NBC: 5 Southern Baptist churches in Alabama set afire. More to come...

MSNBC ^ | February 3, 2006

[precedence]

More to come....

[familyop]

"I'd hardly say overwhelmingly white. There are plenty of predominantly black SBC Churches as well."

That's true. I traveled with a choir to sing in some of them while growing up with that religion. They were sweet, gave us much praise and always asked us to return to sing in their churches again.

[Sweetjustusnow]

"You are so right. Now,let me think, who in the world would burn a church down, ummmmmm ." My thoughts exactly....lol

[proudofthesouth]

4 of the churches were white congregations and the 5th was black.

[Sweetjustusnow]

Rofl

[Sweetjustusnow]

Check these two sites out and read the stories. This could be why the churches were torched. http://www.al.com/living/alabamabaptist/index.ssf?/base/living/1129111211201480.xml&coll=8 Alabama evangelist challenges, questions Islam in book Thursday, October 13, 2005 By: Sondra Washington As news of worldwide terrorist attacks floods the media, many Americans are afraid of the religion that seems to encourage its followers to kill in the name of their god. In his newest book, "Islam: A Threat or a Challenge," Alabama Baptist evangelist Anis Shorrosh answers many difficult questions about Muslims, the Quran and Islamic beliefs and explains how Christians can influence the culture with the gospel. Islam "is a threat by the fanatics who are determined to disrupt the world order and seek to dominate the world," Shorrosh said. "The challenge is the rest of the Muslims who need to be won to Christ with the truth of the gospel." One of the most visible evangelists to the Muslim world, 72-year-old Shorrosh heads the Anis Shorrosh Evangelistic Association and travels the world debating famous Muslim scholars. Born in Nazareth when it was part of Palestine (now Israel), he has survived 11 attempts on his life while confronting what he said are discrepancies at the heart of the Islamic religion. "When the word got into Indonesia that I was behind 'The True Furqan,' which is a challenge to the Quran itself in Arabic and in English, I received 50 threats on my life in one day on our Internet Web site," Shorrosh said. "The Lord protects me because I know He has His time for me. My life is not in the hands of the Muslims or anybody else. It's in the hands of the Lord. "My conviction is to tell the truth in love because Jesus died for the Muslims, too. Eighty to 90 percent of them have never heard a clear message of the gospel," he added. Shortly after the attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, Shorrosh mailed a copy of the video "Islam: A Threat or a Challenge," an audio of the book "Islam Revealed" and a copy of "The True Furqan" to President George W. Bush and every member of the U.S. Congress. "It was a labor of love," Shorrosh said. "(It) was a demonstration of the deep love and appreciation the Shorrosh family has for the United States of America, its leaders and its people, their fellow American citizens." In his book, he expresses his opposition to the belief that Islam is a peaceful religion and Muslims are a non-violent peace-loving people. He asks, "Is truth being sacrificed for tolerance and is the soul of America being sold for cheap crude oil?" "It is incredible that the bloody history of Islam for the past 1,400 years is glossed over," Shorrosh said. "The naked and absolute truth is the realization that the Quranic injunctions and General Mohammed's orders to Muslims everywhere is that they should never rest until the whole earth is subjugated to Allah and the Quran by deception, persuasion, immigration and military invasion." Alabama evangelist challenges, questions Islam in book Page 2 of 2 Shorrosh said he believes democracy and Islam cannot coexist. "Historically whenever Muslims are small in numbers - as they are currently in the United States of America - they are docile, delightful and dedicated citizens," Shorrosh explained. "However, when they grow in numbers, one had better look out." In a chapter called "The Two Faces of Islam," he describes the religion as a coin with two sides. "Muslims can become, according to their interpretation of the Quran, either peacemakers or warmongers." Shorrosh offered a historical account of the foundations of the Islamic faith, including the influence of Mohammed, to whom Muslims believe the Quran was revealed by Allah. According to Shorrosh, Mohammed waged 66 battles in the final 10 years of his life to persuade Arabs to follow only his religion. After winning a crucial battle for Mecca, Shorrosh said Mohammed "obligated the entire citizenship to bow down to 'Allah' and the new religion of Mohammed, now named Islam. Subsequently Mohammed became the absolute authority for religious faith and practice of Islam by the violence of the sword, not the volitional will of the people. Dictatorship became the system to rule in Islam - not democracy." Other chapters in the book include "Qaeda's History and Goals," "September 11, 2001 and the Aftermath" and "Iraq - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." In the book, Shorrosh highlights Iraq's brilliant past, bright future and current need for "a new government, which respects as well as represents all of the cultural and religious members of the population." Admitting that America is often accused of acting as the world's policeman, he said he supports the country's involvement in Iraq and other foreign crisis situations. After personally observing political, educational, industrial, manufacturing and export improvements in Iraq, Shorrosh noted that the media's depiction of life in Iraq is untrue. "The incidents of bombings, explosions, killings and disruption of the activities of normal daily life are exaggerated," he said. "People seem to be carrying on with their daily lives in a very natural way, although some exceptions exist." Shorrosh said he feels people will come to appreciate the progress made in Iraq. Until then, he said he believes that a "peaceful coexistence and tolerance will result when we fundamentally and sincerely love our Heavenly Father, then express that love to our fellowman through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true peacemaker. "We can and must forgive each other," Shorrosh said. "We can and must start living here and now with a heartfelt commitment to building a new future of love and peace for our children and grandchildren, instead of destroying them with hateful hearts and vengeful attitudes. True love can conquer all." For more information, visit www.Islam-in-Focus.com. go visit that last link. Very interesting.

