String of church arsons has east Texas residents on edge

String of church arsons has east Texas residents on edge

www.cnn.com

The blaze was one in a string of 11 fires in east Texas churches this year. Eight have been ruled arson, leaving residents and churches on edge as authorities work to find the person -- or persons -- responsible.
"We certainly can connect several of them," said Tom Crowley, special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Dallas, Texas, office.

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[edit on 2/11/10 by Raist]

A similar string of church arsons occurred in 2006 in rural communities outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Three college students were arrested and pleaded guilty to federal arson charges. Two were sentenced to eight years in prison, while a third was sentenced to seven years.
Another string of suspicious church fires took place in the 1990s and led to the enactment of the 1996 Church Arson Prevention Act, which provided funding for investigations and assistance to congregations. But authorization for the act has expired, and Rose Johnson Mackey of the National Coalition for Burned Churches says it should be reauthorized.

What is happening in Texas?

Is there another group of young college guys just out “looking to have some fun” or is there a group that are anti-Christian behind this? All in all I think there is a degree of the anti-Christian behind this simply because their only targets are churches.

I understand there is hatred and disgust of Christians by many and I think the biggest degree of that comes from those using the name of God to further their own agendas. But really property damage?


Why do we have to strike out at others because their views are different from our own. Tossing out words is one thing as words can be ignored. But property damage is another.

The churches themselves are "on heightened alert, I guess you would say," said Daniels. Some church members have been staying at their churches, while others are patrolling along with police.

What happens when someone that is staying at their church is killed? Will the perpetrators of these crimes come forward? Will they continue thinking they have even more success?


If your views are different fine, do your battling through words. When it comes to property and life though these things should remain untouched.

Raist


www.cnn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Why isnt that giant invisible pretend man in the sky preventing these churches from being burned?

Originally posted by brainwrek
Why isnt that giant invisible pretend man in the sky preventing these churches from being burned?

Why can people not add genuine conversation to a thread?

Don’t troll.

Raist

reply to post by Raist


Thats not a troll at all.

one would think the cosmic zombie wouldnt want buildings full of people that worship him to burn to the ground.

So why wouldnt he stop it?

reply to post by brainwrek

Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.

Raist

[edit on 2/11/10 by Raist]

reply to post by Raist


I was going to post this story yesterday, but I just couldn't find enough about it.

Churches burned since Jan. 1 in the area about 50 miles southeast of Dallas include:
* Little Hope Baptist Church in Canton, which, ironically, burned after a New Year's Eve showing of the film "Fireproof." It is one of the few fires in the string that is not believed to be linked to arson
* Faith Fellowship Church, Athens, Jan. 1
* Grace Community Church of Athens, Jan. 12
* Lake Athens Baptist Church, Jan. 12
* Tyland Baptist Church, Tyler, Jan. 16
* First Church of Christ Scientist, Tyler, Jan. 17
* Prairie Creek Fellowship, Lindale, Jan. 20
* Russell Memorial United Methodist Church, Wills Point, Feb. 4 * Dover Baptist Church, Carroll, Feb. 8
* Clear Springs Missionary Baptist Church, Lindale, Feb. 8.

source

I believe that the police are saying the two of the Churches were not suspected to be arson, but as the fires occured during the time frame they were included on the list. I was poking around to see if there was any common ground in regard to politics, religious practice, etc, but as yet it seems to be random, not to mention as it is an ongoing investigation there isn't too much info available.

Is anyone here from TX, and do you know anything about these churches?

reply to post by searching4truth


Thanks for the list.

Certainly it is dangerous for churches down in Texas at the moment. A building though is nothing, even if it is a church, compared to a human life. I am worried about someone staying in a church to protect it getting killed or hurt.

Even though I despise property damage I will add that a church building is not as important as those within it and the message they send forth.

Raist

Originally posted by Raist
reply to post by searching4truth

 

Thanks for the list.

Certainly it is dangerous for churches down in Texas at the moment. A building though is nothing, even if it is a church, compared to a human life. I am worried about someone staying in a church to protect it getting killed or hurt.

Even though I despise property damage I will add that a church building is not as important as those within it and the message they send forth.

Raist

No problem.

It is very scary to think of someone taking refuge in a church and it is burnt down. I am curious if any people in the area are having sleep overs in their churches because of this, a try to save/prevent situation.

Absolutely, a church can be demolished, but the faith carries on. Often times, when there is destruction the people pull together and the religion gets a fresh breath of life.

