Comments on: Churches, Community Press on After Shooting

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:34:38 +0000

“Love one another as I have loved you.”

“…… and Jesus wept……”

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:27:25 +0000

“……. and Jesus wept……”

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:20:54 +0000

Mr. Serrie, in case you’re wondering why this blog entry is so popular, it’s because it is the only place in Fox News.com that actually discusses the shooting. There seems to be a news blackout on the subject from your organization.

To the rest:
No, the victims were not Christian. Does it matter?

No, the shooter was not Christian. Does it matter?

What matters is that this unhinged individual was fed a steady diet of hatred, courtesy of Coulter, Limbaugh, Hannity and O’Reilly and he finally acted on it.

That is a tragedy, period.

By: Rob Ryan

Rob Ryan — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:37:29 +0000

Fox News is more interested in some guy shooting his lawnmower than it is in an unbalanced right-winger mowing down some liberals. Why am I not surprised?

By: Larry Freiman

Larry Freiman — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:16:36 +0000

Let’s see the vast liberal media spin this into some ideological conspiracy instead of some simple matter of a crazy guy snapping. Gun registration here we come!

And people wonder what makes good, God-Fearing conservative men go nuts, thanks again libbies!

God Bless America
-L.F.

By: Mars Girl

Mars Girl — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:07:24 +0000

Someone on here mentioned that this crime would not have happened if this were a Christian church. Oh yeah? Then explain that church shooting at the CHRISTIAN megachurch in Colorado Springs last December. The perp had an ax to grind with the church (and maybe Christianity, I cant remember). He shot some people. It was a tragedy. Thank the Divine he was stopped.

The problem is not localized to non-Christians.

I’m very disgusted with some of the religious war comments on this blog. I have read the Bible, I’ve read what Jesus said, and I didnt find him anywhere advocating the killing of those who are not like us. Isnt his message to show your faith through your acts? That’s in James 2:14-24 as well.

Wow… Are you impressed? A UU can quote the Bible!!

By: Matthew Browne

Matthew Browne — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:26:50 +0000

You people who are saying that these people who were in CHURCH are not Christians have A LOT OF NERVE!!!! How dare you criticize someone else’s faith. If you don’t want people criticizing your faith, you should RESPECT other people’s RIGHT to worship as they choose. These innocent people who died were good people. Are we to that point in our society where we feel that just because we don’t believe with someone’s beliefs, either politically or religiously, that we feel that they don’t have a right to exist in American society??? I thought we were a free society, one where we have the right to express our religious and political beliefs freely WITHOUT PERSECUTION. These are some of the fundamental reasons for why the colonists had the courage to forge a new society in America.

You know, some people don’t believe that Catholics are Christian, others don’t believe that Mormons are Christian. We need to be tolerant of other people’s rights to express themselves religiously or otherwise. I know a lot of “ACTIVIST” right-wing churches out there, working against the so-called “LIBERAL AGENDA.” HATE IS HATE. THIS IS NOT WHAT CHRIST TAUGHT!!!

By: Fair and balanced

Fair and balanced — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:38:25 +0000

Gee FOX news fails to report Sean Hannity and Bill O’rielly’s books found at the house of the murderous liberal hater, well that’s ok there are plenty of liberal hippy murderous rampages. For instance,

By: whitebeach

whitebeach — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:24:18 +0000

Wow, Mr. Serrie, you drove all the way up there from Atlanta, you’ve hung around all this time being a reporter/blogger, and you haven’t managed to mention a single word about the killer’s reading list with those highly paid, highly visible Fox “commentators” on it?

If you went to journalism school, your old profs must be very proud.

I guess it must be a pretty good job, huh? Fair and balanced, right?

By: Dan S

Dan S — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:43:15 +0000

So Much Ingorance in one place. THANKS FOX NEWS!! Comments like the ones below are the reason this guy choose this church in the first place. Bill Brabson, how do you know what God is thinking? It’s blasphmy to claim that you do in the first place. REPENT!

Comment by Bill Brabson
July 27th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Why do you keep calling this place a church?…If it is it is a church of satan…This place has been a thorn in the Knoxville neighborhood for years…These people believe in everything that God does not. I don’;t condone this killing but don’t call it a Church.
Comment by BK
July 28th, 2008 at 12:52 am
There is an utter hatred for religion–especially Christianity–that is starting to ooze out of the pores of society. This is the result of a society that turns its back on traditional morality.

