The actual War on Xianity

[screwtape]

It started with the War on Xmas. Repubs and their PR arm (known as Fox "news") ginned up a bunch of outrage and furor over a supposed cultural assault by "secularists" and liberals on xmas.  We allegedly use PC and bullying tactics to make xmas just go away.  Then it graduated to an all out War on Xianity.  They say that because they are not allowed to hate homos anymore that they are a poor, oppressed majority just barely hanging by a thread. 

Of course, their claims are all bullshit political tools for getting their idiot base to vote and send them money.  However, there is an actual war being waged on xians in Missouri.  Numerous churches have been set on fire.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/missouri-st-louis-area-church-fires-targeting-black-neighborhoods/

Think the repubs will talk about this?  I'm guessing no.  For one, those churches are in predominately black neighborhoods, so do not matter to the GOP.  For two, if they find out who's doing it, Vegas odds are about 100:1 that it's a white conservative guy doing it.

[Nick]

War only counts if it is against white people.

[Nick]

You know, an interesting way to stop the burning of black churches is if the blacks started to attend white churches.

[nogodsforme]

If white people had been following their religion, there would not have had to be "black churches". Just sayin'. 

[eh!]

My uncle is a new age guy who believes in Jesus.

He claims group prayer and in fact churches are not biblical, he further claims proffesional praying for others for a fee and insistence that such things are best led by priests etc is relatively modern, thoughts?

[Marvin]

Think the repubs will talk about this?  I'm guessing no.

I have no idea what the hell you're talking about.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/10/20/investigators-probe-fires-at-6-st-louis-churches-as-possible-hate-crime/
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/10/22/police-7th-st-louis-church-property-set-on-fire-in-two-weeks/

[Nam]

Think the repubs will talk about this?  I'm guessing no.

I have no idea what the hell you're talking about.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/10/20/investigators-probe-fires-at-6-st-louis-churches-as-possible-hate-crime/
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/10/22/police-7th-st-louis-church-property-set-on-fire-in-two-weeks/

I don't think he's talking about the website. Fox News's website is actually a website that reports the news, which is why I read it at times.

I think he was actually referring to the cable channel which is more of a right-wing tool that caters solely to one subject and displays it as a tabloid. Sensationalism and all.

Oh, and how is Breit Bart Fox? Is he owned by Rupert Murdoch?

-Nam

[Marvin]

I don't think he's talking about the website. Fox News's website is actually a website that reports the news, which is why I read it at times.

I think he was actually referring to the cable channel which is more of a right-wing tool that caters solely to one subject and displays it as a tabloid. Sensationalism and all.

"one subject"
"sensationalism"
That's literally every news outlet.

Anyways, I don't even watch television anymore.

Oh, and how is Breit Bart Fox? Is he owned by Rupert Murdoch?

Breitbart has branches in America so I thought it was somewhat related.

[Nam]

It's not related, at all. Unless breitbart is owned or controlled by FOX. Just because he mentioned FOX, doesn't mean he was talking about all of FOX, just the news aspect of it and neither does it mean he was talking aboutt all rightwing and/or Conservative outlets, or people.

-Nam

[Marvin]

For two, if they find out who's doing it, Vegas odds are about 100:1 that it's a white conservative guy doing it. 

http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2015/10/30/st-louis-church-fire-suspect-in-custody-police



So I'm curious, racist: Do you ever get tired of being a dumbass?

[screwtape]

So I'm curious, racist: Do you ever get tired of being a dumbass?

Oh Jeeze.  The odds break against me one time one time and suddenlyI'm both a racist and a dumbass?  What's that make a chronically wrong retard such as yourself?

Let's just sit tight and see how the evidence shakes out.  It's not like the St Louis PD is known for being either competent or unbiased.  I mean, "he has a tattoo of flames" is supposed to be relevant?

[Airyaman]

So I'm curious, racist: Do you ever get tired of being a dumbass?

Oh Jeeze.  The odds break against me one time one time and suddenlyI'm both a racist and a dumbass?  What's that make a chronically wrong retard such as yourself?

Let's just sit tight and see how the evidence shakes out.  It's not like the St Louis PD is known for being either competent or unbiased.  I mean, "he has a tattoo of flames" is supposed to be relevant?

No, but "Forensic evidence linked Jackson to the Ebenezer fire, and surveillance video in the neighborhood of New Life captured footage of his car, Dotson said.

He had a partly full gasoline canister and an empty thermos that smell of gas in his car when he was taken into custody, Dotson said." seems to be a bit relevant.

I'll admit, I didn't care for this thread when I first saw it because of your willingness to lay bogus odds on a conservative whitey when there was no evidence to support it beyond your obvious bias towards conservative whiteys. Had you left off the last paragraph you wouldn't have come across as such an asshat.

