The Senate Agenda for today has been posted, and the very first on the list is District 21 State Senator Mykayla Voita’s Senate Concurrent Resolution 604 is first on the list.
In case you had forgotten, I mentioned it earlier..
Senator Voita and her end-time army resolution by Pat Powers
Voita has introduced a 4 page resolution requesting everyone pray and fast in July, “depriving ourselves of those temporary physical comforts.” (What about fireworks? Is her version of jesus-government still going to allow us to do fireworks in July?).
And for the “the Paraclete to move within the halls of government, classrooms, businesses…,” etc.
Under that post, in the comments, a reader had picked up on a big item I hadn’t even considered:
The learned senator, in effect, wants to culturally appropriate Islam’s holy month, which is the ninth month of their calendar, move it to the seventh month, and sanction it–by the State–as a Christian practice of worship. I doubt whether a concurrent resolution has ever had a fiscal note. But this one deserves a fiscal note. South Dakota sales tax revenues rely on the taxation of food, both at the grocery store and in the restaurant. Those two industries, hopefully, will oppose this measure, or in the future there could be layoffs during the month.
Um.. well looking at the resolution..
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call upon all those who are physically able and spiritually inclined to join us annually during the month of July, for a time of prayer and fasting, depriving ourselves of those temporary physical comforts so that we may be awakened to our need and hunger for God, humbling ourselves before Him, prayerfully seeking His face, asking for His forgiveness, forsaking all wickedness, and begging Him to bestow His healing, blessing, grace, and mercy upon us, so that we, our communities, our state, and our nation will be transformed into a people fit to be His own.
and comparing it to an explanation of what Ramadan is to non-practitioners..
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed to have been revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
I find myself challenged to disagree with the commenter’s thesis that Senator Voita is trying to create a funky Christian appropriation of Ramadan in July in South Dakota, as sponsored by the state. Because that’s what she’s proposing.
I think Christians and Muslims should be free to worship in the way they choose. But first and foremost, we can follow the US Constitution, keep church and state separate, and we don’t need Voita’s “Ramadan in July” resolution or any other Christian, Muslim, Buddist, etc. religious resolutions being promoted by the state legislature.
To each their own. Let’s all get along without the legislative coercion.
While prophet/Senator Voita is young in her years, she has a lot to learn about both World History and Christian religion (other religions to it shall seem).
First off, it is know that when governments push or enforce religion, history shows an initial sense of unity that quickly hardens into control. Political power fused with belief turns disagreement into heresy, narrows acceptable thought, and justifies surveillance of private life. Religion becomes a tool to legitimize authority rather than a personal source of meaning, and leaders gain protection from accountability by framing their actions as morally or divinely sanctioned.
Over time, this dynamic leads to repression, social conflict, and backlash. Ironically, state-enforced faith weakens genuine belief, producing resentment, resistance, and eventual instability. History’s warning is clear: when belief is compelled by power, both freedom and faith are damaged—and the system ultimately undermines itself.
Pat you are spot on with the comparison to the Ramadan. Voita speaks about the Old Testament not realizing that this is also where the Islam faith gets its roots. Christians, with the New Testament and the coming of Jesus realize that:
1. The Old Testament focuses on God’s covenant with Israel through divine law, obedience, and prophecy.
2. New Testament centers on Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of those prophecies and introduces a new covenant based on grace and faith rather than strict adherence to the law. For Christianity, this distinction is foundational: Jesus is understood as the decisive revelation of God, transforming the law from an external system of rules into an internal, spiritual relationship with God, and expanding the covenant beyond Israel to all people.
We are saved by Jesus’s grace alone Mrs. Voita. Not by pushing our religious work through the State House of SD. I feel bad for those who have to make a decision to vote on this reckless, unthoughtful, and sacrilegious resolution today.
As a Christian, I support this message. This was correctly stated. Much like the Ten Commandments being mandated in classrooms, you can’t save people through coercion. In fact YOU can’t save them at all.
Separation of church and state apparently doesn’t matter to her. Will be interesting to see how this vote goes.
This legislature seems eager to pass unconstitutional legislation.
100% agree. This legislatures priorities are completely messed up. That being said this is a resolution so doesn’t hold any weight or put anything into law. I used to sit on a board where the public wanted us to pass resolution after resolution. They don’t do anything, have no legal weight and are a waste of time. There must be something better that Ms Voigta could be working on. I’ve found that those who try and prove they are most godly, have the most skeletons crammed in their closet….
