Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

DanieRains

(4,619 posts)
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 10:59 AM Mar 2021

Atlanta Shooter Was An Evangelical Is Never Ever Ever Mentioned

Only once did I hear this on a newscast.

Why is this fact COMPLETELY ignored?

If he was Muslim it would be shouted from rooftops and balconies by people beating on pots and pans in the media.

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Atlanta Shooter Was An Evangelical Is Never Ever Ever Mentioned (Original Post) DanieRains Mar 2021 OP
And his Dad keithsw Mar 2021 #1
Southern Baptist iirc Lars39 Mar 2021 #2
I've heard it non-stop. Not sure what your sources are. Even AP's original, now-removed headline hlthe2b Mar 2021 #3
Evangelical Murders Asians Headline I Have Never Seen DanieRains Mar 2021 #7
I find it offensive to focus on his upbringing and sexual "denial/temptation" as an excuse hlthe2b Mar 2021 #8
Agree Completely DanieRains Mar 2021 #9
There was an article in the Times this morning, but it had a Scrivener7 Mar 2021 #4
Every article I read mentioned it in the 1st couple paragraphs. maxsolomon Mar 2021 #5
I read an article-- can't find it now- saying this 'sex addiction' excuse was a big clue- dawg day Mar 2021 #6
Thanks Mineral Man For Posting This About Evangelicals DanieRains Mar 2021 #10
I don't agree that it is a problem,especially a world problem. pidge Mar 2021 #11
OK, 19 posts, thanks for that. maxsolomon Mar 2021 #12
I disagreed,why argue ? pidge Mar 2021 #29
Evangelicals are a big problem in this country Claire Oh Nette Mar 2021 #13
White, Christian terrorist.. TheRealNorth Mar 2021 #14
K&R UTUSN Mar 2021 #15
Kick and rec. love_katz Mar 2021 #16
I'm not entirely clear on what it means to be an "evangelical" ... Martin Eden Mar 2021 #17
I think the word means "pushy", when it comes to belief. I was stuck in conversation ... JustABozoOnThisBus Mar 2021 #18
The word "hypocrite" also comes to mind Martin Eden Mar 2021 #20
There are loads of exceptions to that Commandment. Mariana Mar 2021 #27
"According to the stories... he (God) ordered his followers to exterminate whole populations." Martin Eden Mar 2021 #32
Because they're proud of their gunz and their hate. lindysalsagal Mar 2021 #19
Actually, the first article I saw about him mentioned he was a preacher's kid... Hekate Mar 2021 #21
And, the irony that DENVERPOPS Mar 2021 #22
it was all OVER the news stopdiggin Mar 2021 #23
Same with MAGA Scum ThatJustHappened Mar 2021 #24
I saw it mentioned several times, but the focus was... Buckeye_Democrat Mar 2021 #25
Just maybe mental and moral degeneracy SHOULD NOT BE Hortensis Mar 2021 #26
Evangelists are a bit different to me, though. Buckeye_Democrat Mar 2021 #28
Christianity is a strongly proselytizing religion, and evangelicalism Hortensis Mar 2021 #30
Yes, and history shows what happened when Catholicism... Buckeye_Democrat Mar 2021 #31
Imo there's no virtue in forcing this event into a hostile picture Hortensis Mar 2021 #33
Are you kidding? I experience it regularly from my... Buckeye_Democrat Mar 2021 #35
This message was self-deleted by its author ExTex Mar 2021 #34

hlthe2b

(113,196 posts)
3. I've heard it non-stop. Not sure what your sources are. Even AP's original, now-removed headline
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 11:08 AM
Mar 2021

referred to his religious background, for which they were resoundingly "reamed" by those who felt it was providing a defense for his murderous rampage as the "good religious boy gone wrong."

 

DanieRains

(4,619 posts)
7. Evangelical Murders Asians Headline I Have Never Seen
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 11:21 AM
Mar 2021

They couldn't do this headline. We know.

It is all about Asians being murdered, an nothing about temptation he was eliminating in his poisoned mind.

Temptation.

Who cares about temptation.

I never use this word.

hlthe2b

(113,196 posts)
8. I find it offensive to focus on his upbringing and sexual "denial/temptation" as an excuse
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 11:25 AM
Mar 2021

Do I disagree with the teachings of the fundamentalist RW religion. You are damned right, but there is no way in hell or on earth I would allow it to be used as a defense.

Scrivener7

(58,875 posts)
4. There was an article in the Times this morning, but it had a
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 11:08 AM
Mar 2021

"Look how hard it is for young evangelical boys" slant.

