Former Guardian Journalist Blasts #PrayForLondon, Says ‘Bloody Stupid Beliefs’ To Blame for Attack
British commentator/journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer blasted calls for prayer in the wake of the London terror attack in a Wednesday post on Twitter. She also pointed the finger at religion for the incident:
Can everyone stop all this #PrayforLondon nonsense. It’s these bloody stupid beliefs that help create this violence in the first place.
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) March 22, 2017
Twitter users subsequently lashed out at Hartley-Brewer, who is an atheist. However, the former Guardian journalist doubled-down on her remarks in a series of tweets:
I’m an atheist. The solution isn’t prayers. It’s down to real people on a real planet not an imaginary God. https://t.co/CVNKo1WhTi
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) March 22, 2017
I’m not stupid & I don’t think all religious beliefs are the same @montie. But I know prayers by ANYONE won’t do anything to solve anything. https://t.co/ePuCRsm1gj
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) March 22, 2017
Absurd people being absurdly angry with me about this tweet. Save your anger for the terrorists, you fools. https://t.co/9SeH5FjBQ9
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) March 22, 2017
@thewasher19 @giles_fraser so having an opinion on religious expressions is indecent now? Have you thought about joining Isis?
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) March 22, 2017
@blondpidge when people offer to pray for me, I always tell them not to. I find it offensive.
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) March 22, 2017
For the hard of understanding, I don’t equate all religions with Islamic terrorism. I’m saying prayers don’t solve anything. Anywhere. Ever. https://t.co/9SeH5FjBQ9
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) March 22, 2017
This isn’t the first time that a prominent writer slammed calls for prayer after a terrorist attack. Back in November 2015, Canadian columnist Doug Saunders took to Twitter and criticized those who were calling for prayers for the citizens of Paris in the wake of the Islamist terrorist attacks there: “‘Pray for Paris’ seems a cruel slogan to direct at a country whose very existence is a mass secular revolt against religious authority.” Saunders subsequently deleted some of his anti-prayer tweets.
[image via screengrab]