I agree, burning churches is wrong. Much better to turn them into nightclubs. They can make decent recording studios, martial arts dojos or even just warehouses too. There's 1 in my hometown thats now a wholefood co-op & restaurant run entirely by disabled people. They use the proceeds to provide leisure activities for profoundly disabled people. I believe that the Jesus as reported to us in the bible would approve.
Lets also not forget "Alice's Restaurant", at which you could apparently get anything you want... excepting Alice!
Shame people will insist on worshipping in them really.

the last trouble was 10-15 years ago...seemed to be black churches so some haters(who are hanging in there) must be out and about. this is different!

Originally posted by brainwrek
reply to post by Raist

 

Thats not a troll at all.

one would think the cosmic zombie wouldnt want buildings full of people that worship him to burn to the ground.

So why wouldnt he stop it?

The topic at hand is the burning of churches not the belief system or lack there of you hold for yourself. You just used this thread as an excuse to spout you're stance on religious systems. Hence yes it was a troll.

reply to post by GBP/JPY


Yeah, I was thinking along those lines, either race, anti gay stance, pro gay stance, female ministers, political ties etc. There doesn't seem to be much commonality, other than they are Christian denominations (yet different denominations).

reply to post by searching4truth


Yeah with no real connections to anything (that is obvious) the only thing I see offhand is they are all Christian denominations.

Hopefully no one will get hurt while trying to save their church. So far it seems the culprits are only out to do property damage. I hope they do not get a taste for blood too.


Raist

reply to post by DaMod


So I should take that as an answer as to why the invisible dude isnt preventing places that are built to worship him from being burn to the ground?

Originally posted by brainwrek
reply to post by DaMod

 

So I should take that as an answer as to why the invisible dude isnt preventing places that are built to worship him from being burn to the ground?

Pretty stupid question really, and yup, would seem to be trolling. If things worked that way with any religion, the things that happen in the world like thiswouldn't happen. This has nothing to do with the inaction of God, but rather the actions of man.

That particular area of East Texas is firmly "behind the pine curtain". Several counties in the area are known for both corruption and illicit activities. Motivation for these acts are likely racial considering the "neighborhood" (as previously noted). Very peculiar a Christian Science Church was hit - perhaps we have an anti-church nutter. It could be that the only churches around are Christian denominations in that neck of the woods.

You are all way off, my mother happens to work for one of the churches that has been "contacted" by the ATF. And just google church burning and you will find there are many people all over that are burning churches or would like to see churches burned. Anyways, they are setting fires to the Sanctuary Ceilings so once the building start to collapse the fire fighters aren't allowed to enter. Wild if you think about it someone took this much time to think about how they could destroy something. It is either s statement or who knows. Some churches could be going under in these hard times. And possibly could be collecting that Insurance check. Rather sad, but hey ... people will do what they have to do in hard times. If a pastor is forced to tell the congregation that the church will be foreclosed on or possibly burn it down. They are most of the time RATIONALISTS anyway in that type of setting. Hmmmm Food For thought anyways. Anyhow they will eventually get caught. Or move areas ... trust me on this one. So sick that the policy are so stupid this day and time. Seriously, give me 100k ... which I am sure they have spent way more than that. I am promise I could bring these people down in less than 2 months. This has been going on for over 6 months and there is no telling how much money they are spending. Just on TECH. ALONE. Much less man power.

There are some churches just having members make circles around thier churches at night. Smarter than putting freakin security cameras up. I will not rant on .. but seriosuly ... COME ON ATF.

Having the ATF investigate church burnings in Texas is like having a traffic cop looking for someone who's giving out speeding tickets. When they said they set up a tip line, they meant they wanted to get some professional advice from the church burners on how to improve their own church burning skills. In fact if the ATF is worried about anything, it's that some other group of guys may beat their church burning record. Hell they're probably only looking for them so they can offer them a job.



[edit on 12-2-2010 by factbeforefiction]

reply to post by brainwrek


GOD will not intervene in this. He simply sits back and watches the cowards, and idiots like you respond. He marks your name in his book and keeps records of the behavior and attitudes towards him. He gave us free will to act as we wish...but within those actions, there WILL BE consequences....so by all means, call him names, doubt him, glorify yourself because you believe this was all created by rocks smashing together...but keep in mind brainwrek (very fitting), that the book of your life will one day be closed...and what is in that book shall be read back to you....good luck my friend