OT Two honestly not rhetorical questions

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crandc

crandc

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David Richards, a Tennessee pastor, was convicted of multiple felonies after repeatedly raping his 14 year old daughter. The young girl described the rapes in detail, adding that she hates and wants to destroy her own body and will remember what her father did every day of her life. She added she has no doubt he would rape another girl, given the chance.

Because of the nature of the crimes, the prosecution recommended the maximum sentence of 72 years. The judge imposed a much lighter sentence of 12 years on the grounds that the rapist was a "good Christian". Lest anyone think this was because he was repentant - no, the rapist said he had no idea why he was going to prison as he had done nothing wrong. He blamed his daughter for the rapes.

About 30 parishioners came to court to support the rapist. The town is pretty solidly united in favor of the rapist and against the victim (want to ask again why victims don't report?)

So my questions:

How can a man who rapes his daughter and blames her be called a "good Christian"? I am Jewish, but I know Christians believe all (nearly all) sins can be forgiven through faith and repentance. In this case there is no repentance. Is there any conduct that disqualifies a person from being a "good Christian"?

Is it Constitutional for a judge to impose a lighter sentence on a defendant because he/she is Christian? Would a Jew, Muslim, atheist, Buddhist et al who raped his daughter get the full 72 years?
 
There is nothing constitutional, moral or even remotely acceptable about it. The pastor was evidently a card carrying member of the local good ol’ boy club and was treated as such. The judge and prosecuting attorney are scum for making excuses on behalf of a monster, and should be sitting next to him in prison. Ones credibility as a spiritual person is negated when they throw morals out the window. Too many religious people think making appearances at church is some kind of get out of hell free card, and proceed to be fucking dicks all the time.
 
There is no such thing as a "good Christian".
 
crandc said:
David Richards, a Tennessee pastor, was convicted of multiple felonies after repeatedly raping his 14 year old daughter. The young girl described the rapes in detail, adding that she hates and wants to destroy her own body and will remember what her father did every day of her life. She added she has no doubt he would rape another girl, given the chance.

Because of the nature of the crimes, the prosecution recommended the maximum sentence of 72 years. The judge imposed a much lighter sentence of 12 years on the grounds that the rapist was a "good Christian". Lest anyone think this was because he was repentant - no, the rapist said he had no idea why he was going to prison as he had done nothing wrong. He blamed his daughter for the rapes.

About 30 parishioners came to court to support the rapist. The town is pretty solidly united in favor of the rapist and against the victim (want to ask again why victims don't report?)

So my questions:

How can a man who rapes his daughter and blames her be called a "good Christian"? I am Jewish, but I know Christians believe all (nearly all) sins can be forgiven through faith and repentance. In this case there is no repentance. Is there any conduct that disqualifies a person from being a "good Christian"?

Is it Constitutional for a judge to impose a lighter sentence on a defendant because he/she is Christian? Would a Jew, Muslim, atheist, Buddhist et al who raped his daughter get the full 72 years?
Click to expand...

That is heinous. He blamed his daughter? What a sick son of a bitch. That judge should be removed from the bench. Nothing like some corrupt southern good ol' boys
 
good christian is rhetotical
 
crandc said:
David Richards, a Tennessee pastor, was convicted of multiple felonies after repeatedly raping his 14 year old daughter. The young girl described the rapes in detail, adding that she hates and wants to destroy her own body and will remember what her father did every day of her life. She added she has no doubt he would rape another girl, given the chance.

Because of the nature of the crimes, the prosecution recommended the maximum sentence of 72 years. The judge imposed a much lighter sentence of 12 years on the grounds that the rapist was a "good Christian". Lest anyone think this was because he was repentant - no, the rapist said he had no idea why he was going to prison as he had done nothing wrong. He blamed his daughter for the rapes.

About 30 parishioners came to court to support the rapist. The town is pretty solidly united in favor of the rapist and against the victim (want to ask again why victims don't report?)

So my questions:

How can a man who rapes his daughter and blames her be called a "good Christian"? I am Jewish, but I know Christians believe all (nearly all) sins can be forgiven through faith and repentance. In this case there is no repentance. Is there any conduct that disqualifies a person from being a "good Christian"?

Is it Constitutional for a judge to impose a lighter sentence on a defendant because he/she is Christian? Would a Jew, Muslim, atheist, Buddhist et al who raped his daughter get the full 72 years?
Click to expand...

My answers:

1. Your first question delves into theology that goes beyond any few paragraphs I could write here, but here's my understanding of the main points: First, there is no such thing as a "good Christian". Jesus said "No one is good--except God alone." That's the basic precept of Christianity; that all are sinners and that only through God's grace can salvation be granted. That said, Jesus also said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The Bible says that sins will be forgiven if you accept Christ as your savior and acknowledge that his death on the cross covers your sins. That said, it's understood that there is to be a turning from sin that occurs with the acceptance of the gift of salvation. Not that we become perfect, but that we try to live our lives in a way that honors him and that we ask forgiveness and try again when we fall short. You can't expect salvation if you go on living your life in an ungodly way. As it says in Hebrews, "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries."

