Hour Of Power...and danger: "Gunman holed up in Crystal Cathedral"

Gunman holed up in Crystal Cathedral
Police say church worker threatening suicide

Friday, December 17, 2004 Posted: 12:14 AM EST (0514 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/12/16/cathedral.shooting/index.html

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- A church employee late Thursday afternoon fired shots inside the Crystal Cathedral, and he remains holed up in the architecturally striking Orange County congregation founded by televangelist Dr. Robert Schuller, police said.

According to Lt. Paul Prince at the Garden Grove Police Department, the situation remains "fluid." But he added police are in phone contract with the man, who appears to be despondent and has threatened suicide.

Prince said Schuller has been brought to the church and is working with police to help end the crisis.

"Rev. Schuller is doing everything he can to assist us in resolving this situation," Prince said.

I just can't figure out what Schuller's trying to sell.

I've only seen him a couple of times, and I think I remember reading some of his columns in the Enquirer when I visited grandma, but everything about him just seems to be about feeling good about yourself.

Or is he vaguely/seemingly sincere?

He had a scandal a few years ago when he supposedly slapped a flight attendant.

He does mention Jesus, but the primary message is empowerment and what he calls "possibility thinking."

As far as the sincerity goes, like I said...a controversial figure. I'm guessing that there are people who would defend his sincerity to the death, and others who would like to burn him at the stake. I believe that taking a strong stand on either side of that equation would create a massive flame war and that certainly isn't the intention of this post.

He started the church in a drive-in theater. There's been a substantial amount of "empire building." Last year he had Andy Griffith on his Christmas show, and he's also had Schwarzenegger and many, many celebrities. He's got connections and he's got cash. I'm sure there are people who feel that he has helped them, and people who feel he hasn't.

I jumped the gun assuming he doesn't mention Jesus, so for that I apologize.

But things like "get your ticket to heaven" ("You can't buy it" but just write to this address to get it, riiiiiight), really leave me feeling creeped out.

...some people feel energized and inspired by his message, others absolutely feel "creeped out."

I know a lot of Christians from all walks of life, in all sorts of denominations. I've known strict fundamentalist Southern Baptists who see Schuller as a "loose cannon," a guy who sells feel-good vibes to Southern California yuppies.

He's had Bruce Wilkinson on his show, who wrote "The Prayer Of Jabez," which some people considered to be a life-altering phenomenon, others thought it was the ultimate scam...repeat a prayer, become prosperous. Wilkinson has spawned a cottage industry...there is so much Jabez "merchandise" available that it would make your head spin.

Very, very controversial figure.

I've seen it in my line of work, and didn't know about that.

Thanks for the information.

or is this kind of thing on the rise? People doing things to their kids or spouses or simply freaking out related to the Bible.

Instead of going "postal", are people going to start going "evangelical"?