Students, faculty react to church fires
Two men charged with arson; 10 E. Texas churches burned
Lindsey Juarez
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: News
Richland students and instructors responded with sadness and anger to the series of church fires in East Texas.
Many sympathize with those who have lost their church and are surprised by the events.
"I'm shocked and that's really sad," Sophia Quesada said. "Considering I'm a Christian, that's really scary."
"My initial reaction to the story is one of grief," David Halleen, professor of world religions said. "Grief for those who have lost a building that offered them a sacred space, grief for the communities that might, for a while, have difficulty trusting, and grief for the lost promise of individuals who would carry out such horrific acts."
Ten Texas churches have been set on fire since Jan. 1, leaving many confused, angry and distressed. Authorities believe all the fires, which occurred mainly in East Texas, were the works of an arsonist or a group of arsonists.
Jason Robert Bourque and Daniel George McAllister were arrested Feb. 22 and charged with one count of arson after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives released sketches of three suspects. Police believe the suspects will face more charges.
Though these arrests may come as a relief for some, many are still left without a place of worship on Sunday mornings.
Students like Michel Clah responded to these incidents with anger.
"I think that you don't have the right to burn any church," Clah said. "The church is God's house and people go there to pray. I think people who do that have to get punished."
For a few, the burnings are unfortunate but don't come as a surprise.
"My initial response is lament, but I'm not surprised," Shannon Colon said. "Most people think religion is either beautiful or an annoyance. They are either passive about it or take their negative views and do extreme things."
In a time when the idea of coexistence is stressed, some students said these events reflect a lack of acceptance for Christianity.
Many sympathize with those who have lost their church and are surprised by the events.
"I'm shocked and that's really sad," Sophia Quesada said. "Considering I'm a Christian, that's really scary."
"My initial reaction to the story is one of grief," David Halleen, professor of world religions said. "Grief for those who have lost a building that offered them a sacred space, grief for the communities that might, for a while, have difficulty trusting, and grief for the lost promise of individuals who would carry out such horrific acts."
Ten Texas churches have been set on fire since Jan. 1, leaving many confused, angry and distressed. Authorities believe all the fires, which occurred mainly in East Texas, were the works of an arsonist or a group of arsonists.
Jason Robert Bourque and Daniel George McAllister were arrested Feb. 22 and charged with one count of arson after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives released sketches of three suspects. Police believe the suspects will face more charges.
Though these arrests may come as a relief for some, many are still left without a place of worship on Sunday mornings.
Students like Michel Clah responded to these incidents with anger.
"I think that you don't have the right to burn any church," Clah said. "The church is God's house and people go there to pray. I think people who do that have to get punished."
For a few, the burnings are unfortunate but don't come as a surprise.
"My initial response is lament, but I'm not surprised," Shannon Colon said. "Most people think religion is either beautiful or an annoyance. They are either passive about it or take their negative views and do extreme things."
In a time when the idea of coexistence is stressed, some students said these events reflect a lack of acceptance for Christianity.
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posted 3/05/10 @ 2:00 PM CST
Wow, I can't believe someone burned down the church! That is really low.
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