2. No. It's not constitutional to consider religion in determining guilt or the appropriate sentence.
 
crandc said:
David Richards, a Tennessee pastor, was convicted of multiple felonies after repeatedly raping his 14 year old daughter. The young girl described the rapes in detail, adding that she hates and wants to destroy her own body and will remember what her father did every day of her life. She added she has no doubt he would rape another girl, given the chance.

Because of the nature of the crimes, the prosecution recommended the maximum sentence of 72 years. The judge imposed a much lighter sentence of 12 years on the grounds that the rapist was a "good Christian". Lest anyone think this was because he was repentant - no, the rapist said he had no idea why he was going to prison as he had done nothing wrong. He blamed his daughter for the rapes.

About 30 parishioners came to court to support the rapist. The town is pretty solidly united in favor of the rapist and against the victim (want to ask again why victims don't report?)

So my questions:

How can a man who rapes his daughter and blames her be called a "good Christian"? I am Jewish, but I know Christians believe all (nearly all) sins can be forgiven through faith and repentance. In this case there is no repentance. Is there any conduct that disqualifies a person from being a "good Christian"?

Is it Constitutional for a judge to impose a lighter sentence on a defendant because he/she is Christian? Would a Jew, Muslim, atheist, Buddhist et al who raped his daughter get the full 72 years?
Click to expand...

Great post crandc.
 
e_blazer said:
My answers:

1. Your first question delves into theology that goes beyond any few paragraphs I could write here, but here's my understanding of the main points: First, there is no such thing as a "good Christian". Jesus said "No one is good--except God alone." That's the basic precept of Christianity; that all are sinners and that only through God's grace can salvation be granted. That said, Jesus also said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The Bible says that sins will be forgiven if you accept Christ as your savior and acknowledge that his death on the cross covers your sins. That said, it's understood that there is to be a turning from sin that occurs with the acceptance of the gift of salvation. Not that we become perfect, but that we try to live our lives in a way that honors him and that we ask forgiveness and try again when we fall short. You can't expect salvation if you go on living your life in an ungodly way. As it says in Hebrews, "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries."
Click to expand...

Really....? Like... Really?

It's funny to me how people like to parse things... It's pretty simple to say she wasn't thinking about whether or not we can parse the saying "Good Christian".

After all wasn't Job a "Good Christian"?:

Job 1 King James Version (KJV)
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
Click to expand...

She was saying how can he be CALLED a "Good Christian"?

You know by other "Good Christians" where the meaning of Good Christian is the description of Job.

You know, the devout, righteous man about whom God made a bet with the devil and basically killed all of his kids and ruined his life in the process?
 
dviss1 said:
Really....? Like... Really?

It's funny to me how people like to parse things... It's pretty simple to say she wasn't thinking about whether or not we can parse the saying "Good Christian".

After all wasn't Job a "Good Christian"?:



She was saying how can he be CALLED a "Good Christian"?

You know by other "Good Christians" where the meaning of Good Christian is the description of Job.

You know, the devout, righteous man about whom God made a bet with the devil and basically killed all of his kids and ruined his life in the process?
Click to expand...

Again its rhetorical. Christian implies good. Some would call thus sick bastard a "bad christian". He isn't christian at all.
 
This kind of government favoritism towards any religion is unconstitutional!

As for the other question...as an atheist I would say there are good people who happen to be christian, but no such thing as a "good xtian."
 
dviss1 said:
Really....? Like... Really?

It's funny to me how people like to parse things... It's pretty simple to say she wasn't thinking about whether or not we can parse the saying "Good Christian".

After all wasn't Job a "Good Christian"?:



She was saying how can he be CALLED a "Good Christian"?

You know by other "Good Christians" where the meaning of Good Christian is the description of Job.

You know, the devout, righteous man about whom God made a bet with the devil and basically killed all of his kids and ruined his life in the process?
Click to expand...

The Book of Job was written 600 years before the birth of Christ and was an ancient story already when it was written down. So, no, Job technically wasn't a Christian.

Really. ;)
 
e_blazer said:
The Book of Job was written 600 years before the birth of Christ and was an ancient story already when it was written down. So, no, Job technically wasn't a Christian.

Really. ;)
Click to expand...

He was a follower of the God of Abraham. His decedents are Christian but there you go again parsing things.

Maybe you can try to answer the damn question.
 
Not to derail the conversation, but in many cases calling somebody "a good ____" is damining with faint praise.

EG - it's like saying "that guy's OK - for a (insert racial slur of choice)"
 
This is abhorrent. All of it. The pastor's actions. His unrepentance. The town vilifying the victim. The judge's response. Just wrong, wrong, wrong on all counts.

