Gunman Should Be Charged with Hate Crime
I was saddened but not shocked to hear about Sunday’s shooting at a youth event at a Unitarian Universalist church in Knoxville, killing two. Who but a heartless radical fanatic could commit such an atrocity? It’s yet another clear example of homegrown terrorism in the United States. Did this episode not create terror in the hearts of those present? It’s a story of a cowardly terrorist who hated the progressive views of Unitarian Universalists, but it’s also a story of heroism, when 60 year old Greg McKendry shielded many others who would have otherwise also been martyred in the shooting spree. He stood as a real biblical literalist, taking Jesus’ words to heart, “There is no love greater than this: that a person lay down his/her life for his/her friends.” I think at the heart of this is the testimony of what the church really upholds as valuable: solidarity with all our human sisters and brothers and love for all. The images that come to mind upon hearing about this tragedy are those of the abortion clinic bombings, and even the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing in ‘95. These are other clear examples of how forms of “non-Islamic” fundamentalism show their true, for NO lack of a better word, true ugliness. What is at the heart of such utter disdain and disregard for human life? I would say it’s simply a difference of opinion. But, it is a difference of opinion that should lead to greater union with each other and not discord. Simply stated, the church shooting is none other than a crime of hate, and this Adkisson nut should be so charged and then psychoanalyzed to understand just what is going on in the minds of these terrorists.
Note: Unitarian Universalists work for social justice and support the rights of women in ordered/ordained ministry, gay rights, global peace, and other progressive agendas. Also, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, Millard Filmore and William Taft were among those U.S. Presidents who were adherents of Unitarian Universalism.
July 30, 2008 at 11:08 am
My comment in no way validates the actions of the man, who took the live of men and women that were created in the image of God.
For the fun of saying it…
We have never had a “Unitarian Universalist” Presidents because the two (Unitarianism and Universalism) didn’t combine until 1961!
John Adams did in fact become a “Unitarian” as an adult (and raised his son John Adams Unitarian), he did not believe in the divinity of Christ, but he was not a deist. While Jefferson on the other hand was NOT a Unitarian, he was a “deist.”
Taft was brought up in the Unitarian church and remained a faithful “Unitarian” his entire life. Whereas Millard Fillmore was raised Presbyterian and didn’t became a “Unitarian” until in later life.
Unitarian Universalist do not necessarily identify themselves as Christians nor do they necessarily subscribe to Christian beliefs.
My heart goes out to the families of those who lost loved ones in this tragedy. May the One true God of the Bible provide comfort in this situation …
July 30, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Unitarianism and Universalism necessarily merged in ‘61 because of the undeniable commonalities. Having said that, it also follows that the Unitarian Universalist Church, because of its descent from the two, can make claim upon the U.S. Presidents listed above.
What is important here for this blogger is that the Presidents were not Fundamentalist Christians or Evangelical. In other words, many of our founding fathers were not “orthodox” according to that faction in the body of Christ.