A political message corrupting the true message of a religion. This guy is, quite literally, a terrorist. He's just as bad as Osama.

reserves the deepest, worst level of hell for those who knowingly pervert "the word."

The priest is clearly a small minded bigot, an asshat, someone who should never be in a room alone with kids. However, he is also just as clearly not a terrorist, not a murderer. Words have a specific meaning, when used incorrectly can water down the impact of what actually happened and provide ammunition for those who would support him. Not saying I disagree with the spirit of your statement though, just (hopefully without sounding condescending) helping you to make a more concise / effective statement next time.

The best approach to correcting me that I've seen here. So, thank you.

But I will disagree on part of it. A terrorist isn't necessarily a murderer (although we don't know just how far this guy would go) but he does instill fear.

I would perhaps prefer to refer to him though by employing the term fearmongering skidmark of malodorous hypocritical origin.

Awesome

nt

decades ago after i realized what many were about, I've never looked back or missed one bit of it ... true, there are many good religious people, but there are also many that are IMO quite evil.

... I believe in God, and in principle I believe much of what is in the Christian Bible. I try to live by Christian principles, not because a pastor tells me to, but because I believe that the true Jesus set an excellent example. But I am no Christian... not when brutes like this are.

Its sad how many of my friends take pride in being atheist, openly mocking my smallest mentioning of faith. Interesting how, if someone were to mention to me say, believing in Santa- I wouldn't feel the need to blow up, freak out, mock and preach. I wouldn't feel threatened, feel hatred toward Santa or their views. I know its different, as Santa has never put anyone to the rack, but everyone knows I believe in God, not the church. I feel an affinity toward Jesus, not sure why, when I disregard so much else (the flood, the time-line) but it just feels right. I never allow the mud throwing to tarnish my light, and I see it as my duty to humbly be Gods advocate when the opportunity arises.

I would define God as a non-sexed entity who is non-colored, (isn't old, white, bearded.... hmmm, like Santa). Philosophy 101 (from memory) would define God as nessecarily being all three qualities:
Omnipresent: being everywhere, being in all time, all at once
Omipotent: capable of doing anything, knowing of all
Omnibenevolent: capable of doing only good

I would define faith as an acknowledgement of the above, hopefully also containing actions.

I would define religion as a bunch of guys deciding how to impose their will on everyone else while taking their money.

but, as with many YouTube videos, the title is untrue in its specifics. They were beaten up in the parking lot and in their car and the pastor / father had his brother and others commit the assaults. And the local police were involved in the cover-up.

This pastor should be kicked of the church.

occasion to drive through a number of what are considered intolerant states recently. There were so many flags and so many teabagger looking types I was pleased our car did not break down. And then about every mile or so was a god sign advertising along the edge of the road. Some of the crosses were sooo big it was a distraction driving.

by Mrs Shepard? Tear jerker for sure. I couldn't finish it.

hatred in this country is appalling. It seems, anymore, the US, groups/fractions in the US, hate everything. I'm always amazed at how religion is the focus of sooo much hatred, but it's sure been that way since biblical times and before. What I saw mostly in a recent road trip were guns, flags and crosses, and road signs proclaiming RW fundie religion. It was depressing.

like a sickness has spread across the country. So many just seem to want to repress other people. The hatred is incredible. I literally would've been afraid to get out of the car, some areas just looked so RW and fundie.

Then keep walking.

hair is too well kept, and I don't have the teabagger look. Anyway, sometimes they stare right at me, so I just say hello ... and I get a stupid look back. I just keep walking.

because am heavy and my husband is skinny. But not bad looking couple. But I think it's because we live in rural area and we stick out. But I won't change who I am.

you. Yeah, it's probably more a rural thing. In the city they would go batty, there are so many different types of people.

and say hello usually people will return it. Of course times people may look at you but don't really see you because their minds are someplace else. I know I have done that. Your being absent minded. Not being rude really. I try to pay attention.