The idea that anyone would be given a lighter sentence because of their professed religious convictions is, I agree, unconstitutional. Personally, I would think that if one were to take religion into account in sentencing, I would want to sentence someone who professes devout religious adherence but acts undeniably in opposition thereto even more strongly than the average person.

As an aside, I object to the term "Good Christian". Even Jesus Himself, when someone addressed him as "Good Teacher" responded "Why do you call me 'good'? No one is good but God alone." (Luke 18:19). My goal and desire is to live according to Jesus' dictates, but I know I fail at that every day. Any "goodness" I (or anyone) may have is only by the grace of God.
 
Just to clarify, the prosecutor did his job, he got conviction and asked for long sentence so should not be lumped with judge, defendant or community as @jonnyboy implied.

Interesting take on "good Christian", that was explicitly reason for relatively light sentence

Thanks for input.
 
crandc said:
David Richards, a Tennessee pastor, was convicted of multiple felonies after repeatedly raping his 14 year old daughter. The young girl described the rapes in detail, adding that she hates and wants to destroy her own body and will remember what her father did every day of her life. She added she has no doubt he would rape another girl, given the chance.

Because of the nature of the crimes, the prosecution recommended the maximum sentence of 72 years. The judge imposed a much lighter sentence of 12 years on the grounds that the rapist was a "good Christian". Lest anyone think this was because he was repentant - no, the rapist said he had no idea why he was going to prison as he had done nothing wrong. He blamed his daughter for the rapes.

About 30 parishioners came to court to support the rapist. The town is pretty solidly united in favor of the rapist and against the victim (want to ask again why victims don't report?)

So my questions:

How can a man who rapes his daughter and blames her be called a "good Christian"? I am Jewish, but I know Christians believe all (nearly all) sins can be forgiven through faith and repentance. In this case there is no repentance. Is there any conduct that disqualifies a person from being a "good Christian"?

Is it Constitutional for a judge to impose a lighter sentence on a defendant because he/she is Christian? Would a Jew, Muslim, atheist, Buddhist et al who raped his daughter get the full 72 years?
Click to expand...
That's not Christianity no matter what they claim.
 
Man that post was hard to read. Couldn't even care about the question. But I must say, I don't thing the tale of this scum bag has anything to do with Christians, nor does it reflect on them. He is just a scum bag, not a Christian.
 
tlongII said:
Wrong. You are either a Christian or you're not a Christian. There is no such thing as a good Christian.
Click to expand...

Romans 3:23 King James Version (KJV)
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
 
An interesting experiment would be to see if I'd go to hell for torturing this guy.

Too bad nobody likes science.
 
crandc said:
David Richards, a Tennessee pastor, was convicted of multiple felonies after repeatedly raping his 14 year old daughter. The young girl described the rapes in detail, adding that she hates and wants to destroy her own body and will remember what her father did every day of her life. She added she has no doubt he would rape another girl, given the chance.

Because of the nature of the crimes, the prosecution recommended the maximum sentence of 72 years. The judge imposed a much lighter sentence of 12 years on the grounds that the rapist was a "good Christian". Lest anyone think this was because he was repentant - no, the rapist said he had no idea why he was going to prison as he had done nothing wrong. He blamed his daughter for the rapes.

About 30 parishioners came to court to support the rapist. The town is pretty solidly united in favor of the rapist and against the victim (want to ask again why victims don't report?)

So my questions:

How can a man who rapes his daughter and blames her be called a "good Christian"? I am Jewish, but I know Christians believe all (nearly all) sins can be forgiven through faith and repentance. In this case there is no repentance. Is there any conduct that disqualifies a person from being a "good Christian"?

Is it Constitutional for a judge to impose a lighter sentence on a defendant because he/she is Christian? Would a Jew, Muslim, atheist, Buddhist et al who raped his daughter get the full 72 years?
Click to expand...

Obviously, a judge has leeway for all kinds of inappropriate reasons/justifications to go easy on a criminal. Growing up in poverty/abuse or as a minority are the most often cited "reasons" for letting monsters skate, and liberal courts in blue states are the most lenient in the nation. Religion is rarely cited but just as indefensible.

The judge is facing recall, and likely is done being a judge. He seems to be the only fly in the ointment. It appears the only reason he ever got to be a judge, and remain a judge, is because nobody ever ran against him. This is the norm nationwide, and why our judges are so pathetically partisan/corrupt.

https://ballotpedia.org/Steven_W._Sword

https://www.change.org/p/bill-lee-j...ould-be-removed-from-his-position?signed=true

I can't find anything to support your claim that the town, other than a tiny group from his church, took the rapist's side against his victim, and the local jury unanimously convicted him in a mere 3 hours.

Since the victim was adopted, maybe a federal Human Trafficking for the purposes of pedophilia charge could be prosecuted?
 
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