delusion; Virus Denying Pastor Dies Of COVID-19

Christian pastor who thought COVID-19 is just ‘mass hysteria’ among the first in Virginia to die from virus

By Sky Palma

One of the first deaths in Virginia from coronavirus was a 66-year-old Christian “musical evangelist” who fell ill while on a trip to New Orleans with his wife. As the Friendly Atheist’s Bo Gardiner points out, Landon Spradlin had previously shared opinions that the pandemic was the result of “mass hysteria” from the media.

On March 13, Spradlin shared a misleading meme that compared coronavirus deaths to swine flu deaths and suggested the media is using the pandemic to hurt Trump. In the comments, Spradlin acknowledged that the outbreak is a “real issue,” but added that he believes “the media is pumping out fear and doing more harm than good”

“It will come and it will go,” he wrote.

That same day, he shared a post from another pastor that told the story of a missionary in South Africa who “protected” himself from the bubonic plague with the “Spirit of God.”

“As long as I walk in the light of that law [of the Spirit of life], no germ will attach itself to me,” read a quote from the post.

If the truth instead of self-serving lies had been told from the first, from the bully pulpit, he might well still be walking around.

There will be more victims. Many more. Including victims who have never believed a word of the lies themselves.

Religion Kills. By artist Andrei Moga.

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Religious Death Dealers

Six Die After Evangelical Churches Tell Them to Stop Taking HIV Medication

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According to Sky News, evangelical churches in four British cities have been claiming to cure HIV through faith healing. Three undercover reporters entered the Synagogue Church of All Nations, told pastors that they were HIV positive, and all were informed that they could be healed.

The healing process involves the pastor shouting, over the person being healed, for the devil to come out of their body, and spraying water in their face.

Pastors also told the reporters posing as HIV patients that they should throw away their medication after the healing because they had been cured.

If it occurs to you that this might be dangerous, you will be saddened but not surprised to learn that at least six people have died after being told by these churches to stop taking their HIV medication. I applaud the efforts of Sky News to investigate this atrocity. I don’t think America’s corporate media would dare to do something like this. I sincerely hope British authorities prosecute the hell out of these churches.

 

Freedom of Religion or Freedom To Murder? American God Crazies Refuse Medical Care: Infant Dies

US couple found guilty in faith-healing over dying boy

From correspondents in Oregon City

• From: AP
  
• September 30, 2011
  11:50AM

A US couple who prayed and rubbed olive oil on their sick infant rather than seek
medical care for the dying boy have been convicted of manslaughter, becoming the
latest members of an Oregon faith-healing church to be blamed in their child’s
death.

Dale and Shannon Hickman, both 26, are members of the Followers of Christ
Church, which has a history of rejecting medical care for congregants’ children
and relying instead on techniques such as prayer and anointing the sick with
oils.

Five other church members have been convicted in Clackamas County for crimes
related to the rejection of medical care for their children, said Greg Horner,
chief deputy district attorney.

The Hickmans’ conviction on second-degree manslaughter charges typically
requires a mandatory minimum sentence of six years in prison. But because of a
religious exemption in state law at time of the crime, the couple likely will
face no more than 18 months in prison and a $US250,000 ($256,581) fine, The
Oregonian reported.

Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Robert Herndon allowed the couple to
remain free until they are sentenced October 31.

Prosecutors claimed Shannon Hickman never sought pre-natal care when she was
pregnant with David, who was born two months premature at his grandmother’s home
and died less than nine hours later when he had trouble breathing. He was born
with a bacterial infection and underdeveloped lungs.

Medical experts for the prosecution testified that the baby had a 99 per cent
chance of survival if his parents had sought medical care. But prosecutors
claimed the couple never considered taking the baby to the hospital.

Defence lawyer Mark Cogan said his clients were the victims of religious
persecution. He argued that the baby died quickly and said there was no evidence
that medical care would have saved him.

Dale Hickman testified that he didn’t call an ambulance once he realised his
infant son was ailing “because I was praying”. Shannon Hickman said that as a
woman in the church, she must defer to her husband.

“That’s not my decision anyway,” she testified. “I think it’s God’s will
whatever happens.”

Two other parents from the Followers of Christ church were convicted earlier
this year for failing to seek medical care for their infant daughter, who had a
growth that could have left her blind in one eye. They were sentenced to 90 days
in jail.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/us-couple-found-guilty-in-faith-healing-over-dying-boy/story-e6frfku0-1226153773107#ixzz1ZOsfxgLR

Related articles

• Trial set to begin in faith-healing case (bendbulletin.com)
• Parents face manslaughter charge in baby’s death (bendbulletin.com)
• Shannon Hickman Takes Stand in Trial for Faith Healing Baby Death (inquisitr.com)
• Couple face manslaughter charge in baby’s death (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• To ensure care, state will keep custody of faith healers’ child (bendbulletin.com)
• Judge will decide who pays girl’s medical bills (bendbulletin.com)
• Faith healing couple faces hefty medical bill (1minionsopinion.wordpress.com)
• On Wednesday’s Radio Show… (alan.com)