It’s interesting to see all the Divorcees sign on as sponsors of this resolution. . The resolution talks about divorce being a result of our broken society. God hates divorce.
I noticed Tom Pisskey signed on to it. He’s divorced–he should be removed from the legislature.
White Christian nationalism continues to grow stronger each day.
As a Christian, I wish people would stop grandstanding on their faith.
I’m just noticing that the title kind of rhymes..
Urging the people of the state of South Dakota to return to the Lord Most High, the Almighty and Uncreate..
.and plead for His mercy upon the state.
I’ll watch for this new hymn to be sung at church.
I want to add another verse.. something like “Hope we don’t end up like Heaven’s Gate“
Looks very much like the proclamation George Washington wrote. What’s the problem?
No it doesn’t. Vastly different.
A few paragraphs vs. 4 pages for one.
Washington was trying to unite a country after civil war. Voita is trying to put a Christian “notch in her belt”.
She digs into the faith in a disturbing way that should give Christians the ick. I don’t want to join in with the “end times army” who literally, in her church, lay their hands on people and heal them. I believe Jesus did that and others do that to collect offerings to “their cause”. I don’t want anything to do with that craft.
clarification – Jesus healed. Other’s do not heal, but they collect money from people who are coerced into believing that someone can heal them by good works.
Let us pray:
Dear Lord:
Strike down these sinners with your Holy Laser Beams of Justice!
Pew! Pew! Pew!
Amen.
There are very many things that it be worth resolving to urge South Dakotans to do, for the betterment of themselves and their neighbors. That’s without also adding a month of “sack cloth, ashes, denial and repentance” to appease God in His Heaven. Can we just not go there?
Gun-crazy religious nut horse girl Republican. Uff da.
It is not that which goes INTO your body which causes sin, whether you fast or not; but that which comes OUT of the body that causes sin – evil speech and behaviors, lies and criminal intent.
No silly bill setting up an annual game of biblical Simon Says is needed at this time. We already have a National Day of Prayer, why not make better use of that??
Proverbs 1:28: “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.”
Another waste of taxpayer time and resources during our sprint of a legislative session further justifying going to sessions every 2 years rather than annual. these legislators are using the taxpayer dime and time to promote their interpretation of religion. South Dakota taxpayers are of many faiths and beliefs with some being Atheists.
A wonderful book one can check out at their public library or purchase at a local book store is:
Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds by John Fugelsang
It is a best seller and one can read this on their own time,
Passed the Senate 22-11.
Faith is real, between God and man and no one else. It takes real courage to stand and pause when it doesn’t feel right.
Senator Otten’s words “I felt pause”. You have been a Christian your whole life but were asked (forced) to vote yes on this. Despite feeling pause you and others caved to the pressure of the masses.
Faith is sometimes quiet and sometimes loud. But confuse neither. Thank you to all the Senators who voted no because they believe in something bigger than 35 people on the SD Senate floor.
And we just created a precedent shit show for the future.
Hey everyone, I found the waste!
I’ll be sure to pray to my lord and savior Flying Spaghetti Monster in July. No fasting for me though, I’ll be munching on his noodly appendages all month long.
If we have to fast on the 4th of July, no grilling brat pig out? Very Un South Dakotan
If I find any of those Senators who voted yes, eating on the 4th of July – I will let them know they are going straight to hell.
Matthew 23:5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long”
Anon 4:45: This! Spot on.
Ironic the Senate is pushing state recognition of one religion on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
And face their hypocrisy? Pffbbtt,
“It is utterly appalling that this legislature, on the day dedicated to interfaith recognition, chooses to push through a bill that is nothing more than an insidious extension of Christian nationalism. The Bible does not endorse any notion of Christian superiority over others. People come to faith through their own free will, not because a self-righteous legislator seeks to impose her skewed interpretation of God’s will on the entire population. This act is devoid of true religious spirit; it is a grave betrayal of what it means to honor the divine. This is not just shameful—it’s a blatant affront to justice and equity. Let there be no mistake: shame on all who support this disgraceful agenda!”
Well said and thank you!
Wait the republican is Islamic? I think you missed the picture lmfao. Holy shit. This entire thing was meant to fund Israel.