[Mr. Blackwell]

I've heard this story mentioned several times on a conservative talk radio station I listen too. Conversely, I haven't heard any mention of it on NPR. This is likely just due to timing.

When I did hear about it, on the conservative news channel, there was no speculation offered about the racial identity of the perpetrator from the pundits or news outlets. In interviews with people in the local area they sometimes hinted towards a racial motivation. Indicating that the person being interviewed thought it might likely be an angry white racist.

I think it's problematic that many people just automatically assume that when a black person or black church or black institution gets targeted for violence, it's because of racism. Racism is prima facie in our culture. There is a reason for that, but it's still not a rational assumption to make before all the facts are laid out.

[Marvin]

Oh Jeeze.  The odds break against me one time one time and suddenlyI'm both a racist and a dumbass?  What's that make a chronically wrong retard such as yourself?

Whatever you say dumbass.

Did you know:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/10/22/st-louis-church-fires/74403650/

The congregation at the Shrine of St. Joseph is predominantly white, while the congregations of the other churches have been predominantly black.

The 7th church burned was white.  You would have known this if you actually bothered to do more research before spewing shit.

[Defiance]

Marvin, you can start now. Go ahead.

Start complaining about how atheists like to keep Christians off their websites. Tell us how we're being intolerant and then spread the news that we ban anyone who speaks out against our satanic beliefs.

Because if you keep that demeanor, you will be out of here in no time. Meanwhile, I'm gonna enjoy myself at your expense.

[Mr. Blackwell]

Marvin, you can start now. Go ahead.

Start complaining about how atheists like to keep Christians off their websites. Tell us how we're being intolerant and then spread the news that we ban anyone who speaks out against our satanic beliefs.

Because if you keep that demeanor, you will be out of here in no time. Meanwhile, I'm gonna enjoy myself at your expense.

You are out of line.

[Jag]

I've heard this story mentioned several times on a conservative talk radio station I listen too. Conversely, I haven't heard any mention of it on NPR. This is likely just due to timing.

It must have been because that's where I heard about it.

[Marvin]

Start complaining about how atheists like to keep Christians off their websites. Tell us how we're being intolerant and then spread the news that we ban anyone who speaks out against our satanic beliefs.

Why exactly do you think I'm a Christian?

[Jag]

My guess ^^^ is it's because you "argue" like one.

[eh!]

Using Marvin's logic we are all pro-xian here because we host debate about Christianity.

Makes the board owner and admins all theists...... in Marvin's logic.

[screwtape]

I'll admit, I didn't care for this thread when I first saw it because of your willingness to lay bogus odds on a conservative whitey when there was no evidence to support it beyond your obvious bias towards conservative whiteys.

Wait, wait, wait.  Sure, they were bogus odds.  But no evidence other than my own bias?  Are you trying to tell me in the past black churches haven't been set on fire more frequently by white racists than black guys?  That that wasn't the logical, rational probability?  Prior to this, who perpetrated the last attack on a black church?  Dylan Roof.  Skinny little white kid who was a white supremacist.  The overwhelming majority of arson at black churches was by white guys.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attacks_against_African-American_churches#20th_Century

In this case, bias is completely warranted.  Don't tell me you weren't surprised.  If you weren't, you should have been.

Had you left off the last paragraph you wouldn't have come across as such an asshat.

Yeah, well, two things.  First, my point stands.  The Right wing bullshit machine was silent about it and I stand by my assessment.  It was probably silent because they don't care about black people and because they thought it was probably a white guy doing it.  They get ratings by enraging their old, white viewers, who, by and large, don't give a rat's ass about black people, xian or otherwise.

Second, asshat? 

[screwtape]

Whatever you say dumbass.

You know, Marvin, name calling is against the rules.  At some point you are going to have to stop doing that.  That point is now.

You may participate in my thread, but you are going to do so constructively from now on. 

The 7th church burned was white.

And that means, what exactly?  The  other 8 should just be ignored?  The other 8 were just a coincidence? 

[nogodsforme]

Based on past experience, anyone physically attacking people of a particular religious group, including burning or otherwise trying to destroy a religious building (church, mosque, temple, etc.) will be a nut motivated by racial and/or religious bias.

It will probably not be an atheist personally annoyed by the existence of religion and religious people.

Religious people and buildings, historically, and worldwide are most often targeted by people of a different religion. Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims burning each other's mosques in Iraq. Christians attacking Jews in Europe. Hindus attacking Sikhs in India. Protestants bombing Catholics and vice versa in Ireland. Various extremists purging the apostates from their midst.

Religious people are pretty safe from us godless heathens. You godly folks need to watch out for attacks from each other!

