Two MN Dem Pols + Spouses Shot in Targeted Shooting

[Bradskii]

I entered this thread with one question: how do you know this person is "far right"? Still waiting for an answer.

Just....what? He murdered two people because they were Democrats! Good grief, man...

 

[NxNW]

His friend says he was not extreme, so I guess you must think about half the country is far right. (And I wouldn't be surprised if you think that.) Personally, I don't think every liberal, non-Christian who supported Kamala Harris is far left. So I'm still waiting.

Waiting for what?

 

[NxNW]

His friend says he was not extreme, so I guess you must think about half the country is far right.

You have a point: Maybe Republicans who go on killing sprees are the moderates these days.

 

[CaDan]

At some point in the not-so-distant future, we will learn what made a man who dedicated much of his life and treasure to the gospel commit heinous and pointless acts. It will be incumbent upon all of us, especially those who bear the name Christian, to pay attention to that story.

 

[timothyu]

It will be incumbent upon all of us, especially those who bear the name Christian, to pay attention to that story.

Actually it is important to speak out and say his acts were not of God. Christianity maybe, but not of God.

 

[CaDan]

Actually it is important to speak out and say his acts were not of God. Christianity maybe, but not of God.

Yes, murder and attempted murder are not of God. But that is a very simple proposition. Even a devoted atheist would decry murder and attempted murder.

Yet Vance Boelter committed those acts. And he gave every sign of being a man of God. His life would pass without judgment--and indeed with high praise. How did this come to be?

If you are so pure that such questions do not trouble you, well, you have your reward and God bless you. The rest of us publicans and smokers and hoods and greasers will just have to trust in Divine Mercy.

 

[timothyu]

And he gave every sign of being a man of God.

Obviously not. Looks like politics got mixed in. Of course that has become an American tradition so no one would think it odd.

 

[bèlla]

Yet Vance Boelter committed those acts. And he gave every sign of being a man of God. His life would pass without judgment--and indeed with high praise. How did this come to be?

How is that so? Perhaps the people observing him lacked discernment. Man is swayed by the outer. But a holy walk has a specific scent and fruit that bears witness. That’s the purpose behind the gift of discerning of the spirits. It sees beyond the obvious. Perhaps this is an opportunity for believers to seek the same from the Lord and ask Him to pour it out upon the church. It’s obvious we need it.

~bella

 

[CaDan]

As Minutemen asked in 1983, "What makes a man start fires?"

Great album. Worth a listen.

 

[CaDan]

I counted over 25 posts in this thread which imply that the shooter was "far right". Could any of you help me out? Where did you get that this Tim Walz appointee who shot the only Democrat who voted against giving free health care to illegals is far right?

Now that the FBI has alleged with evidence that Mr. Boelter attempted to kill at least FOUR DFL legislators that night will you be revising your statement?

I realize self-reflection and correction are not well-regarded virtues on this site, but they are good for the soul and for development as a person.

 

[iluvatar5150]

At some point in the not-so-distant future, we will learn what made a man who dedicated much of his life and treasure to the gospel commit heinous and pointless acts. It will be incumbent upon all of us, especially those who bear the name Christian, to pay attention to that story.

Maybe his commitment wasn’t to the gospel, but rather to telling other people that they’re wrong.

 

[CaDan]

Maybe his commitment wasn’t to the gospel, but rather to telling other people that they’re wrong.

Could be! We have much to learn.

 

[NxNW]

 

[wing2000]

....a "good kid" growing up in small-town Minnestoa. Converted to Christianity as a teenager, was a zealot for Jesus in high school. Later in life, it seems his faith was replaced by abortion politics...

On a now-defunct website for Revoformation, a nonprofit he founded several years later, Boelter laid out a basic biography and said he had been “ordained” in 1993. He said he had gone to a small Catholic college near Milwaukee — Cardinal Stritch, which is now closed — as well as Christ for the Nations Institute, a Dallas school that is part of the broad, nondenominational world of charismatic Christianity.

And, the bio claimed, he had made trips overseas to seek out “militant Islamists” to “tell them violence wasn’t the answer.”
Christ for the Nations was founded in 1970 by Gordon Lindsay, a prominent preacher in independent, charismatic Christianity. The focus of the movement initially was on evangelizing, faith healing and experiential worship such as speaking in tongues. In the last quarter-century, however, a segment of it turned to politics and changing policies, especially around abortion

Based on his recent online presence, Boelter’s views now appear to align with the political “far right” of Christianity in the United States, said Matthew Taylor, a senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies.
Its core believes in demons and satanic evil in the world and a need “to fight back against it,” Taylor said. He added that the group disseminates “very extreme” rhetoric about abortion, which he said some of its leaders have portrayed as a form of child sacrifice that empowers demons.
Boelter “seems very much to embrace some of the violent rhetoric and ideas that circulate through those spaces,” Taylor said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/06/17/vance-boelter-minnesota-shooting-christianity/

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Actually it is important to speak out and say his acts were not of God. Christianity maybe, but not of God.

