# Alabama churches burn once again! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 3, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-churches-burn-once-again/342882 "2006-02-03T19:14:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-churches-burn-once-again/342882/21 "2006-02-04T04:57:27Z")
Fair enough, but I hope you’re not the guy standing there with the torch. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-churches-burn-once-again/342882/22 "2006-02-04T05:05:10Z")
> [@Duke of Rat](#): > > I wasn’t trying to imply that you were a leftist, just that cites from right-leaning sources are at best taken with a grain of salt on this board, and usually roundly criticized. Depends on the type of article, and on the claims being made. Do you have any concept of the difference between news reporting and editorial? I’ve said before on these Boards: despite the right-wing lunacy of its editorial pages, the _Wall Street Journal_ employs some of the best journalists in the United States, and i have no trouble accepting it as a source of news and information, on matters financial and otherwise. If you trot out some dribbling jerk-off from the Op-Ed pages, though, don’t expect the same level of respect and credulity. Similarly, on matters of straightforward reporting i’m happy to accept the _Mooney Times_ as a source. In fact, about five hours ago i used it [myself](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7066652&postcount=27). As for the _American Spectator_, it is an avowedly conservative journal whose whole _raison d’etre_ is, and always has been, to present a conservative viewpoint. I’m happy to accept it as a source of what certain conservatives think, and on many factual issues i’m sure it offers accurate information. But in many of its articles separating information from opinion is very difficult, and i feel no particular compulsion to agree with their conclusions. But of course, as usual, it makes some conservatives on this Board feel better if they can paint themselves as the constant victims of pile-ons and unfair criticism, so don’t let my reassurances get in the way of your martyrdom. That hair shirt fit OK? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-churches-burn-once-again/342882/23 "2006-02-04T05:21:48Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Fair enough, but I hope you’re not the guy standing there with the torch. 🙂 No, that would be Zarathustra. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-churches-burn-once-again/342882/24 "2006-02-04T05:31:34Z")
[hijack] Huh. In Googling Zarathustra to confirm my tiny joke, I came across [this site](http://www.zoroaster.net/indexe.htm) laying out the basics of Zoroastrian faith. The English is somewhat mangled, but I was much struck by this description of the doctrine: > [@](#): > > Zarathusthra seems to have become convinced that all events of the world are based on cause and effects. He has, therefore, based his teachings on three principles: good reflection, good word, and good deed. He was wise enough to recognize that all the motives of human beings are based on action and reaction. Because, the receiver of every good deed in this world will react accordingly with the good behavior. Therefore, in the realm of interaction, if human beings act favorably, they receive favorable reaction and vice versa. In this regard, if a person robs another one, he should not be surprised when some day he will be robbed as well. Zarathustra never imagined praising a God who is a bribe taker. The one, who is bribed by worship and then he rewards his worshiper with a part of paradise. The Almighty God is not a dealer, he is neither a buyer nor a seller, and does not need also to be flattered by his creatures. The almighty God of Zarathustra, is the initiator of justice, kindness, and truthfulness and guides his creatures to the same principles. That is why, Zarathustra, has based his philosophy on good reflection, good word, and good deed. In Zarathustra’s philosophy, everybody has the liberty to choose the right way, out of his/her good reflection and since human wisdom is more related to good reflection, thus the followers of Zoroastrianism should precede by each other to the propagation of science and education. In this manner, Zoroastrianism becomes the forerunner of knowledge and enlightenment. Now, that’s a philosophy I could get behind. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-churches-burn-once-again/342882/25 "2006-02-04T07:03:31Z")
[Devil’s Advocate] Just because the churches were predominately white doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t race-motivated. Maybe the white churches were extra supportive of black people. [/DA] > [@](#): > > those arrested for torching black churches include a deranged 13-year-old girl who harbored anti-Christian beliefs, an “all American-type” volunteer fireman who investigators said likes to set buildings aflame, and rampaging juveniles who cared more about stealing money from the collection plate than the color of the denomination’s skin – a group that one Georgia law enforcement agent described as “just a bunch of jerky kids.” Holy shit! A 13 year old girl who burns churches because she doesn’t like christians? A volunteer firefighter who burns buildings on his off time? BRILLIANT! It sounds like something someone like Chuck Palahniuk would come up with. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-churches-burn-once-again/342882/26 "2006-02-04T14:35:10Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > Holy shit! A 13 year old girl who burns churches because she doesn’t like christians? A volunteer firefighter who burns buildings on his off time? > BRILLIANT! It sounds like something someone like Chuck Palahniuk would come up with. [Firefighter arson is a real problem.](http://www.nvfc.org/news/hn_firefighter_arson.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-churches-burn-once-again/342882.md?page=1)