News for July 28

Slaying at UU congregation in Knoxville

Online coverage on the shooting rampage at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. As of this morning, the media is reporting that two people, including an usher, have died and at least seven were injured. Both the BBC America and The Associated Press have articles with details about the shooting. The AP is now reporting that the man targeted the church because of its liberal social policies.

Blog coverage and commentary include:

Philocrites | A neighbor told the (Knoxville News Sentinel) that Adkisson had expressed anger at Christianity in the past, which, if it turns out that his attack was religiously-motivated, could add a bitter irony to the story: He picked the least representative of churches to atone for what he perceived as Christianity’s sins.

Articles of Faith | The Unitarian Universalist Association is headquartered in Boston. The denomination’s president, the Rev. William G. Sinkford, issued the following statement (Sunday) afternoon.

Sexuality & Religion | The Yahoo story was illustrated by a pair of hands holding a large cross and a rosary. I found that perhaps insignficantly infuriating as well (and there didn’t seem to be any place to let the editors know how incorrect that image was.)

Also, a Facebook group, Thoughts&Prayers — Knoxville UU, has been created to allow Facebook members to show support and solidarity for the victims of the tragedy.

Killing for Religion is Justified, Say a Third of Muslim Students | Telegraph (U.K.)

Although 53 per cent said that killing in the name of religion was never justified, compared with 94 per cent of non-Muslims, 32 per cent said that it was. Of these, 4 per cent said killing could be justified to “promote or preserve” religion, while 28 per cent said it was acceptable if that religion were under attack.

Jihadettes | Slate

Slate writer William Saletan talks about the increase in the number of female Muslim suicide bombers in the Middle East. The issue might not be one of religion, he says, but one of sexism. “Female suicide bombing exploits your disbelief about what a particular group of people – women — will do. Your biases are no longer somebody else’s problem. They’re your problem.”

Terrorist Attacks Unsettling India | NY Times

Officials have said the attacks are attempts to provoke violence between Hindus and Muslims that have not succeeded so far.

Denied Kindergarten for Being Native? | Racialicious

Five year old Adriel Arocha is being blocked from attending school in a Houston-area school district. The reason? As an Apache, he has long hair that he has been growing in his Native cultural tradition that “violates” this school’s dress code rules. The kicker though is that the school board is willing to make exceptions on religious or other “proven” moral grounds, but doesn’t think that being Native American cuts it.

The Meat is Kosher, but Are the Conditions? | Articles of Faith

The New York Times’s immigration reporter, Julia Preston, today has a troubling story about the kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa that was raided by the feds in May. Preston, who travelled to Iowa and interviewed workers, reports allegations of “pervasive labor violations.”

Politics and the Dinner Table | Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations

Personally, I embrace that grey zone — where morality, such as it is, is defined by how we, as individuals, can — given the opportunity — treat each other at the table. If nothing else, it’s a start.