Arm yourselves. It’s just getting started.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:38:03 +0000

My heart bleeds for the members of this church, just as it bled when the Amish girls killed at school and for congregants of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs. I am a veteran of ten years in the military, my family’s military tradition goes back to the Revolutionary War. (I am a DAR) I’m a registered Republican– but not a neo-con. Eisenhower and Goldwater were my heroes. (and I have a mad crush on Thomas Jefferson). I am an active supporter of Wounded Warriors and Religious freedom. I’m also an atheist.

Please, no matter what kind of Christian or Muslim you are, find it in your hearts to respect all humanity!

By: MrComicGuy

MrComicGuy — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:26:08 +0000

Hannity’s book. O’Reilly’s book. Found in police search of this murderer’s house.

Not reported here at Fox News.

Fair and balanced?

By: MrComicGuy

MrComicGuy — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:24:18 +0000

Why isn’t Fox reporting the fact that Hannity’s book and O’Reilly’s books were found at this murderer’s house?

Preach hate and intolerance and this is what will happen.

Fair and balanced?

By: are you people serious?

are you people serious? — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:09:54 +0000

vickie

you are a disgusting person PERIOD!!! but its ok your way of thought will either be weeded out through future generations or your line will just fall off the species. evolution is SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST but not with guns or muscle but with the mind. thats why humans have evolved into what they are now because we were the smartest NOT the strongest in the ANIMAL KINGDOM. and you are closed minded and you will do what the wooly mammoth did…..and you can thank god for that…

By: skycat

skycat — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:02:30 +0000

This is conservative terrorism, and many of the people commenting here are condoning it. Face it, in America today, the liberal majority is being terrorized into silence not just by people like the shooter, but those who say “What he did was wrong, but . . . .” Those of you who say anything like this are just like the Palestinians who danced in the streets on 9/11. You need to pick up and get out of this country because you are NOT Americans.

By: are you people serious?

are you people serious? — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:55:03 +0000

I AM AMAZED reading these responses talking about ARMING ourselves and being prepared for a religious war..or how people “dont condone the violence, BUT sees a unitarian church as a target” ??? you people are talking from the same ideology that sparked this lunatic to murder people!!! the liberals are AGAINST arming EVERYONE, AGAINST hatred and persecution, AGAINST bias and racially or gender motivated actions and they were SHOT by someone that believed the oppositte!! and you people are saying the same thing!!! its amazing how so many people can just MISS THE POINT!!! will it ever stop? will you ever just sit down and THINK!?!? the answer to homicidal lunatics that want to kill anyone that doesnt believe what they believe isnt through ARMING EVERYONE!!!! its through EDUCATION!!!!!! WAKE UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!!!!!

By: history repeats

history repeats — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:42:58 +0000

Bill Brabson

YOU DO CONDONE THIS KILLING….because a bunch of peacful people were killed and all you want to know is why they call this place a church?? and even call it a place of satan….sounds like the guy that shot up the place, talking…you are the reason things like this happen. the HATE and JEALOUSY in your blood is too obvious to hide.

By: history repeats

history repeats — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:40:45 +0000

Franklin

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR FACTS FROM?! and even if he was an aetheist he sure holds something in common with religious people like you! NO ACCOUNTABILITY!! “im right your wrong” mentality…the right-wing and religious people share a common ground just as they share a common ground with this man…its all HATE and you will not find HATE in a liberal message…..

By: D. Sanabria

D. Sanabria — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:38:22 +0000

I had been a member of this church on an off, and am still in there quite often as they have an art gallery there that does wonderful exhibits. I was in there Fri. writing a review of the exhibit now up for a local paper, and checking out the dress rehersal of Annie. The costumes were wonderful-the kids were adorable. The church is a very important place for the arts community in Knoxville, as well as other cultural groups. The membership is a who’s who of some of the best and brightest in town. These are wonderful people-if this murderer had come to ask for help they would have bent over backward to get him food and help him find work. Like any church-this is a big part of what they do. Unitarianism is an important part of US history. We have had four Unitarian presidents, John Adams , John Quincy Adams, Millard Fillmore, and William Howard Taft. Thomas Jefferson many consider to be also Unitarian. The city is reaching out and it is so appreciated but damage has been done. I feel so bad for those poor kids.

