They were in a single city block....?

Officers found bomb-making materials in Weiler’s room along with torn bits of paper that, when assembled, contained directions for making Molotov cocktails, a list of 48 local churches, a hand-drawn map of the churches grouped and circled, and a written outline of Weiler’s plan to plant bombs ...

The pieces of paper with details of a plot to bomb churches were found in a trash can in the room. The paper also described plans to videotape the bombings and the words: “Try to get away with it … maybe a plan out of town?”

On the bed, Miami police found a manifesto that included as Step No. 20: “Self-Promote for the next 4 years while beginning list of goals written in Oklahoma having to do with destroying and removing church buildings from U.S., a tiny bit at a time - setting foundation for the years to follow” ...

Ill. man faces terrorism charge in Okla. bomb plot
by TIM TALLEY
Associated Press
36 mins 57 secs ago
http://www.durantdemocrat.com/view/full_story/20412342/article-Ill--man-faces-terrorism-charge-in-Okla--bomb-plot

MIAMI, Okla. — Miami’s police chief said Monday that a man caught with 50 Molotov cocktails and apparent plans to firebomb local churches has been eliminated as a suspect in a recent arson attempt at a Joplin, Mo., mosque.

Police Chief George Haralson said agents with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives eliminated Gregory A. Weiler II, 23, as a suspect in a failed arson attempt July 4 at the Islamic Center of Joplin ...

Authorities possess videotape of a man involved in the July 4 fire, which caused minor damage to the roof of the mosque. Images of the man were released to the media and have been widely published without leading to an arrest.

The FBI has declined to say if surveillance video exists from a second fire, on Aug. 6, that destroyed the mosque. The cause of that fire remains undetermined ...

http://www.joplinglobe.com/topstories/x371810166/Accused-plotter-eliminated-as-suspect-in-mosque-arson

with religion. On Monday, Weiler was being held without bail in Oklahoma on terrorism charges stemming from what authorities say was a plot to blow up dozens of churches with Molotov cocktails ...

Officials said Weiler planned to videotape the explosions ...

Several weeks ago, family members began seeing odd comments posted by Weiler on his Facebook page, which was the only way they kept in touch with him, the Tribune reported.

A Sept. 25 posting -- apparently written from his motel room -- referred to his childhood and focused on the Catholic Church, whose leaders he accused of “hypocrisy, murder and deceit.” He ended with: “I have not opened a bible in a while, and I haven’t stepped foot into a church building in quite some time -- and though I may be very lonely right now, I am hoping that someone, and maybe someday in the future, someone will take notice” ...

Illinois man charged in Oklahoma plot to bomb churches
By Michael Muskal
October 8, 2012, 2:29 p.m.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-oklahoma-city-bomb-molotov-20121008,0,5278361.story

Glad his plot was discovered before he could act on it.

Extremist church member and all.

There is nothing in atheism that says we need to destroy churches or kill people. But there is plenty in Christianity that says god speaks to people - reveals new religious ideas and commandments - and that he must be obeyed. Millions of people are raised to not question what their pastors and church leaders tell them, and that to even wonder why this is so, is to allow Satan into their lives. Liberal believers chime in to chide us for ever trying to call someone's deeply-held religious beliefs wrong or false - "It's true for them! It's just another perspective, just something different than your limited, narrow scientific materialism!"

My personal perspective can say that this man was deluded, and mentally ill, and needed help that he did not get until it was almost too late. The apologists who haunt this group can wring their hands and declare that "Oh, clearly this man was not altogether sane" but in doing so they reveal their own hypocrisy and double standards.

The last plot I've heard of in the US to bomb a church was actually a group of Christians in Texas though they were actually sort of leftist Christians, they opposed organized religion and believed that what the church they were planning to bomb (an Assembly of God)'s values and what it stood for was a disgrace to God. But I haven't seen anything in the excerpt above that proves the guy is either a discontent and distraught or atheist.

I agree that no matter what he's obviously mentally ill and that's the whole crux of why he was planning this.

Also it seems like his plan was to use one molotov cocktail per church, in that case if he was expecting to actually burn them down it's also obvious that he's not too too bright.

"a lot of mental illnesses" that led to a suicide attempt in the eighth grade, said his cousin Johnny Meyers.

Weiler has been admitted to mental hospitals multiple times, but "with his medication, he was perfectly fine and functional," Meyers said. He said family members in suburban Chicago believe Weiler must have stopped taking his medication and planned to go to Oklahoma to see him.

Meyers, whose parents cared for Weiler and his siblings, said his cousin had been out of touch for several years after leaving Illinois.

A pastor at a homeless shelter operated by a church in suburban Kansas City, Mo., said Weiler lived there for about six months within the past year ...

Gregory Arthur Weiler II, Illinois Man, Faces Terrorism Charge In Oklahoma Bomb Plot
By TIM TALLEY 10/08/12 07:06 PM ET EDT AP
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/08/gregory-arthur-weiler-ii-_0_n_1949008.html

of mental illness. She said she and her husband took in Weiler after his mother committed suicide in 2002. She had suffered depression and alcoholism for years. His father also committed suicide in 2005 after a long struggle with alcohol and drug addiction. His sister was hospitalized for mental illness after several suicide attempts. Meyers said: “We just want people to understand how mental illness such as Greg's affects our whole family" ...

Gregory Arthur Weiler II arrested in plot to bomb 48 churches
By JohnThomas Didymus
Oct 8, 2012
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/334416

it was discovered he skipped classes and stole money from friends and family in a pyramid scheme. Weiler later joined an extremist Christian church his family described as a “cult” ...

Family Of Illinois Man Charged With Attempting To Firebomb Oklahoma Churches Says He Suffered From Mental Illness
http://chicagoist.com/2012/10/08/illinois_man_charged_with_attemptin.php

certain that he would have followed through with what an Oklahoma court affidavit described as a deadly terrorist plot.

“It's a blessing in disguise that they were able to get there,” said Weiler's cousin Johnny Meyers in an interview. “He has to be held accountable. It's a blessing, he can't hurt anyone now.” ...

Family: Elk Grove Village man held in bomb plot 'can't hurt anyone now'
By Carlos Sadovi and Dawn Rhodes Tribune reporters
8:11 p.m. CDT, October 6, 2012
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/elk_grove_village/chi-family-elk-grove-village-man-held-in-bomb-plot-cant-hurt-anyone-now-20121006,0,723799.story

church that he landed in last. Sometimes mentally unstable people can misunderstand dramatic spiritual exhortations peppered with demons and antichrists to suggest 'exhortations to violence.' Certainly, for instance, if you took the Book of Mormon seriously at all you might readily by fired up to fire up some Catholic churches.

Alternatively, could Weiler possibly have been imitating one of the many violent atheist schisms that have been raging here in the US?


It's a mysterious world.

here about some psychotic individual who commits a heinous crime because he was hearing the voice of god, etc.

It's important to distinguish between someone being driven by a severe psychiatric disorder that involves religion. and those whose religion or lack thereof is driving the crime. In cases like this, it is almost always the first. Religion, or in this case hatred of religion, just gets sucked into the psychosis.

The Taliban on the bus episode, tho, makes my skin crawl.

here about some loving individual who commits an act of kindness because he was hearing the voice of god, etc.

Atheism can't do that.