In answer to one comment on my post re: anti-abortion group interrupting church service.

[whateyethynk]

I spent a lot of sleepless hours last night thinking about my Sunday post and some of the reactions I got to it. I will not share the opinions of those who responded through e-mail, because I will respect their obvious desire to answer me in private. But one person responded on a public forum and I believe that leaves me free to respond in kind.

If you didn't read yesterday's post, "The Christian Taliban Strikes During a New Orleans Unitarian Church Service,", please do so here: http://whateyethynk-politics.blogspot.com/2014/07/quick-note-christian-taliban-strikes.html I'm afraid today's post won't make much sense without it.

what eye thynk: Today, I want to respond to one of the people who commented on Sunday's post. Lee commented that "Unitarian isn't a real 'church' anyway. It's no different from scientology."

First, who is Lee to decide what constitutes a real church? Native Americans believe the earth was created by the Mother and that the spirits of their ancestors protect them. Do they not have the right to that faith or should they be required to vet their beliefs and rituals through someone like Lee?

Second, why should the status of a church have anything to do with interrupting and terrorizing those who gather to worship in a manner of their choosing?

Lee missed the entire point of my distaste for Mr. Benham's group's display. They acted with total disrespect for those Unitarian members' right to practice their faith and despoiled the sanctuary of the people who had joined together to worship. They wanted the people gathered in that sanctuary to concede that Operation Save America is the only organization worthy of representing true faith in the one God. They acted like the Taliban.

What makes these people think they had the right to invade this church? Do they really suppose that, because these people hold different views on women's rights, it makes their sanctuary less holy?

We are a nation of immigrants, a melting pot of different cultures and different beliefs. We have existed as a nation for 238 years because we have accepted and respected and celebrated our differences. But more and more we are becoming a nation of intolerant bigots. Thuggery and a loud voice are becoming more valued than tolerance and an accepting heart.

Groups like Operation Save America are built on bricks of pride...and their pride is blind, deaf and ugly. And un-American.

Photo of Flip Benham, director of Operation Save America in action here: http://whateyethynk-politics.blogspot.com/2014/07/flip-benhams-operation-save-america.html

[msongs]

1. arguing with ignorant people is futile, especially people who confuse superstition with reality nt

[cbayer]

2. Right. It is the brilliance of the turd dropper that is really inspiring!

[LiberalEsto]

3. Well said

I posted about this nasty incident last week. I'm a Unitarian Universalist myself. Obviously these ill-mannered fanatics, and those who support them, know nothing whatever about Unitarians, Universalists and UUs. (The two denominations merged in 1963).

Thomas Jefferson, one of this nation's founders, frequently attended Unitarian religious services. Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams were Unitarians.

For a detailed look at the history of UUism, go to:

http://www.uua.org/beliefs/history/151249.shtml