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I don't agree with forced anything. but the loss of faith in this country correlates with our downward spiral and violence (and I say this as an atheist). Would love to see the church (a cleaned up version) became a larger factor in everyones lives. Our country has become diverse and multiracial at a rapid pace and social and community bonds have been broken. Robert Putnam wrote a lot on this, I recommend it to everyone.
Yes, he made online threats, there was enough evidence to pick him up. The level of a criminal threat is usually based on the speaker's intent. The people that knew him, feared him.
Unless some news has posted, the threats were not enough to arrest him, let alone detain, prosecute, convict, and sentence.
Many, many people know someone that they "fear", who they claim will "walk into work one day and start shooting." However, fear of someone is not enough to detain and arrest someone. His threats were very vague, not specific, and more importantly, he did not do anything detectable to carry it out that could easily be noticed. If he was planning with groups, hiring hit men, etc, then maybe, if noticed.
Evangelicals like this scumbag are the lowest of the low. Eff him and the rest of the American Taliban. Why is the United States the only developed Western nation where people pay attention to idiots like this? Demonic possession caused the shooting, OMFG.
A belief in God and some sort of judgment often acts as a braking mechanism for our worst impulses.
As do mental health treatment efforts and common sense laws.
Expecting the threat of an eternal hot poker up your ass to stop people from committing atrocities is like trying to stop a leaking roof with a bandaid.
Just look at the Bible and all the atrocities committed in the name of God if you want to see how "effective" religion is in curtailing violence.
Religion can have personal value. But it's not a substitute for public safety policy and measures (such as prioritising and reducing the stigma on mental health treatment).
Almost any major study you look at points to decreased crime across the US, while the participation in church has also decreased. The country is certainly not going down the drain.
The way Joyner talks, you'd think that the Middle Ages were peaceful.
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