Knoxville Church Assassin Had "Hate Agenda"

The minute I heard about the church shooting in Knoxville I had suspicions it might have been a hate crime and I was right. Jim Adkisson, a 58 year old unemployed man, walked into the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church during a childrens performance of Annie and opened fire with a shotgun. He injured 7 and killed 2 church members before other members subdued him as he tried to reload.

The church was no accident. The Unitarian Universalists have long been known as a liberal church and are strong advocates for social justice in women's issues and gay rights. As a former Unitarian myself I know how passionate the denomination is on social issues. Unfortunately, these good and gentle people became the target of a hatred so deep that it ended in the random murders of members of their congregation.

Adkisson had a "manefesto' in his car as he arrived at the church and he was on a mission. He had planned the crime for over a week. his letter stated that he intended to kill a lot of people and keep killing until police shot him. Luckily he didn't get his wish.

Why did he have the hatred of liberals? I suspect it was programmed into him by hate-radio talk shows and fundamentalist ministers. Both those groups need a bogieman to act as a scapegoat for all the problems of the world. Both those groups have simplistic understandings of how the world works, and therefore need a simple answer to things that don't fit into their warped vision of reality.

As more facts come out I will bet there will be sermons and tapes fond at his house from the likes of Jerry Fallwell and Michael Savage. Tiime will tell.

In the meantime, we need take extra care to avoid another tragedy like this. Unfortunately, it means being on-guard and aware of our situations at all times. As a member of a liberal church, the United Church of Christ, I have seen the threats leveled at us and our congregations, but it will not dissuade us from our mission of carrying God's word and grace to everyone. I pray for the families of the members of the Knoxville church and for Jim Adkisson as well. Perhaps he was so angry and filled with hate because enough people didn't show the unconditional grace God had extended to him. Perhaps he was just too focused on finding a scapegoat for his troubles that he never asked for help.