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Are people who attend progressive churches now in danger of mass shootings?

Posted by rachaelbliss • 7/28/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: Bill O'Reilly, Hannity, jim adkisson, knoxville, michael savage, tn, tvuuc shootings

People Power Granny used to attend the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, which was recently attacked by a shooting suspect who read the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Hannity and Michael Savage. Are members of progressive churches now the scape goats of the right wing, afraid of a Democratic victory in November? Vote in my poll at peoplepowergranny.blogspot.com. See you at church this coming Sunday!

User Comments

7/28/08

rachaelbliss

I think we may be at-risk. But most of us are willing to take that risk for moral as well as theological reasons. To us the future of the generations that follow us are important enough for us to risk our lives worshiping a God who is inclusive and forgiving.

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1. 8/02/08
  
  hayesstw
  
  Been at risk for years, though the risk is less now than it was 30 years ago.
  
  Many of us had death threats, some had vandalism, and some were physically attacked, even murdered.
7/28/08

drjay1966

Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh must really be proud that somebody finally took what they say about liberals seriously.
I was reading comments on web articles about this earlier and was pretty amazed on how many of them put their emphasis on condemning Unitarians for the sin of NOT WORSHIPPING OUR VERSION OF GOD BUT HAVING THE NERVE TO CALL THEMSELVES A CHURCH ANYWAY. Honestly, it makes me wonder if the big surprise should be that this hasn't happened before.

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7/28/08

clioandme

In answer to the initial question: That's kinda like asking if people who go to school or university will be shot, just because some nuts have done some killing in those kinds of places too.

Course Dr.Jay has a point about irresponsible hate speech too, something I was trying to get at in part on the discussion about tolerance this weekend.

edited to add: there's a difference between speech and killing, but sometimes someone comes along...

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7/28/08

DrowseyMonkey

Didn't the news just say it had more to do with a domestic dispute? He used to attend that church and his ex was there ... and she was his intended target? But hey, spin ... spin.

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1. 7/28/08
  
  MadameX
  
  Careful, Drowsey. Facts are not well received in discussions like this.
2. 7/28/08
  
  DrowseyMonkey
  
  LOL .. oh yeah. Forgot where I was for a minute there.
  
  Ah well, it's not like she ever comes back to these threads after she starts them anyway.
3. 7/28/08
  
  MadameX
  
  It took me a long time to realize that because of the way she always refers to herself in the third person and calls herself something different in her posts than the user name she posts under...and then she's always the first to answer herself...I wasn't initially clear that there was only one person involved here.
7/28/08

georgiagetaways

would it have made the news if this guy shot up the Walmart instead?

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7/29/08

rachaelbliss

Yes, I am the first to comment. Somewhere someone said that the questioner should be the first to comment. I can stop if folks like.

Another time I responded to a criticism that I only get discussions started by telling folks that by the time I write a blog, put a discussion up as a crash blog promotion and make the first comment, that's usually enough for me. I do have another life out there.

And so what if I refer to myself in the third person. That's the name of myself on my site. Of course, I want folks to go back and read what I wrote. It's usually important.

And no, the assassin didn't go to kill his wife. He was out to kill liberals, any liberals. Read the knoxnews.com.

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7/29/08

bladeaxe4

some people have really gone nerdy,... sssh dont worry, humanity is still not extinct !

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7/29/08

satijournal

It was only a matter of time. Right wingers love to hate.

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1. 8/02/08
  
  globalgirl
  
  Actually, people without love can't help but hate, including those in the republican and democratic party, right or left. Hardness of heart has no party affiliation. Even a birthday party.
8/02/08

howisbradley

I attend a Unitarian Church. During our Vigil for those in Tennessee it was unanimous that we shouldn't change a thing, just like the church in Knoxville has stated. We should take precautions, but not cower in fear.

I'm not a fan of the right wing or republicans in general, but we must remember that this guy was just plain nuts. Let's not lump them all to be like this man.

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8/02/08

globalgirl

What exactly is a "progressive" church?

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