Who is burning Texas churches?

[Firebird]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-churchfires_05met.ART.State.Edition2.4b92b85.html

There have been two more church fires, believed to be arson, since this story was written. Since 1 January, there have been 8 churches burned, mostly in East Texas. Nothing here is believed to be racially motivated.

So what's going on? Angry atheist? Angry Christian? Just plain jerks? Connected?

Wonder if any of you Piney Woods folks know any of the places that have been burned.

[the_phoenix612]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-churchfires_05met.ART.State.Edition2.4b92b85.html

There have been two more church fires, believed to be arson, since this story was written. Since 1 January, there have been 8 churches burned, mostly in East Texas. Nothing here is believed to be racially motivated.

So what's going on? Angry atheist? Angry Christian? Just plain jerks? Connected?

Wonder if any of you Piney Woods folks know any of the places that have been burned.
:ninja:

[the_phoenix612]

srsly, though. This is a shame. Fire is totally not the most fun way to destroy a building.

[Favpack]

Very scary around here, particularly the Tyler/Longview area. Leads the news on most nights now. Church goers and pastors are on edge, lots of prayer vigils going on. The flip side is it is breaking down barriers and getting folks to look outside their own church walls.

[Point Made...]

We don't ever want to relive the days of the civil rights movement...but I'm not discounting anything.

And it wouldn't justify anything if it's just some kids playing the role of pyromaniac fools...:mad:

[drgnbkr]

The article says they are not racially dominated, Baptist, Christian Science, etc....I could understand this in Godless California, but Texas is the buckle of the bible belt...Sad.

[KT2000]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-churchfires_05met.ART.State.Edition2.4b92b85.html

There have been two more church fires, believed to be arson, since this story was written. Since 1 January, there have been 8 churches burned, mostly in East Texas. Nothing here is believed to be racially motivated.

So what's going on? Angry atheist? Angry Christian? Just plain jerks? Connected?

Wonder if any of you Piney Woods folks know any of the places that have been burned.

I saw a special on church burning in Norway not too long ago. It was honestly one of the most freaky things I've ever seen. They interviewed priests in the churches that were burned, as well as some of the people who did the burning. They looked directly in the camera and straight up stone cold "we are working for S**** and our mission is to eradicate Christianity." It made any supposed evil groups I've seen/heard of in this country seem like child's play in comparison.

[Firebird]

I saw a special on church burning in Norway not too long ago. It was honestly one of the most freaky things I've ever seen. They interviewed priests in the churches that were burned, as well as some of the people who did the burning. They looked directly in the camera and straight up stone cold "we are working for S**** and our mission is to eradicate Christianity." It made anything atheist I've seen/heard of in this country seem like child's play by comparison.

Scandinavian death metal is an odd cultural phenomenon. I think those guys just have to let their Viking impulses run wild somehow. It isn't healthy for them to be cooped up in their homeland with no monasteries to pillage and villages to burn.

[the_phoenix612]

The article says they are not racially dominated, Baptist, Christian Science, etc....I could understand this in Godless California, but Texas is the buckle of the bible belt...Sad.
You're funny. Do you actually think all the things you say or are you just ElPrez trolling us?

[drgnbkr]

I saw a special on church burning in Norway not too long ago. It was honestly one of the most freaky things I've ever seen. They interviewed priests in the churches that were burned, as well as some of the people who did the burning. They looked directly in the camera and straight up stone cold "we are working for S**** and our mission is to eradicate Christianity." It made anything atheist I've seen/heard of in this country seem like child's play by comparison.

Whoa!:eek:

[the_phoenix612]

I saw a special on church burning in Norway not too long ago. It was honestly one of the most freaky things I've ever seen. They interviewed priests in the churches that were burned, as well as some of the people who did the burning. They looked directly in the camera and straight up stone cold "we are working for S**** and our mission is to eradicate Christianity." It made anything atheist I've seen/heard of in this country seem like child's play by comparison.
Can we dispel the atheist=satanist notion? Please?

In order to believe in Satan you have to believe in the Judeo-Christian system of gods and semi-deities.

[drgnbkr]

You're funny. Do you actually think all the things you say or are you just ElPrez trolling us?

Do you not agree that Texas and the entire region is more religious than say California or Oregon? What's funny about it? I could see it happen in one of those other areas, but not here....Assuming as the story reports, that it isn't racially oriented.

[the_phoenix612]

Do you not agree that Texas and the entire region is more religious than say California or Oregon? What's funny about it? I could see it happen in one of those other areas, but not here....Assuming as the story reports, that it isn't racially oriented.
Not by all that much if you actually look at the data.