Last edited Tue May 15, 2012, 01:29 PM - Edit history (1)

Assault Complaints Filed after Incident at Church
By dwilkerson@wbbjtv.com
By Daniel Wilkerson
Story Created: Sep 28, 2011 at 6:57 PM CDT
Story Updated: Sep 28, 2011 at 8:29 PM CDT

Gibson County Pastor Charged With Stealing
By Emily Cassulo
By ecassulo@wbbjtv.com
Story Created: Oct 6, 2011 at 6:42 PM CDT
Story Updated: Oct 7, 2011 at 7:48 PM CDT

of assault following an altercation on the church grounds, when his son and his son's boyfriend tried to attend church services, now faces a charge of theft. The new allegations that have surfaced against Jerry Pittman, pastor of Grace Fellowship Church in Fruitland, charge him with theft over $1,000. In an arrest warrant filed in Trenton Municipal Court, Pittman's wife, Diana Pittman, states that her employees told her that Pittman went into her business, Trenton Truck Terminal Warehouse where he once was employed, and took copper. She also stated in the warrant that other witnesses have seen Pittman on several occasions going and coming from the business. All parties involved in the ruckus were arraigned Tuesday, October 4, and preliminary hearing is set for November 22, 1 p.m. in Gibson County General Sessions Court in Trenton. Pittman will be formally charged for theft during in Trenton Municipal Court October 28 ...
Humboldt Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011
VOL. 125, NO. 41
http://issuu.com/humboldtchronicle/docs/humboldt_chronicle_10-12-11
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Vv6UktckUFoJ:http://issuu.com/humboldtchronicle/docs/humboldt_chronicle_10-12-11%2Bpastor%2B%2522jerry%2BPittman%2522%2Btheft%2BNovember%257CDecember%257CJanuary&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Jeh&rls=org.mozilla:en-US fficial&ct=clnk

Humboldt Chronicle
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2011 VOL. 125, NO. 47
http://issuu.com/humboldtchronicle/docs/humboldt_chronicle_11-23-11
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:tvnGr_AggS4J:http://issuu.com/humboldtchronicle/docs/humboldt_chronicle_11-23-11%2Bpastor%2B%2522jerry%2BPittman%2522%2Btheft%2BNovember%257CDecember%257CJanuary&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=GzM&rls=org.mozilla:en-US fficial&ct=clnk

when his son wasn’t there. Jerry’s stepmother ... is completely supportive of him ... However, when his father and stepmother started divorce proceedings, the floodgates opened ... His father had actually been arrested earlier that day, for theft over $10,000, related to the divorce, but had somehow ... made it back to the church ... Eugene McCoy, filed charges several days after the fact, claiming that it was Jerry, Jr. who had started it. Then, last Thursday ... Jerry’s uncle Patrick Flatt, was allegedly stabbed in his garage by two men in masks .. A couple of days later ... Eugene McCoy ... moved, only to have his house burn down the next morning ... Everyone is due in court on November 22 ...
Assaulted At Church For the Crime of Being Gay
Posted October 5th, 2011 by Evan Hurst
http://www.truthwinsout.org/pressreleases/2011/10/19130/

So ... what happened in court?

By Emily Cassulo
By ecassulo@wbbjtv.com
Story Created: Sep 30, 2011 at 7:43 PM CDT
Story Updated: Sep 30, 2011 at 11:13 PM CDT

Humboldt Chronicle October 5 2011
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2011
VOL. 125, NO. 40

By 7 Eyewitness News Staff
By news@wbbjtv.com
Story Created: Jan 24, 2012 at 9:12 PM CDT
Story Updated: Jan 25, 2012 at 12:24 AM CDT

I'm going to play Devil's Advocate for a moment.

If you were one to believe in the Bible as literally true, you would take that statement to be true as well.

So, in a sense, those true believers have a legal, and in their minds, moral right to attack and kill gays. Discriminating against them is justified because the gay lifestyle is immoral.

Back to reality.

The Bible has been and can be used to justify a great number of human rights abuses; slavery, killing gays, killing non-believers, subordination of women, and a lot of other gruesome activities.

It's not all Old Testament either. Read Corinthians I all the way through, and you'll see that Jesus and Christianity are cool with slavery and treating women as second class citizens.

We live in a nation of laws. One of the key principles in the US is religious freedom. When religious beliefs are used to justify violence, they've gone too far.

When Dominionist Christians cry persecution, that's what they mean. They mean they don't have the right to discriminate, hate, or abuse others as their beliefs teach them.

It's the 21st Century. Gays are people too, and as such are entitled to all the benefits of citizenship. An ancient Bronze Age book should not be considered a means of justifiably trumping civil and human rights.

to consider myself having faith, in spite of those issues you've mentioned. I suppose the hard liners would put me in the same boat with atheists. My belief system is completely self learned, based on years of thought and observation. It seems to me that any belief system which is copied from a book, word for word without being processed or internalized, is false or at least in-genuine.

Last edited Tue May 15, 2012, 04:05 PM - Edit history (1)

parts of it, misinformed and ignorant. None are even remotely in the same league as you IMO and they would cast you out as a sinner with their whole bucket of illogic and ignorance they love to follow.

than being embraced by them