When I was six years old and started school, one of my best friends was a Jewish girl. we were friends all through school. I was blissfully unaware of antisemitism for quite a few years. Her parents were heroic they skied to escape the Nazis in Poland. I know when we were in first grade, they were still allowing prayers, and we had one teacher who said the Lords prayer every morning and my six-year old friend would cover her ears. I thought that was really atrocious. Why did they have to put her through that?

We got the prayer and a daily reading of a Psalm or other passage from the Bible. N.J. public school.

...then they are turning their backs to centuries of such conflicts, and not paying any attention in school. Bloody wars fought between Catholics and an array of Protestants over a few rather insignificant details. Oy, then there is Judaism.

Then again, conservatives keep trying to sanitize and re-write history, so no telling what people are actually learning in school these days.

As an atheist myself, I have never harbored murderous feelings towards religious believers. I just tend to keep away from them. I would expect many if not most atheists to feel the same. Sure, I'm on "the left" but conservatives don't seem to be able to imagine a lefty not being RADICAL and quick to shoot someone they might disagree with. The projection is just so in your face, like their guns.

Or, maybe they're just acting this way for power. Lying your ass off worked for Trump.

Nothing about LSD in todays abc article.


Gunman in Michigan church shooting was Marine and Iraq War veteran: Officials

https://abcnews.go.com/US/gunman-michigan-lds-church-shooting-veteran-iraq-war/story?id=126025402

Thomas Jacob Sanford served four years in the Marines from 2004 to 2008.



By Luis Martinez, Josh Margolin, Chris Looft, and Sasha Pezenik
September 29, 2025, 2:47 PM

2:42
Witnesses from Michigan Mormon church shooting speak outAt least four people are dead and several others are injured after authorities say an attacker rammed his vehicle into a church, set it on fire and then died after exchanging gunfire with police.

The man suspected of opening fire on a Michigan LDS church on Sunday was a 40-year-old veteran of the Iraq War, according to officials.

Police said the suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford, drove his truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, before firing shots and setting the building on fire.

Sanford was killed in a shootout with police, officials said. At least four churchgoers were killed, and eight others were injured in the attack.

No motive has yet been identified in the deadly shooting and fire on Sunday..........................................................







The man suspected of opening fire on a Michigan LDS church on Sunday was a 40-year-old veteran of the Iraq War, according to officials.
Brenda Walters-Sanford
?w=1500

Not specific to this tragedy because not all of the facts are known as of yet.

But I'm comfortable stating fear of the unknown many times can drive people to do things and believe in things that might not happen except for being fearful.
For example, death. The great unknown is probably the #1 motivator of religious belief, actual belief not just because you might have been brought up in a religion.
If your devout in your belief, naturally, other religions might seem to be a threat because if they're right then you must be wrong and that's an impossibility. Ultimately most faith doctrine wants you to have no doubt about whatever religion you practice.

That's why the Bible is read in such a ritualistic manner, resulting in some people marking up their Bible. Ask the question and find the answer in the Bible. It convinces you, that you've followed the correct path.

But I think religion is like a nice sweater. It keeps you all warm and cozy when there's a chill, but if you find a snag and start pulling on it, pretty soon your left with nothing but the chill. At least, that's how it was for me.
I don't have the answers and I don't wish that experience for anybody. It's scary and depressing but also enlightening. You don't find atheists trying to profess or convert people. What you have are atheists defending themselves and their right to be free of all, that is relgious.

Full disclosure, I'm an atheist but Until my 40's I was a faithful practicing Catholic.

Church doctrine is constant so when life seems to be chaotic, what better place to turn to than that cozy sweater.
BTW, I don't believe religions in general are a cult. However, Trumpism is.

Anyway, just my opinion. Believe, don't believe, that's your personal choice. I wish you all well, enjoy the rest of your day.

which is why I don't follow religion anymore. I read it. It didn't make sense.
Women were cattle.
children were slaves.
men beat their women.
the society blamed the women.

If there is a god, I hope she likes me just the way I am.