Most Americans Think Public Calls to Prayer Are ‘Helpful’
Most Americans think public calls to prayer after a national tragedy are “helpful,” according to a Summit.org/McLaughlin and Associates survey published this week.
The poll asked respondents what they think of public calls to prayer after a national tragedy, in light of the “outpouring of prayers” for the safety of Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest on the field during a Monday night football game in Cincinnati. It was released from the hospital about a week after the near-tragedy.
Sixty-seven percent said the national prayer calls are “useful”, while 20% said they were unnecessary and 13% either didn’t know or refused to answer.
Opinions tend to differ from generation to generation. For example, 68% of people aged 41-55 think they are useful, as do 70% of people aged 56-65 and 77% of people over 65.
However, 55% of 18-29 year olds think they are useful, while over a quarter of this age group, 27%, think they are useless. A quarter of these 30-40 year olds also think they are useless, while 62% consider the national prayer to be useful.
The survey was conducted from January 19 to 23, 2023.
Earlier this month, the Buffalo Bills confirmed that Hamlin and his family were present during the divisional round game with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Welcome to the house, @HamlinIsland. ❤️💙#CINvsBUF | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/OG88gibcVv
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 22, 2023
However, this appearance sparked rumors and speculation that the individual was not Hamlin but a lookalike as no one could see the player’s face in the footage. Bills QB Josh Allen, who declared Hamlin’s medical emergency served as a “spiritual awakening” in his walk with Christ, strongly fired the speculation.
“Yeah, that’s stupid,” he said. “…First, it’s Damar’s loot…he likes to wear it. Two, he was in the locker room with us before the game.
“So yes, it was Damar. There is absolutely no chance, there is absolutely no chance. This is Damar Hamlin. He’s our guy. He’s our brother. He was with us – pre-game, post-game. He was in the suite with his family, his little brother, 100%. So people have to stop this shit,” he added:
.@JoshAllenQB reacts to ‘Damar Hamlin body double’ conspiracy theory.
🔗: https://t.co/C8MpyK4NfV pic.twitter.com/Cugk8Nd3PV
— Kyle Brandt’s basement (@KBBasement) January 24, 2023
Hamlin posted a video update on social media, expressing his gratitude.
“I think it was important for me to wait and speak publicly at the right time, because it was just a lot to process inside of me mentally, physically, even spiritually…it’s just been a lot to process. But I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the love, all the support and everything that’s just happened to me,” he said, adding that what happened is a “ direct example of God using me as a vessel to share my passion and love straight from my heart with the world, and I am able to give it back to children and communities around the world who need it most, and that has always been my dream.
Breitbart
