Worshippers subdue man who says he sought to save souls at historic church

San Antonio Express-News ^ | 01/14/2004 | Amy Dorsett

[SwinneySwitch]

"It is expected to reopen today for its regular hours."

[BlessedBeGod]

I wonder if he'll be charged with a hate crime.

Silly me. What am I saying, LOL!

[Clemenza]

Ping!

[tuckrdout]

I guess the man actually read the 10 commandments--and the rest of the Bible.

Exodus 20:4
"Thou shalt not make unto thee, any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:"

Leviticus 26:1
"Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God."

Deuteronomy 4:16
Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Deuteronomy 4:23
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

Deuteronomy 4:25
When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:

Deuteronomy 5:8
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:

Deuteronomy 7:5
But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

Deuteronomy 7:25
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therin: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 12:3
And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

Deuteronomy 27:15
Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

Psalm 97:7
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

Isaiah 10:10
As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isaiah 44:9
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.


Jeremiah 8:19
Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?

Jeremiah 10:14
Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

Are they just decorations? Or do people actually bow down, and pray in the name of and to those whose image is carved? What does the Bible say about it?

[Salvation]

**I wonder if he'll be charged with a hate crime.

Silly me. What am I saying, LOL!**

Nevertheless, a valid point!

[Salvation]

And what did Jesus do in a similar situation with a man out of control?

Gospel, 1-13-04

Gospel
Mk 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers,
and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!"
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
All were amazed and asked one another,
"What is this?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

[Salvation]

don't be so quick to criticize!

[Aliska]

One of the dangers of religious fundamentalism. Also, there is a fine line between religious fervor and religious dementia. It is frightening really when people get psychotic and religion is a factor.

There are others who probably aren't psychotic who do believe that statues are idols. They are entitled to their opinion so long as they respect the property rights of others.

[jonatron]

Well, at leasst he didn't commit statue-atory rape.

[jonatron]

Well, at least he didn't commit statue-atory rape.

[ArrogantBustard]

While detained, Rodriguez reportedly told police officers he was God and was saving souls by destroying the idols that sinners worship. Police said he told them he was proud of his work and that it had been done in the name of his father. He also reportedly told police he had died and the person he used to be no longer is alive.

What's his FR screen name?

[tracer]

Perhaps the poor deranged soul saw the word "Pieta" and thought it said "pinata."

All in all, very sad, but not too much for a loving God to bear and forgive.......

[ArrogantBustard]

Mr. Rodriguez????

[ArrogantBustard]

Seems to me "Madonna" did a video about that, 'way back when...

[ArrogantBustard]

I strongly suspect the fellow may not be in such mental condition as to be morally responsible for his actions....

Father, forgive him, for he knows not what he is doing.

[Campion]

I guess the man actually read the 10 commandments--and the rest of the Bible

Just curious -- which part of the Bible told him he was God? And which part told him it was okay to destroy someone else's property?

[Aliska]

Perhaps the poor deranged soul saw the word "Pieta" and thought it said "pinata."

If the subject matter of this thread weren't so serious, I would think that was funny. It was a clever play on words.

Maybe it was this way: Perhaps the poor deranged soul saw the word "idol" and had some "idle" time on his hands.

In either case, he will be on court-ordered therapy I would suppose. As to God's forgiveness, I'm sure you are right if the guy is truly sorry. In his state of mind, being sorry is probably not an option. He may persist to the end in believing that he did God a favor.

[george wythe]

Just like the Taliban that destroyed the antique Buddha statues in Afghanistan.

Sometimes, private property is private property, and art is art.

Even if we believe that some Americans worship God the wrong way, we should respect other people's worship houses.

[Quix]

THANKS for posting this in the news section vs the religion forum. I'd have likely missed it otherwise.