......but to go so far as to compare them to the Davidians is just ridiculous.
Obviously, it can be read if so inclined from my comments an overstated equivalency to the Waco Atrocity; I get it. However, my comments are feeding upon the totality of comments being made in this topic which have tended to express a concern for something beyond religion.
From the beginning, had the earliest paraphrasing that was attributed to the security person gone like this -
”we have a crime problem/concern”; then there would not be a need not to raise any questions about the show of security that is in place.
But, the actual paraphrasing went along this line -”we didn’t like the way that we were/had been portrayed.” Now that makes me ask this twin edged question: what is it that you did not like and why?
Equally, as curious, is the description of the neighborhood; literally being summed up as having an air of being undesirable which would somehow justify the proactive security stance.
To me, religion is special because it is suppose to behave and do thing where and when other institutions do not. Religion is not a public relations game that should concern itself with its self image; to do so is the epitome of idolatry. And even though I am not a person of religious doctrine, it at least is at its best when it is a tool of grace, empathy and institution that welcomes strangers.
As it is surely so that I know very little beyond hearsay about what actually occurred regards to this issue, I do sense that SWBT is concerned about how it is viewed. Would that be a righteous concern to teach and to sermonize the faithful?
Just to make it clear, Merriam -Webster defines paranoia as - a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others.
I do find that SWBT(security) may have or appear to have given, at least on this one occasion if it is to be believed, a hint or possibly more of paranoia within its confines. Is this an isolated incident; is this just one security guard perception; or, is this the tip of the iceberg, who knows?
What I do find that SWBT and Waco have in common, all be it an inexact portion, is the air of paranoia. I hope that unhealthy paranoia can be spotted and then alleviated.