Paul Proctor on that <i>Purpose-Driven</i> hostage "miracle"
"Although the media couldn't wait to turn a mass murderer's conversation with his hostage into a conversion experience for our collective consumption, as if Smith, reading from The Purpose Driven Life, had somehow brought about a spiritual awakening in Nichols' pathetic life; for some reason they didn't think it was all that important or relevant to point out to anyone later that his new 'purpose in life' would be to follow Allah and deny his horrific homicides in court before the eyes of those who witnessed them. You see, Nichols not only converted to Islam in jail after the hostage incident, but also pleaded 'not guilty' to the four murders he committed in front of numerous witnesses." *** I have nothing but sympathy for Ashley, who'd I'd pegged as an addict of some kind when the story first broke; that line about going out for cigarettes at 3 AM gave her away. GetReligion has followed the many twists and turns of this "media driven" and "pastor driven" story. One day someone will write a long, thoughtful article looking at the way it was reported, and why.