BTW When will the conservatives start to complain about the atheist "War on Halloween"?

[Marvin]

Religious people and buildings, historically, and worldwide are most often targeted by people of a different religion. Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims burning each other's mosques in Iraq. Christians attacking Jews in Europe. Hindus attacking Sikhs in India. Protestants bombing Catholics and vice versa in Ireland. Various extremists purging the apostates from their midst.

Religious people are pretty safe from us godless heathens. You godly folks need to watch out for attacks from each other!

Two words: Soviet, Union.

[Nam]

Religious people and buildings, historically, and worldwide are most often targeted by people of a different religion. Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims burning each other's mosques in Iraq. Christians attacking Jews in Europe. Hindus attacking Sikhs in India. Protestants bombing Catholics and vice versa in Ireland. Various extremists purging the apostates from their midst.

Religious people are pretty safe from us godless heathens. You godly folks need to watch out for attacks from each other!

Two words: Soviet, Union.

Wow. Soviet Union hasn't been around in 22+ years. You could have said China. That's one word.

-Nam

[nogodsforme]

The native people of most every country have suffered persecution for not following the religion introduced by some conquering power.

Even if you take the USSR, China, North Korea, Cambodia under Pol Pot and Cuba under Castro, and a few other dictatorships that [usually temporarily] oppressed all religions fairly equally, that leaves around 180 other countries where what I said stands. And has stood throughout much of human history. In how many places in the world has it been perfectly safe, historically, to practice a different religion than the majority faith? I cannot think of too many heavily religious "live and let live" societies.

I noticed Marvin did not deny that most of the attacks on religious folks and their houses of worship around the world today are from other religious people....

[kcrady]

Religious people are pretty safe from us godless heathens. You godly folks need to watch out for attacks from each other!

Two words: Soviet, Union.

So, you think Nogods (and/or other members of this Forum) are Soviet agents?[1]  In Soviet Union, point gets you!

1.	Actually, we serve His Imperial Majesty, Kaiser Wilhelm II.  Oops.  I wasn't supposed to let that get out.  Damn.

[Airyaman]

I'll admit, I didn't care for this thread when I first saw it because of your willingness to lay bogus odds on a conservative whitey when there was no evidence to support it beyond your obvious bias towards conservative whiteys.

Wait, wait, wait.  Sure, they were bogus odds.  But no evidence other than my own bias?  Are you trying to tell me in the past black churches haven't been set on fire more frequently by white racists than black guys?  That that wasn't the logical, rational probability?  Prior to this, who perpetrated the last attack on a black church?  Dylan Roof.  Skinny little white kid who was a white supremacist.  The overwhelming majority of arson at black churches was by white guys.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attacks_against_African-American_churches#20th_Century

In this case, bias is completely warranted.  Don't tell me you weren't surprised.  If you weren't, you should have been.

Had you left off the last paragraph you wouldn't have come across as such an asshat.

Yeah, well, two things.  First, my point stands.  The Right wing bullshit machine was silent about it and I stand by my assessment.  It was probably silent because they don't care about black people and because they thought it was probably a white guy doing it.  They get ratings by enraging their old, white viewers, who, by and large, don't give a rat's ass about black people, xian or otherwise.

Second, asshat?

Yes, when you pull bogus odds out of your ass that have no basis in facts, you then look like you are wearing said ass as a hat.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-causes-of-black-church-fires-resist-easy-explanations/
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/fivepoints/black-church-fires
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/02/us/black-church-fires-history-society-reaction/
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2e66bc3a7abb46c795592f38b2a64d39/officials-firefighters-battling-blaze-black-church-sc

Had you made this thread in the 90s and before you would have some support for the "white" component, but its not the 1990s.

[screwtape]

Yes, when you pull bogus odds out of your ass that have no basis in facts, you then look like you are wearing said ass as a hat.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-causes-of-black-church-fires-resist-easy-explanations/
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/fivepoints/black-church-fires
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/02/us/black-church-fires-history-society-reaction/
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2e66bc3a7abb46c795592f38b2a64d39/officials-firefighters-battling-blaze-black-church-sc

Had you made this thread in the 90s and before you would have some support for the "white" component, but its not the 1990s.

Thank you for the links, but I'd already read most of them.  Apparently you haven't.  They are about how fires this past June an July in the Carolinas were not what they seemed. Half of the fires they talked about were not arson.  In the other half they'd mostly not found the arsonist and the motive was unknown.  They said nothing about longer term trends.  My wiki link did. Overwhelmingly, no one was arrested.  Apparently arsonists are tough to catch.  Particularly when they set fire to predominantly black churches in the south.  But when they are, mainly white guys.

So, were you or were you not surprised the suspect is a black guy?  Be honest.