Northeast is 22% "no religion"
Mid Atlantic is 17%
Midwest is 15%
South is 13%
Pacific is 20%
Mountains ar 19%

http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf

[KT2000]

Can we dispel the atheist=satanist notion? Please?

In order to believe in Satan you have to believe in the Judeo-Christian system of gods and semi-deities.

That was actually one of the points made in that particular documentary. Most atheists are non-aligned, Rage Against the Machine types.

The Norweigians highlighted in this particular documentary were just straight up evil.

[the_phoenix612]

That was actually one of the points made in that particular documentary. Most atheists are non-aligned, Rage Against the Machine types.

The Norweigians highlighted in this particular documentary were just straight up evil.
confused by what you mean by RAtM types. Most atheists are not hugely successful recording artists. Most atheists are perfectly happy, functioning members of society that most people don't even know are atheistic. That's one of the reasons its so hard to organize non-theists. We're low-key about it, for the most part.

In b4 Dawkins, Hitchens, etc

[KT2000]

confused by what you mean by RAtM types.

Non-conformist

[the_phoenix612]

Non-conformist
Then I would say no. Most atheists are entirely ordinary people.

[slcdragonfan]

Do you not agree that Texas and the entire region is more religious than say California or Oregon? What's funny about it? I could see it happen in one of those other areas, but not here....Assuming as the story reports, that it isn't racially oriented.

Oklahoma wins. :D
Been there, been here. A Methodist church in Oklahoma is like a Baptist church in Texas.

[E-Vol-ution]

I would assume a little hate, a lot of mischief and a smattering of arson for insurance.

[GoOwls]

srsly, though. This is a shame. Fire is totally not the most fun way to destroy a building.

come on, fenix, out the ba****ds.....tell us who in your web is doing it.

[E-Vol-ution]

That was actually one of the points made in that particular documentary. Most atheists are non-aligned, Rage Against the Machine types.

The Norweigians highlighted in this particular documentary were just straight up evil.
True......most atheists I know are more vehement about people giving up 10% of their loot and class prayer. There's no weekly meetings about it.

[the_phoenix612]

come on, fenix, out the ba****ds.....tell us who in your web is doing it.
Yeah, you got it. Every atheist knows every other atheist and there's a giant underground web of malicious undermining perpetrated by all. Induction is at 14 and you're a member for life. We communicate through a network we set up piggybacked on the government's mind-control bandwith.

[the_phoenix612]

True......most atheists I know are more vehement about people giving up 10% of their loot and class prayer. There's no weekly meetings about it.
For most people on this board, I'm ALL the atheists they know...:rolleyes:

[RedRage00]

All the atheists I know are good people.

[the_phoenix612]

All the atheists I know are good people.
yeah, but you're gay so you don't count, remember? :rolleyes:

[JagFan]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-churchfires_05met.ART.State.Edition2.4b92b85.html

There have been two more church fires, believed to be arson, since this story was written. Since 1 January, there have been 8 churches burned, mostly in East Texas. Nothing here is believed to be racially motivated.

So what's going on? Angry atheist? Angry Christian? Just plain jerks? Connected?

Wonder if any of you Piney Woods folks know any of the places that have been burned.

I go with just plain jerks. As far as I know no messages were left saying why it was done. If someone was wanting to make a statement I would think they would leave something as to why.

[KT2000]

Then I would say no. Most atheists are entirely ordinary people.

Non-conformity is an ordinary part of society. Nothing weird about it.

[the_phoenix612]

Non-conformity is an ordinary part of society. Nothing weird about it.
But most atheists aren't non-conformists like RAtM. It would truly surprise you to find out how many people you know are atheists. We tend to either lie about it in the South or just not talk about it at all.

[JagFan]

But most atheists aren't non-conformists like RAtM. It would truly surprise you to find out how many people you know are atheists. We tend to either lie about it in the South or just not talk about it at all.

So you are the exception? No sarcasm, just curious.

[the_phoenix612]

So you are the exception? No sarcasm, just curious.
In public I'm extremely low-key about it. Hardly anybody I work with knows. The Aggie Atheist Society (yes, there is one) is very low key too. My closest friends know, but we don't talk religion or politics, as none of them are as passionate debaters as I am and they quickly tire of it.

Hence, why I come on here to vent it all out. That, and its very hard to ingratiate yourself to a new online community.

[JagFan]

In public I'm extremely low-key about it. Hardly anybody I work with knows. The Aggie Atheist Society (yes, there is one) is very low key too. My closest friends know, but we don't talk religion or politics, as none of them are as passionate debaters as I am and they quickly tire of it.