[Sweetjustusnow]

Oh my gosh. Sorry about that last post. Didn't get the paragraphs in there right.

[charrisGOP]

ALABAMA GOVERNOR BOB RILEY TODAY ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON THE CHURCH FIRES IN BIBB COUNTY

February 3, 2006

"I am outraged that anyone would deliberately set fire to churches. I want the people of the affected congregations to know that the state will do all that's possible to find those responsible and bring them to justice," Governor Riley said. "My office has been in contact with local authorities and the state is doing everything it can to assist with the investigation. I also want the members of these churches to know that our prayers are with them as we explore ways to assist their congregations."

Department of Public Safety Director Col. Mike Coppage has been updating the Governor on progress being made in the case. On Saturday morning, the Governor, Col. Coppage, and Insurance Commissioner Walter Bell will meet with other state and local officials in Bibb County to get a status report on the investigation.

[caveat emptor]

[Notes: sign in requested; last link not active; and no additional information about Shorrosh is provided. But, the website is run by an Alabama Baptist organization which some may find interesting. ... CE ]

Check these two sites out and read the stories. This could be why the churches were torched.

Alabama evangelist challenges, questions Islam in book Thursday, October 13, 2005 By: Sondra Washington

As news of worldwide terrorist attacks floods the media, many Americans are afraid of the religion that seems to encourage its followers to kill in the name of their god.

In his newest book, "Islam: A Threat or a Challenge," Alabama Baptist evangelist Anis Shorrosh answers many difficult questions about Muslims, the Quran and Islamic beliefs and explains how Christians can influence the culture with the gospel.Islam "is a threat by the fanatics who are determined to disrupt the world order and seek to dominate the world," Shorrosh said. "The challenge is the rest of the Muslims who need to be won to Christ with the truth of the gospel."

One of the most visible evangelists to the Muslim world, 72-year-old Shorrosh heads the Anis Shorrosh Evangelistic Association and travels the world debating famous Muslim scholars. Born in Nazareth when it was part of Palestine (now Israel), he has survived 11 attempts on his life while confronting what he said are discrepancies at the heart of the Islamic religion.

"When the word got into Indonesia that I was behind 'The True Furqan,' which is a challenge to the Quran itself in Arabic and in English, I received 50 threats on my life in one day on our Internet Web site," Shorrosh said. "The Lord protects me because I know He has His time for me. My life is not in the hands of the Muslims or anybody else. It's in the hands of the Lord.

"My conviction is to tell the truth in love because Jesus died for the Muslims, too. Eighty to 90 percent of them have never heard a clear message of the gospel," he added.

Shortly after the attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, Shorrosh mailed a copy of the video "Islam: A Threat or a Challenge," an audio of the book "Islam Revealed" and a copy of "The True Furqan" to President George W. Bush and every member of the U.S. Congress. "It was a labor of love," Shorrosh said. "(It) was a demonstration of the deep love and appreciation the Shorrosh family has for the United States of America, its leaders and its people, their fellow American citizens."

In his book, he expresses his opposition to the belief that Islam is a peaceful religion and Muslims are a non-violent peace-loving people. He asks, "Is truth being sacrificed for tolerance and is the soul of America being sold for cheap crude oil?" "It is incredible that the bloody history of Islam for the past 1,400 years is glossed over," Shorrosh said.

"The naked and absolute truth is the realization that the Quranic injunctions and General Mohammed's orders to Muslims everywhere is that they should never rest until the whole earth is subjugated to Allah and the Quran by deception, persuasion, immigration and military invasion."

Alabama evangelist challenges, questions Islam in book Page 2 of 2 Shorrosh said he believes democracy and Islam cannot coexist. "Historically whenever Muslims are small in numbers - as they are currently in the United States of America - they are docile, delightful and dedicated citizens," Shorrosh explained. "However, when they grow in numbers, one had better look out."

In a chapter called "The Two Faces of Islam," he describes the religion as a coin with two sides. "Muslims can become, according to their interpretation of the Quran, either peacemakers or warmongers." Shorrosh offered a historical account of the foundations of the Islamic faith, including the influence of Mohammed, to whom Muslims believe the Quran was revealed by Allah.

According to Shorrosh, Mohammed waged 66 battles in the final 10 years of his life to persuade Arabs to follow only his religion. After winning a crucial battle for Mecca, Shorrosh said Mohammed "obligated the entire citizenship to bow down to 'Allah' and the new religion of Mohammed, now named Islam.

