How Roof sat down with the Bible study reminded me of a Bible study I was in that was all men. We met in the evening and more than once we had men down on their luck visit us for prayer and assistance.

The group was small usually 6 to 9. One of us was selected to moderate. That's necessary to prevent someone from running the discussion and it is always good to have someone gently move it on when a dead horse is being beaten. Because of the size of the group and all men they really opened up in ways that a lot of men won't. We were pretty diverse; 2 carpenters, one welder, one undertaker, one cotton farmer, one butcher and a couple of electronic technicians.

it could never happen to me. Fortunately, statistics are on my side.

What will be, will be. We are all in God's hands.

Statement of Purpose

A safe haven that provides opportunities for people of all faiths, spiritual leanings and non-belief to discuss religious topics and events in a positive and civil manner, with an emphasis on tolerance. Criticisms of individual beliefs or non-belief, or debates about the existence of higher power(s) are not appropriate in this group.

http://election.democraticunderground.com/?com=about&forum=1264


This violates our safe haven.

He seems to ignore people 100% of the time.

When I'm in church, I'm with a number of people,
In my home, I'm most often alone, and therefore vulnerable to whomever or whatever may befall me.
Typically, I don't worry about either circumstance.

Unless you go to a historically black church with a 200+year history of being attacked for supporting black equality, I'm not sure why you'd feel uneasy at church.

Certainly you're not buying the right-wing version of this being an attack on Christians rather than an attack because of race, are you?

I asked believers if they felt safe. A perfectly good and reasonable question in this room.

Re?

But i went.

My phone has been stabbing me in the back lately too.

I don't doubt that. Just curious if you actually felt safe before. It's something I don't possess a concept of.

This is a safe haven.

I saw your question in Subscriptions. Found it curious.

I'm sorry you seem upset. I asked an honest question and you answered it, which I appreciate you taking time to do.

I don't believe I have done anything to warrant aggravation.

Yet this is not the place to question that.

I asked a simple and respectful question for clarification. I got an answer, said fair enough.

HRMJustin's only concern with the question seems to be around the timing of my post. So no, I will not self delete like I did something wrong. I asked, he answered. We were done at that point, except he seemed concerned that I thought his question was inappropriate or wrong. I believe I answered that concern. Nothing wrong with the question.

If you want to ban me for asking an honest question to gain some perspective on his concern, you go right ahead.

Look, we all know your method of "discussion" and it's far from honest, sincere, and so forth. Twist, obfuscate, and debate, not conversational. Especially when asking your "honest question" by means of planetary physics not in the least related to the truly honest apprehension some are feeling after this tragedy.

I know you're smart enough to figure it out, and likely already have. We simply do not feel your sincerity in your questioning. And that's the honest truth.

There was no intent for an extended conversation, no challenge, no disagreement.

If you dislike me so much I cannot ask a simple question, receive and accept a simple answer, and be done with it, why didn't you just ban me last time I posted here?

Wrong, but honest and sincere. Certainly when you compare him to [name redacted] or [name redacted] Atheist Crusader is pretty straightforward I think.

Bryant

"You live in the interface between radioactive molten stone and a hard vacuum. Did you feel safe befo"


Tell that story to someone else sho believes it.

If you google the phrase, you'll see it's a standard rhetorical question about the concept of 'safety'.

Sorry, if that's what bothered you. It's quite common but you may not have heard it before. It's meant to convey the vast relative scope of the term 'safety'.

Funerals outside our church.

I'm not going to explain it further. Rather, I'll just repeat what I posted at the bottom of the thread, as y'all seem to have some trouble with comprehension of concept of "safe haven":

Why wouldn't you?


There's not any persecution of Christians going on in this country..... all pearl clutching false memes to the contrary being beside the point.

Did you see me post "You should not talk about your feelings in this safe haven!"?

And that is what you did.

Now, if you can't remember what this group is about or our SOP, let me remind you:

It is clear that since several of us are no longer engaging them in the religion room that they have a need to find us here.

Their obsession is clear and they need to get over it.

Regarding the OP, I don't think you need to fear going to church, unless you attend a black church in the south. Elsewhere, I would be more nervous attending services in a synagogue or mosque.

Some people would feel the same if we had a mass-murder at a grocery store or a library. It puts people on edge, and they become more wary of their surroundings. The original reason for the mass-murder has nothing to do with having such fear. That emotion is already irrational and can't always be suppressed. This is about similar places being the site of such tragedies.

Besides, I do feel that being a little more aware of your surroundings is a good thing. Too many, even in church, have difficulty being away from their phones.

But the Episcopal church of Lafayette or Benicia California I have no reason to be afraid.

Whenever there is a terrorist act like that, you start thinking "well what if they struck this restaurant" or "what if they struck this movie theater."

That said, it passed quickly - it was clearly an attack motivated by racism not religion.

Bryant

As they came down from Maryland to attack Washington, were killed and buried.

It is quite bizarre.

But, no fear, no threats. Wildly diverse congregation.