Hence, why I come on here to vent it all out. That, and its very hard to ingratiate yourself to a new online community.

Thanks for the insight.

[the_phoenix612]

Thanks for the insight.
No problem :)

[KT2000]

But most atheists aren't non-conformists like RAtM. It would truly surprise you to find out how many people you know are atheists. We tend to either lie about it in the South or just not talk about it at all.

I wasn't actually referring to the band with the RAtM reference or burning stuff/rioting. I was just using the expression when I should have just said non-conformists. My bad.

[KT2000]

It would truly surprise you to find out how many people you know are atheists.

It's not a new thing for me. It's a regular part of society as far as I'm concerned.

[the_phoenix612]

I wasn't actually referring to the band with the RAtM reference or burning stuff/rioting. I was just using the expression when I should have just said non-conformists. My bad.
I'm trying to puzzle out what you mean by non-conformist, though. Typically, its used as a euphemism for counter-culture. This certainly isn't true.

In the truest definition, I suppose atheists are non-conformists given that ~70% of society is Christian, but I hardly think this really counts as non-conformist.

My point is simply that there are way more atheists around you than most people think and we don't have the benefit of fancy symbols to wear to identify us.

[E-Vol-ution]

For most people on this board, I'm ALL the atheists they know...:rolleyes:
I'd assume most are don't ask, don't tell.
Far more folks claim Christianity in times of convenience, or call God when they stub their toe, or mother's dying.
In other words.....more hypocrites than atheists.

[the_phoenix612]

I'd assume most are don't ask, don't tell.
Far more folks claim Christianity in times of convenience, or call God when they stub their toe, or mother's dying.
In other words.....more hypocrites than atheists.
using god as an exclamation is cultual and colloquial. I find myself doing it.

[E-Vol-ution]

using god as an exclamation is cultual and colloquial. I find myself doing it.
Closet Christian.........(JK):D

[the_phoenix612]

Closet Christian.........(JK):D
Definitely.

[KT2000]

In the truest definition, I suppose atheists are non-conformists given that ~70% of society is Christian, but I hardly think this really counts as non-conformist.

That's basically it. You could probably take it a step further, and find some global numbers regarding religious followers. Most of the world's population ties itself to religion. Atheists do not, and that would certainly qualify as non-conformist.

[the_phoenix612]

That's basically it. You could probably take it a step further, and find some global numbers regarding religious followers. Most of the world's population ties itself to religion. Atheists do not, and that would certainly qualify as non-conformist.
By that argument, every one is non-conformist, especially when you split christians along denominational lines. No one denomination has >50% market share.

[KT2000]

By that argument, every one is non-conformist, especially when you split christians along denominational lines. No one denomination has >50% market share.

Yes, but each denomination still claims religion and the fundamental beliefs attached to said religion. Ultimately, they are all conformists in this regard despite splitting along certain denominational lines. Those are merely sub-categories.

[KT2000]

Methodist, Baptist and Catholic preachers all read from the Bible. Sunni and Shi'a Muslims all study the Koran. The five sects of Judaism all read from the Torah.

[drgnbkr]

Religious arguments are as circular as political beefs...Burning churches is bad.

[ktCarl]

Religious arguments are as circular as political beefs...Burning churches is bad.

So is burning down 'Matress Mac's' furniture store.

[Favpack]

I've got no problem with debates - but, as I say, you've got about 300,000 East Texans very uneasy right now. I've never seen anything like it in terms of stress. Lots of damage being done that goes far beyond a building burning down.

[drgnbkr]

So is burning down 'Matress Mac's' furniture store.

Damn skippy! As I wave my arm around in a circle.

[Dawg Fan]

It is Bush's fault.....damn pyromaniac ex-president

[RedRage00]

It is Bush's fault.....damn pyromaniac ex-president

THIS!

Bush left his home in Dallas and was on an east Texas trip when it happened!


:D

[Point Made...]

yeah, but you're gay so you don't count, remember? :rolleyes:


gaytheist huh?

[E-Vol-ution]

It is Bush's fault.....damn pyromaniac ex-president
No way....he was always unaware of heat, he'd still be in it saying it's just light outside:D.

[the_phoenix612]

Methodist, Baptist and Catholic preachers all read from the Bible. Sunni and Shi'a Muslims all study the Koran. The five sects of Judaism all read from the Torah.
And everybody is atheistic to 99.9% of all proposed gods.


