Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

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1. 

   As someone who produced dozens of nativity plays as a teacher and a Sunday School leader, that title ‘A Gay…

2. 

   The defence of a Christian view never seems to be settled by debate: exchange of facts, reference to historical events.…

3. 

   But …… Rwanda is a safe place: Parliament says so.https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/8/contentsSafety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 S 2 Safety…

4. 

   Religion can survive only on the most unquestionable assumptions. The statements made on Sundays on the BBC as if they…

5. 

   Yes, if I’ve got anything remotely like a phobia, as an ex-fundy, its bibles, churches, tracts etc. I like to…

NORTH Carolina Baptist leader James David “Jim” Goldston III was, until recently, a board member of an animal rescue organisation. But he promptly quit when he and his wife Agnes were charged with poisoning three dogs belonging to their neighbours .

The arrest of the pair led to Goldston’s resignation from Saving Grace Animals for Adoption in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He also quit his position chairman of the board of trustees of a Baptist Children’s Home.

The pair, aged 71 and 73, respectively, are also accused of threatening their neighbors, Phillip and Jessica Ridley.

A handwritten letter tossed into the Ridley’s yard read “Your Daughter is Next. B Careful”.

WRAL screenshot

Speaking to WRAL News the owners of the three Labrador retrievers, Phillip and Jessica Ridley, above, said there’d been an ongoing dispute with the Baptist couple, and shared a letter with the news outlet that read:

If one or both of these dogs put their paws on my property I am going to blow their brains out.

According to this report, three-year-old Big Brown died in July 2022 of acute kidney infection caused by possible anti-freeze poisoning; LP lost her life on May 7, 2023.

The Ridleys further reported that their other dog, a four-year-old named Scruffy, also became ill and was taken to the vet on May 8, 2023, where it was revealed that he had also been poisoned. After LP and Scruffy showed the same symptoms as Big Brown, the Ridleys called law enforcement.

Religion News reported that James Goldston had served on and off the board of the Baptist Children’s Home of North Carolina since 1990/ He resigned as chair on May 21. 

‘Falsely accused’

In a statement to the Biblical Recorder, Goldston said that he and his wife had been falsely accused. 

After more than 35 years of involvement with Baptist Children’s Homes of NC, and personally investing and helping raise millions of dollars to further this great ministry, I sadly hereby resign as a BCH Trustee.

My wife and I have been falsely accused of some horrible acts and I do not want this to be a distraction or hindrance to the work done on behalf of BCH as the truth plays out within the justice system.

May God continue to Bless Baptist Children’s Homes ministry.

The children’s home, which is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, operates group homes for children as well as a foster and adoption ministry.

Which is worrying because a list of sex abusers within the Southern Baptist Convention includes at least 30 from North Carolina.

The Goldstons attended Bay Leaf Baptist Church in Raleigh. The couple also runs a family foundation that contributed $40,000 in 2019 to various Baptist churches, as well as Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The foundation’s biggest charitable gift—$10,000—was to Saving Grace in Wake Forest, North Carolina. The Goldston’s daughter, Molly, is the founder and owner of Saving Grace.

Saving Grace posted this message to it’s Facebook page earlier this month:

The Goldstons have each posted a $30,000 bond.

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