Subsequently Mohammed became the absolute authority for religious faith and practice of Islam by the violence of the sword, not the volitional will of the people. Dictatorship became the system to rule in Islam - not democracy."

Other chapters in the book include "Qaeda's History and Goals," "September 11, 2001 and the Aftermath" and "Iraq - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." In the book, Shorrosh highlights Iraq's brilliant past, bright future and current need for "a new government, which respects as well as represents all of the cultural and religious members of the population." Admitting that America is often accused of acting as the world's policeman, he said he supports the country's involvement in Iraq and other foreign crisis situations.

After personally observing political, educational, industrial, manufacturing and export improvements in Iraq, Shorrosh noted that the media's depiction of life in Iraq is untrue. "The incidents of bombings, explosions, killings and disruption of the activities of normal daily life are exaggerated," he said. "People seem to be carrying on with their daily lives in a very natural way, although some exceptions exist." Shorrosh said he feels people will come to appreciate the progress made in Iraq.

Until then, he said he believes that a "peaceful coexistence and tolerance will result when we fundamentally and sincerely love our Heavenly Father, then express that love to our fellowman through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true peacemaker. "We can and must forgive each other," Shorrosh said. "We can and must start living here and now with a heartfelt commitment to building a new future of love and peace for our children and grandchildren, instead of destroying them with hateful hearts and vengeful attitudes. True love can conquer all."

For more information. go visit that last link. Very interesting.

[Sweetjustusnow]

Thank you so much. I really wanted people to see that and the way it was it wasn't worth reading. Thanks. :)

[Muleteam1]

>>Don't discount the possiblity that it is an insurance scam, as many of the infamous church burnings a decade ago turned out to be.<<

I had not heard this. What is your source for this information? I had heard some of the churches that burned during the Clinton Administration were caused by Satanic cults. My information comes from an investigator who was assigned to some of the fires.

Muleteam1

[Paleo Conservative]

You're right; the Baptist church is an outgrowth of the Bible-based anabaptist movement, which was neither catholic or protestant.

How could one have a Bible based movement before there were widely available printed Bibles? Why do the Baptists use the Protestant version of the Bible if they aren't Protestant?

[ReformedTreeHugger]

T - I meant to post here rather than send you a private message - sorry. Here's a copy of what I sent. :)

Good evening all. I am a southern baptist (in Panama City Beach, FL) and I go by the affiliation of a Christian. In my church, we dont mind if one is purple - what matters to us is their salvation and helping others.

The difference being a southern baptist is that one of our majoe focuses are missions work.

Any way you look at it, all of these churches have church families who are hurting right now. They could really use our prayers.

Have a great night all and thanks for letting me post.
RTH

[Hieronymus]

Ulrich Zwingli, the leading light of the movement in the early 16th century, did start out his life as an ecclesiastical leader as a Catholic priest. This would seem to make him a Catholic who became a protestant.

[caveat emptor]

You're welcome. It looked interesting and wasn't much trouble to format it. Thanks for posting it.

[Muleteam1]

>>I tend to think that in addition to the recruitment of radical islamists is the danger of satanic practices among the misdirected and troubled youth. That goes beyond here in Alabama.<<

I have not been able to read all the messages in this aricle but yours is the second one I have seen that mentions the possibility of satanic influences. This seems like a good place to mention again that I have been told by certain Federal investigators that some of the churches in Tennessee that burned during the 1990s were the work of satanic cults.

Muleteam1

[Hieronymus]

This might indicate that the history in The Trail of Blood is somewhat sloppy: (not a major point but one that is quickly researched)
"Cardinal Hosius (Catholic, 1524), President of the Council of Trent:"
1524 does not ring true. Trent ran from 1545-1563. Hosius was one of the papal legates from 1561 to 1563. As he was only a 20 year old student in 1524, I doubt he wrote anything of the sort at that time.

[Hieronymus]

Follow up--took me a bit to find this. The quotation from Hosius is a forgery. No doubt most of the people citing it are sincere--they have just bought into at least some bad history.

http://www.angelfire.com/ms/seanie/forgeries/hosius.html

[del4hope]

Had dinner tonight with a state official. There are alot of Federal and State LE officials in that area today and tonight.

The official I spoke with says that the locations of these churches are so off the beaten path, that the perp or perps HAVE to be someone local and familiar with the churches. My guess is satanists over any other individuals or groups.

[del4hope]

One other thing I ommitted. According to what I am hearing one of the five churches was a predominantly black congregation. This hatred has no racial boundaries.

[1-Eagle]

Bill Klinton remembers...HE was there!

Yes. Walking through the cinders during a Presidential campaign. His presidential commission found: Surprise! No more or less churches burned than in previous years. Most were all wood, and had electrical problems resulting in the fires. In one case, slurs painted on a black church, were painted by a black teen. In another case involving a mixed-race church, it was burned not because of the mixed membership, but because the attackers were satanists.

Concerning the recent attacks, if they were involving white churches: Immediately.... Sen. Shelby must denounce the 'hate in the air' espoused by liberal leftwing radio. Surely, Al Frankin said something that caused easily led liberals to go berserk!