(PS: I changed my name y'all! . I used to be Squinch

maxsolomon

(38,393 posts)
5. Every article I read mentioned it in the 1st couple paragraphs.
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 11:17 AM
Mar 2021

Southern Baptist. NYT even discussed the specific church he went to.

Blanket statements are inaccurate.

dawg day

(7,947 posts)
6. I read an article-- can't find it now- saying this 'sex addiction' excuse was a big clue-
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 11:19 AM
Mar 2021

that some of these evangelical churches make porn and sexual excitement to be not just sins but pathologies, and that young men who get into porn are "sex addicts", and then some could move from blaming themselves to blaming the "pushers'-- the women.

Of course, most young evangelical men will never murder, but it is rather remarkable how many do actually murder, usually women, often their own wives.

 

DanieRains

(4,619 posts)
10. Thanks Mineral Man For Posting This About Evangelicals
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 11:36 AM
Mar 2021

Fundamentalist Christianity Has Considerable Blame in the Georgia Shootings

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215251355

Time we start talking about America's (and the world's) Evangelical Church Problem.

maxsolomon

(38,393 posts)
12. OK, 19 posts, thanks for that.
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 11:59 AM
Mar 2021

You know "I don't agree" is not a well-reasoned argument, right?

Welcome to DU.

Claire Oh Nette

(2,636 posts)
13. Evangelicals are a big problem in this country
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 12:04 PM
Mar 2021

Evangelicals do not believe in compromise about their faith. In the political arena, this leads to office holders who will not compromise on legislation as it betrays their faith. Government is about compromise. Evangelicalism is about recruiting others to one's own rigid world view.

It's not Jewish people, or Presbyterians, or Lutherans, or Episcopalians committing mass murder against these women of asian descent.

Evangelicals want to be a part of the political arena without paying taxes. THey're big on wanting it both ways. They hold archaic, sexist views of women and female autonomy. They are a problem, indeed.

love_katz

(3,223 posts)
16. Kick and rec.
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 01:34 PM
Mar 2021
No one wants to address the obvious. This is a hate crime. Hatred of women and hatred of Asians. All of the mainstream religions throw women under the bus in one way or another. Evangelical Christianity is the dominant form of woman-hating religion in this country, and has done nothing to stop or oppose the sense of entitlement it gives its followers to commit violence against, and to pass laws to oppress anyone who disagrees with them.

Martin Eden

(15,442 posts)
17. I'm not entirely clear on what it means to be an "evangelical" ...
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 01:36 PM
Mar 2021

... do they subscribe to the Ten Commandments including Thou Shalt Not Kill?

JustABozoOnThisBus

(24,634 posts)
18. I think the word means "pushy", when it comes to belief. I was stuck in conversation ...
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 01:41 PM
Mar 2021

with an evangelical atheist. My bladder finally dictated my escape.

I'm more of an agnostic, but not sure enough to push the idea.

Martin Eden

(15,442 posts)
20. The word "hypocrite" also comes to mind
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 01:48 PM
Mar 2021

They claim to love Jesus but in practice they reject nearly everything Jesus actually stood for.

I'm agnostic as well. I don't believe in God but I can't honestly say I know there is no supernatural being at work in this universe.

Mariana

(15,613 posts)
27. There are loads of exceptions to that Commandment.
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 02:48 PM
Mar 2021

According to the stories, after God issued that law, he ordered his followers to exterminate whole populations. Not to mention all the rules that required that violators be executed.

Martin Eden

(15,442 posts)
32. "According to the stories... he (God) ordered his followers to exterminate whole populations."
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 03:35 PM
Mar 2021

Well, I suspect the Word Of God usually (or always) is a fabrication by men to justify acts of cruelty or murder.

Hekate

(100,133 posts)
21. Actually, the first article I saw about him mentioned he was a preacher's kid...
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 01:48 PM
Mar 2021

I thought, uh-oh. Strict upbringing in a religion where sexual urges are wrong and Woman is the Temptress. Women are just born wrong, you know, and if a man just can’t control himself, it is all her fault.

stopdiggin

(15,166 posts)
23. it was all OVER the news
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 02:00 PM
Mar 2021

integral part of the story -- within hours. couldn't miss it.

now they've even moved on to different slants and 'takes' of the religious element. somebody's not paying attention.

 

ThatJustHappened

(78 posts)
24. Same with MAGA Scum
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 02:03 PM
Mar 2021

And the GOP
And vaccine deniers
And mask deniers
And climate change deniers


It's cuz only 4% of people are in their right minds -- and are Atheist

And so it would be political/corporate/social suicide to mention
The God Delusion as being the obvious cause of all the world's problems.


Don't believe that religion is the cause of all problems?
Especially the three Abrahamic Religions?


