Whites-only Christian gathering riles some Alabama neighbors
A three-day whites-only religious conference — which will conclude with a flaming cross — in Lamar County, Alabama, has some residents upset at the racist implications while the minister complains that his freedom of speech is being violated.
"Yes, we believe that the Europeans and their descendants are the chosen people of God," according to the website for Christian Identity Ministries, which is holding the event with Church of God’s Chosen. "We believe this, not because we think that the white race is superior, but because there is overwhelming proof in support of this belief. We do not back down from this belief, because we are certain."
Some local residents learned of the the July 4-6 gathering after the group posted fliers promoting their fourth annual pastors conference, announcing "All White Christians Invited," according to a report by WBRC in Birmingham. "It was put up throughout the town in the middle of the night. (It was) when everyone was asleep without the permission of the business owner," said Tyler Cantrell, manager of Norris Music in nearby Winfield, Ala., the report said.
Christian Identity Ministries founder Mel Lewis, who spoke to a reporter from WAFF TV of Huntsville, charged that the Winfield mayor was violating his flock’s right to free speech.
"The mayor ordered our fliers to be taken down," he said. "When did they start religious censorship?"
"We are not breaking any laws. We're not violating any ordinances. We're bringing the Word of God to people who want it, obviously, or they wouldn't be here," said Lewis at the rural venue, decorated with Confederate flags and KKK banners.
I hate to see someone's rights to burn crosses, put up KKK banners and Confederate flags violated, don't you? Wow, if that happened in Park County or JeffCo I can't imagine the uproar that would happen. (Of course, Alabama is a close second...) :VeryScared: But, hey, they're bringing "the Word of God", right?
The "Identity" movements basic tenet's is that white Europeans are the remnant of the "lost" tribes of Israel. This movement is small and scattered. You will find this mindset in a number of obscure Christian groups. This thinking goes under a number of names including "Covenant," "British Israelism," "Yahist" and "Anglo-Israelism." The most visible group that held to this theology was "The Worldwide Church of God." I say "was" because in the last 20 years, they have slowly move away from this theory and replaced it with a more all inclusive salvation message.
If you try to paint these people as representative of Christianity, you would be far, far from the truth. Most of these "Identity" and "Covenant" groups are considered by mainstream Christianity as cults.
But it's fun to post stories like this... isn't it... even though it is a rather small and localized and doesn't mean a hill of beans in the larger picture of Christianity.
Entitlement Whore wrote: The "Identity" movements basic tenet's is that white Europeans are the remnant of the "lost" tribes of Israel. This movement is small and scattered. You will find this mindset in a number of obscure Christian groups. This thinking goes under a number of names including "Covenant," "British Israelism," "Yahist" and "Anglo-Israelism." The most visible group that held to this theology was "The Worldwide Church of God." I say "was" because in the last 20 years, they have slowly move away from this theory and replaced it with a more all inclusive salvation message.
If you try to paint these people as representative of Christianity, you would be far, far from the truth. Most of these "Identity" and "Covenant" groups are considered by mainstream Christianity as cults.
But it's fun to post stories like this... isn't it... even though it is a rather small and localized and doesn't mean a hill of beans in the larger picture of Christianity.
You nailed it. What is the point of being outraged about a fringe group? Do ya think she would be outraged about any other fringe group like communists or eco-terrorsists? I highly doubt it.
The left is angry because they are now being judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.
Thanks for the laugh LJ, how ironic that you would post such a story when your party of choice played such a large role in the establishment of the KKK.
rofllol
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges; When the Republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus
Entitlement Whore wrote: The "Identity" movements basic tenet's is that white Europeans are the remnant of the "lost" tribes of Israel. This movement is small and scattered. You will find this mindset in a number of obscure Christian groups. This thinking goes under a number of names including "Covenant," "British Israelism," "Yahist" and "Anglo-Israelism." The most visible group that held to this theology was "The Worldwide Church of God." I say "was" because in the last 20 years, they have slowly move away from this theory and replaced it with a more all inclusive salvation message.
If you try to paint these people as representative of Christianity, you would be far, far from the truth. Most of these "Identity" and "Covenant" groups are considered by mainstream Christianity as cults.
But it's fun to post stories like this... isn't it... even though it is a rather small and localized and doesn't mean a hill of beans in the larger picture of Christianity.
You nailed it. What is the point of being outraged about a fringe group? Do ya think she would be outraged about any other fringe group like communists or eco-terrorsists? I highly doubt it.
And to add a little fuel to this fire, the "Identity" movements theology is very much part of the reason the KKK has a "whites only" mentality. The "British-Israelism" theory goes back to the early 1800's and was a popular concept with a number of fringe groups since the beginning of this country. And you know who was responsible for the KKK... Southern Democrats.
rofllol 