By: history repeats

history repeats — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:34:57 +0000

NY LIZ

this nation wasnt founded by people trying to worship god!! why do people think this? it was economics that started the revolution! “no taxation without representation.” the boston tea party..these werent people fighting for religion they were fighting because they were being TAXED to death and monopolized by a country across the ocean that looked at them as 2nd class citizens…..hm kinda sounds like iraq actually…..the fact was that their were very enlightened thinkers that werent going to take this treatment and revolted…thomas jefferson was one of the greatest of all the rebels and he was adamant about seperation of church and state ….he was probably an atheist. people need to stop simplifying our original rebels….they were more concerned with feeding and taking care of their families then the right to go to church just like we are RIGHT NOW!!!!

P.S. this country was actually founded by ruthless businessmen that swindled and stole the land from the NATIVE AMERICANS who worshipped the land and didnt understand how a person could “own” land” when they signed the papers for pennies…..wow god must have blessed us huh?

By: roger

roger — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:58:33 +0000

this was nothing to do with this guy hating churches. look at this http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/28/church-shooting-police-find-manifesto-suspects-car/
well done fox for inspiring this madman. equally, well done on reporting the right wing, liberal killing attitude which is obviously the motive. the Unitarian seems to me to be one of the few churches in the us which lives up to the churches real name, most of the others focus on hatred, ignorance, intolerance, and warmongering

By: Mle

Mle — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:35:26 +0000

It goes beyond tragedy when crimes occur in sacred and safe spaces: churches, schools, courts, workplaces, etc.

As this discussion has evolved, I’ve noticed we could learn more about the principles and perspectives of the Unitarian Universalist faith;

Here are the churches core beliefs; the Seven Principles (read for yourself at http://www.uua.org/visitors/6798.shtml):

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

* The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
* Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
* Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
* A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
* The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
* The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
* Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Unitarian Universalism (UU) draws from many sources:

* Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
* Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
* Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
* Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
* Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
* Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

These principles and sources of faith are the backbone of our religious community.

The UU perspective (read for yourself at http://www.uua.org/visitors/uuperspectives/index.shtml) includes:
Unitarian Universalism is a centuries-old, free thinking liberal religion guided by shared values. At its core, this faith emphasizes the worth and value of every person and the interconnectedness of all things.

Many of the teachings of the bible and other religious beliefs informs and shapes being UU. Jesus is an inspiration; he was wise, kind, tolerant and an advocate for peace.

By: Ben Collins

Ben Collins — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:21:21 +0000

I live in Tennessee and would like to comment that there are in fact rational, thinking people in this state. There is nothing to this story other than a complete psychopath who murdered innocent people. Hate liberals? Kill an old lady. It’s this kind of incident that simply proves where human beings are and where they are not.

Also, it is not unusual to see reactions to this sort of news akin to “They Deserved It Because (whatever).” It’s actually a perfect opportunity to draw the line between civilization and barbarity. I’m sorry, but if you think it’s acceptable socially to kill innocent unarmed old ladies, then you are simply not civilized, I don’t care how much of the Bible you can quote.

A lot of people cling to old ideas and their radical religious concepts because the world is move very quickly and it’s hard to keep up. It’s stressful. A lot of the ignorant and angry simply just want Jesus to come back so they can forget about our actual world today. I’m sorry, but it’s important that you take this opportunity to state where you are as a person. Are you thinking about whether or not the church was “Christian enough” or the shooter was “justified” for murdering people? If so, you are going to be left behind. Do you realize that psychopaths with guns who randomly kill innocent people need to be pointed at by the entire society and labeled “WRONG?” Then you are going to fit in to a peaceful global future.

Figure it out now… This is a perfect example of what is simply straight up wrong. Human beings who are civilized do not do this, ever. If you take anything else away from it, then you got work to do with your own God and I suggest some prayer.

By: FA Smith

FA Smith — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:14:06 +0000

Adkisson told Still that “he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement that he would then target those that had voted them in to office.”

Adkisson told officers he left the house unlocked for them because “he expected to be killed during the assault.”

Inside the house, officers found “Liberalism is a Mental Health Disorder” by radio talk show host Michael Savage, “Let Freedom Ring” by talk show host Sean Hannity, and “The O’Reilly Factor,” by television talk show host Bill O’Reilly.

By: FA Smith

FA Smith — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:13:23 +0000

Bill O’Reilly, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity on shooter’s reading list…

Adkisson told Still that “he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement that he would then target those that had voted them in to office.”

Adkisson told officers he left the house unlocked for them because “he expected to be killed during the assault.”