Seriously, if two sects have gone to war with each other over their differences, they don't count as the same religion anymore.

[ktCarl]

And everybody is atheistic to 99.9% of all proposed gods.


Seriously, if two sects have gone to war with each other over their differences, they don't count as the same religion anymore.

So you are making the rules? I don't like this game.

[mad_fan]

It's probably all the grease they fry the chickens in...

[JagFan]

It's probably all the grease they fry the chickens in...

Are making reference to Baptists and loving fried chicken???

[E-Vol-ution]

Much more likely to be your Grandpa and his old cronies with a bucket list.It's probably all the grease they fry the chickens in...

[mad_fan]

Much more likely to be your Grandpa and his old cronies with a bucket list.

They were dead before I was around...but you could us that line in an anti-war thread...

[mad_fan]

Are making reference to Baptists and loving fried chicken???

I'm not supposed to love fried chickens???:eek:

[JagFan]

I'm not supposed to love fried chickens???:eek:

No, most of the churches that were burned are Baptist and I have heard some jokes about Baptists and fried chicken. (mostly true) Never mind. Baptist joke.

[mad_fan]

No, most of the churches that were burned are Baptist and I have heard some jokes about Baptists and fried chicken. (mostly true) Never mind. Baptist joke.

I've e-vol-ved...no jokes in this thread...

Much more likely to be your Grandpa and his old cronies with a bucket list.

I'm going with the Democratic Underground...
What if the CHURCH BURNINGS are spontaneous combustion?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x352701

[the_phoenix612]

I've e-vol-ved...no jokes in this thread...



I'm going with the Democratic Underground...
What if the CHURCH BURNINGS are spontaneous combustion?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x352701
Not spontaneous combustion, but their own god smiting them:rolleyes:

What a bunch of nuts.

[yallerjacket2]

I agree with Mad. They should check the fryer temperatures. Is coleslaw flammable?

[JagFan]

I agree with Mad. They should check the fryer temperatures. Is coleslaw flammable?

No but the potato salad could be. ;)

[ktCarl]

Could it be militant Christians trying to pin the blame on some other un-Godly group they don't like or agree with? Kind of like Hitler having buildings burn by his people and then blame it on the Jews.

[JagFan]

Could it be militant Christians trying to pin the blame on some other un-Godly group they don't like or agree with? Kind of like Hitler having buildings burn by his people and then blame it on the Jews.

I think they are looking into any and all possibilities.

This mornings news.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Fires-destroy-two-more-churches-in-East-Texas-83893597.html

[E-Vol-ution]

Could it be militant Christians trying to pin the blame on some other un-Godly group they don't like or agree with? Kind of like Hitler having buildings burn by his people and then blame it on the Jews.
Tea Party, East Texas style.:rolleyes:

[RedRage00]

Could it be militant Christians trying to pin the blame on some other un-Godly group they don't like or agree with? Kind of like Hitler having buildings burn by his people and then blame it on the Jews.

Probably.

[mad_fan]

Could it be militant Christians trying to pin the blame on some other un-Godly group they don't like or agree with? Kind of like Hitler having buildings burn by his people and then blame it on the Jews.

Or people from Kentucky...

[yallerjacket2]

Or people from Kentucky...

The Colonel's agents?

[JagFan]

They have ruled the two church fires from this week as arson. Brings the total number this year to 9.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/ATF-Monday-church-fires-in-East-Texas-were-arson-84074612.html

[ktCarl]

They have ruled the two church fires from this week as arson. Brings the total number this year to 9.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/ATF-Monday-church-fires-in-East-Texas-were-arson-84074612.html

I hope those churches don't rebuild even larger buildings with Olympic sized baptismal pools.

[JagFan]

I hope those churches don't rebuild even larger buildings with Olympic sized baptismal pools.

That would not be good. Just rebuild with the insurance money I would hope.

[JagFan]

Two arrests have been made.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Two-arrests-made-in-East-Texas-church-arsons-84912067.html

[smw358]

The devil made me do it........not really.....we don't believe in satan. Confused little atheists.........:rolleyes:


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/6883613.html

[E-Vol-ution]

Two bored dummies who weren't even successful at being practicing Atheists.
Texas has some of the strongest Arson laws in the country.........
One guy has a public defender, the other has one of the top criminal defense firms in the region..............

[RedRage00]

I remember the Flood of 1998 flooded out Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Victoria. They are close to the Guadalupe River. The church was destroyed and demolished and they had fundraisers,etc to build a new church, and they built it CLOSER to the river! :notworthy

Apparently its higher off the ground :rolleyes: