Larry Hooper was killed for being an atheist. His brutal murder, perpetrated at the hands Arthur Shelton, a Christian and Eagle scout, was justified simply because he was an atheist.
The trial began with the taped phone call Arthur Shelton placed to the Taylor police department in Taylor, Michigan, October 18, 2004, at precisely 12:44 AM. Shelton sounded calm and pridefull when he told the dispatcher he had just shot "the devil himself" with a revolver and a shotgun because "he (Hooper) didn't believe in God." Shelton told the dispatcher he was "still armed and ready to shoot again in case he moves. I want to make sure he's gone." When the dispatcher asked how many times he shot the victim Shelton replied, "hopefully enough."
Source: Parallel Politics and Comment
The story behind the story is how the relatives of Arthur Shelton treated the representatives from American Atheists. It's horrifying. What kind of person does it take to hate another like this?
11 comments:
Thats awesome...in a sick twisted and disgusting way. Wonder what kind of "Christians" they were...I'm thinking Westboro Baptist...
Matt
"What kind of person does it take to hate another like this?"
A religious person.
"...It is not what it is all about."
Yes, it is. Religious doctrine clearly promotes this crazy behavior. Fortunately, the vast majority of Christians don't take their faith seriously, and, at the very least, eagerly gloss over the gritty details of how they're supposed to behave according to the book. It's almost a pity that atheists have no moral obligation to destroy religious nuts before their lunacy gets out of hand.
Anon above, you're an idiot. Now YOU are sounding like the irrational and psychotic fundies.
There is no one way to interpret the Bible. Just because the vast majority of Christians are moderates, it does not mean that such is the correct way of interpreting the Bible. I'm sure there are plenty of passages within the Bibles texts that justify his actions. To argue otherwise is foolish and evasive.
I've heard about this a while ago and just saw you posted about it. I always thought that here in MI I lived in a pretty secular state but I guess you're not safe anywhere. Because somebody somewhere is going to feel so freaked out about this that they feel they have to take you out because obviously you are of the devil. I read the complete article on the Michigan chapter of American Atheists and also the article that Austin Cline wrote on About.com. I found the reaction of Mr. Sheltons' relatives outside the courtroom when they confronted the MI American Atheist representatives. Abhorrent.
Incredible, really, as I only found this post with the Atheist Blogroll Search Engine (I created on Google). Actually it's quite fun to play with.
Oh sorry, I have the widget for that on my Ungodly Cynic blog.
I pray that his killer is RAPED in prison and contracts AIDS as a result.
Beyond the US, christians are being hunted down and killed like never before. I firmly believe that christians in the US have FAR too much protection. Part of the problem here is that there arent enough hard-line atheists willing to retaliate against this crime!
I say MURDER 2 CHRISTIANS for every atheist killed by religious violence. Furthermore I have to say that I sincearly wish I could legally KILL his family members since they are christian and I have developed a thirst for the blood of christians.
Only a fundie Christian would claim "christians are being hunted down and killed like never before." The anonymous commenter above claiming to be an atheist who has "developed a thirst for the blood of christians" is an obvious fundie Christian troll.
And people like you make me feel like Arthur Shelton was justified in his actions.
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