What does "evil" mean? In the religious world, it's the stuff you don't think god likes. Fred Phelps thinks homosexuality is evil and that by allowing it, the country is inviting god's wrath. In his mind, he's standing up to evil, just like your pastor said. Likewise, Randall Terry things abortion is murder and therefore very evil. So he stands up to it, just like your pastor said. If you had been holding a gun and were at the CT school with the opportunity to stop the shooter from killing children, wouldn't you stop him? Terry sincerely believes he is in that exact same position w.r.t. abortion providers.

We need real solutions, not religious feel-good pablum.

Because I guarantee you, they do. I understand why you wouldn't want to explore this issue because it's very uncomfortable for most believers to go down this path. Typically they lash out at the non-believer who points this out.

I met his minions at my cousins funeral in 2005. I know his evil. My priest was talking about the NRA.

You said she talked about standing up to evil. That's what Phelps and Terry sincerely believe they're doing. They would absolutely agree with your priest.

You don't think that Phelps and Terry believe they are standing up to evil?

Because I assure you, they do. Perhaps you have some evidence to the contrary? Or are you just asserting based on your particular religious beliefs on what *you* think your god opposes?

whta

"Standing up to evil." What does that mean? I've pointed out that it means different things to different people. So far, you haven't been able to address that point. And now, your attempt to declare the interpretation of your own subject line to be "off course" seems quite desperate. Like I said, I understand why believers don't want to have this conversation. They aren't generally equipped to do this kind of analysis - they'd prefer to just say "I'm fighting evil" and leave it open.

But Phelps thinks homosexuality is evil, and Terry thinks abortion is evil. They, in their minds, are standing up to evil just like you and your priest.

Because that's all they have. But liberal believers get quite upset because they want THEIR religious belief to justify their positions. However, as you can see, you can't have it one way - it goes both ways. If religious belief justifies your position, it justifies theirs.

How about we justify political positions based on reason and facts instead of religious belief?

Interesting. Tell me, by what political standard is "evil" defined? And for that matter, "good?"

"Standing up to evil" is meaningless without defining what evil is. To you and your priest, it's the NRA or gun violence. To Phelps, it's homosexuality. To Terry, it's abortion. You are all standing up to evil in your own way.

We don't think being gay is evil not abortion

But Fred Phelps things being gay is evil. And Randall Terry thinks abortion is evil. They are standing up to evil, just like your priest told them to do. It's all about what you define as evil.

But you must acknowledge that they are standing up to evil, as THEY define "evil."

You've accepted the point I wanted to make.

I do not mean to be rude to you. My apology!!!!!!!

Many tears were shed, of that I feel certain.

and, hopefully, with a united voice.

This is what I've been saying all weekend. I'm trying to put it out their nicely on some of the more obtuse social media posts I see.

It needed to be said

I'm not sure what we can do about this nightmare situation we find ourselves in. I just know that we have to look for a solution. And I agree with your priest that we should not censor our ideas out of fear of the reaction of other people.