The root global problem
That is the cause of all global problems
Is overpopulation

And the cause of overpopulation
Is go forth and multiply

Buckeye_Democrat

(15,511 posts)
25. I saw it mentioned several times, but the focus was...
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 02:11 PM
Mar 2021

... mostly on him killing people of Asian ancestry.

I'm convinced that his evangelical background played a big role too, but it's something that's largely not discussed in the media and elsewhere.

Even the fact that white evangelical Christians overwhelmingly voted for Trump, and at a larger voter percentage than their percentage among the general population, doesn't get as much media attention. Both Biden AND Clinton would've won the "white vote" too if none of the white evangelicals had voted! Yet the media will typically focus on other things, like education levels or their mostly-rural locations.

They're probably concerned about upsetting the religious nuts too much.

For crying out loud, atheists were at the BOTTOM among a list of possible Presidential candidates according to a poll a few years ago, which had asked people in the USA if they would vote for a woman, Muslim, African American, atheist, etc.

Edit:
And there's absolutely unfair discrimination that happens in workplaces and elsewhere if someone reveals they're an atheist! I've endured it myself!

I strongly identify with this scene from "Cool Hand Luke", when the guards only eased up after Luke had seemingly "found God". (The character had earlier upset them and pretty much everyone else when he'd challenged the idea of God's existence.)

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
26. Just maybe mental and moral degeneracy SHOULD NOT BE
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 02:40 PM
Mar 2021

described in ways that encourages people to ascribe it to Islam or Christianity.

If newscasts did abandon truth and responsibility to pander to religious bigotry, they'd promptly be called out. Just as they would if they made sure to explain that teachers apparently incited the murder spree murder by wearing slacks that outlined their buttocks -- because some disordered creep claimed that as his trigger -- and millions of misogynists leaped to point their fingers at women's butts.

Buckeye_Democrat

(15,511 posts)
28. Evangelists are a bit different to me, though.
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 02:56 PM
Mar 2021

They're regularly taught to CONVERT others to their religion.

I've personally never dealt with Catholics, Jews and other religious groups so actively trying to convert others.

Then it's often like the "lazy person's religion", without much action to prove it beyond SAYING that you're in their group now. So it can be very tribal.

That attitude of focusing on "the other" could lead to bigotry, in my opinion.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
30. Christianity is a strongly proselytizing religion, and evangelicalism
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 03:27 PM
Mar 2021

is just one form of. Catholicism didn't get to be the world's largest religion by not focusing on conversion, often forced by military might when not voluntary. Judaism, btw, is the opposite and typically doesn't invite conversion; they make people work at it by making them study Judaism first.

Frankly, I have no idea why anyone would leap to ascribe this to evangelical religion, though, even without journalism's duty to be socially responsible, as if the south especially were overrun by hoards of murdering churchgoers.

Especially when this adolescent creep is obviously mentally disordered.

Buckeye_Democrat

(15,511 posts)
31. Yes, and history shows what happened when Catholicism...
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 03:32 PM
Mar 2021

... was more focused on converting others. The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, etc.

The world would be a better place if more people had a "live and let live" attitude, which obviously that murderer didn't ascribe to.

There's clearly many evangelicals who would NEVER do what he did, but I'm very wary of anyone who clearly feels compelled to convert others to their tribe... especially when it can't even be objectively defended by facts and evidence.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
33. Imo there's no virtue in forcing this event into a hostile picture
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 03:39 PM
Mar 2021

of religion. If I were you, I'd learn more about religion instead in order to seek truth with an end goal of becoming wise and good.

I see nothing to gain from maintaining ignorance to support my prejudices. And if I did, I'd want to be on the trumpist side. They're doing much better at it.

Seriously, why not look up some local evangelical churches and attend a few services? Look around. I don't say you'll find a great deal to admire in their content overall, I can't say I have, but if you look at the earnest congregants, who overwhelmingly want to live godly lives, you won't see this vicious degenerate in them.

Buckeye_Democrat

(15,511 posts)
35. Are you kidding? I experience it regularly from my...
Sun Mar 21, 2021, 03:48 PM
Mar 2021

... evangelical Christian sister.

If she wasn't my sister, I would've "told her off" long ago instead of mostly remaining quiet as she spouts her religious beliefs.

I was raised in a Methodist church, which was far more forgiving of other beliefs. She was raised that way too, but switched to Southern Baptist because "They make you stand before the congregation and declare that Jesus is your only salvation! The Methodist church never did that! The pastor just kept reading scripture and comparing the teachings to the modern world as everyone sat quietly!"

Response to DanieRains (Original post)

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Atlanta Shooter Was An Ev...