Religious Left

by Mindy Boggs The Huntsville Times We cannot simply dismiss the recent Knoxville Unitarian church shooting with "There's another lunatic among us, and you just never know, so let's beef up security in the parking lot." No, we need to do much more than that. We need to examine "public opinion" and the people and institutions who "shape" that opinion. You do not have to be "crazy," or the town lunatic, to commit murder, as this man did. You just have to believe strongly enough about something. When someone places all responsibility for society's ills (or their personal ills), as they define them, on a group of people who share a different ethnic background, religion, or political beliefs, one may come to hate this group so much, it triggers the desire to commit a crime and "sacrifice" oneself, along with the "guilty" ones. Generalizing, stereotyping, blaming can lead to ideological fanaticism. When we hear it, read ...

By DUNCAN MANSFIELD, Associated Press Writer The York Daily Record KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—An out-of-work truck driver (Jim D. Adkisson) accused of opening fire at a Unitarian church, killing two people, left behind a note suggesting that he targeted the congregation out of hatred for its liberal policies, including its acceptance of gays, authorities said Monday. Adkisson's ex-wife once belonged to the church but hadn't attended in years, said Ted Jones, the congregation's president. Adkisson remained jailed Monday on $1 million bond after being charged with one count of murder. More charges are expected. Four victims were hospitalized in critical condition. full article

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville In an enduring photograph of September 11, a team of rescue workers carry a Franciscan priest’s body from the World Trade Center. The world came to know Father Mychal Judge, a Chaplain of the Fire Department of New York City, in death as a symbol of courage and sacrifice. Father Judge was a gay man who loved his priestly work. When: September 05, 2007 - 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM Where: Hodges Library - Lindsay Young Auditorium - Knoxville, TN 37996