His acts were of Christianity, but not God? You won’t admit that the guy shares your political ethos, but you’ll just casually drop like it’s NBD that Christianity might radicalize people to violence…?

Whackers. Bonkers. Timeline.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Obviously not. Looks like politics got mixed in. Of course that has become an American tradition so no one would think it odd.

Now we’re saying that Christianity shouldn’t be involved in politics?

Are you sure you’re not a democrat? LoL

 

[Tropical Wilds]

....a "good kid" growing up in small-town Minnestoa. Converted to Christianity as a teenager, was a zealot for Jesus in high school. Later in life, it seems his faith was replaced by abortion politics...

On a now-defunct website for Revoformation, a nonprofit he founded several years later, Boelter laid out a basic biography and said he had been “ordained” in 1993. He said he had gone to a small Catholic college near Milwaukee — Cardinal Stritch, which is now closed — as well as Christ for the Nations Institute, a Dallas school that is part of the broad, nondenominational world of charismatic Christianity.

And, the bio claimed, he had made trips overseas to seek out “militant Islamists” to “tell them violence wasn’t the answer.”
Christ for the Nations was founded in 1970 by Gordon Lindsay, a prominent preacher in independent, charismatic Christianity. The focus of the movement initially was on evangelizing, faith healing and experiential worship such as speaking in tongues. In the last quarter-century, however, a segment of it turned to politics and changing policies, especially around abortion

Based on his recent online presence, Boelter’s views now appear to align with the political “far right” of Christianity in the United States, said Matthew Taylor, a senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies.
Its core believes in demons and satanic evil in the world and a need “to fight back against it,” Taylor said. He added that the group disseminates “very extreme” rhetoric about abortion, which he said some of its leaders have portrayed as a form of child sacrifice that empowers demons.
Boelter “seems very much to embrace some of the violent rhetoric and ideas that circulate through those spaces,” Taylor said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/06/17/vance-boelter-minnesota-shooting-christianity/

I don’t know. Maybe we should wait for something more obvious before jumping to conclusions. He could have been Pastafarian. We don’t know.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Friends say Minnesota shooting suspect was deeply religious and conservative​

Friends and former colleagues interviewed by AP described Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church and went to campaign rallies for President Donald Trump.

[Minnesota voters do not choose party preference, but Boelter was registered Republican in 2004 when he lived in Oklahoma.]

 

[Hans Blaster]

How is that so? Perhaps the people observing him lacked discernment. Man is swayed by the outer. But a holy walk has a specific scent and fruit that bears witness. That’s the purpose behind the gift of discerning of the spirits. It sees beyond the obvious. Perhaps this is an opportunity for believers to seek the same from the Lord and ask Him to pour it out upon the church. It’s obvious we need it.

~bella

Perhaps if we evaluated people's intent by what they said and did and not trying to figure out their spiritual status it might be easier to discern.

 

[Chesterton]

Ah yes. The ostrich. My favorite forum game. Stick your head in the ground, pretend you see nothing, then attack the people who won't jump in the hole with you, while happily basking in the glow of having remained deliberately obstinate enough that you can pretend the facts aren't there and you're on the moral high ground.

You want to read about the topic we're all discussing, go back to page 13 and click all the links that have been smattered through the thread which lay it all out there. I know this requires some effort on your part and that might be scary, but we all believe in you. You can do it.

I have no idea what that ostrich stuff is about, but you should address the post and not the poster. Anyway, I've seen many links which indicate the guy claimed to be Christian (which is true of most Americans) and that he's opposed to abortion (which is almost true of most Americans, depending on which survey you read). And this smacks of religious bigotry. If the perpetrator were Muslim, this thread wouldn't have made it past the first page.

I don't follow the "far right", if there is such a thing, so I don't know what it's views on Christianity or abortion are.

Last time I'm giving you the attention you want.

Promise?

My assessment is based on my education and training in terrorism studies and countering violent extremism.

The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) defines right-wing and religious extremism in the following ways:

Right-wing extremism

Violence in support of the belief that personal and/or national way of life is under attack and is either already lost or that the threat is imminent. Characterized by anti-globalism, racial or ethnic supremacy or nationalism, suspicion of centralized federal authority, reverence for individual liberty, and/or belief in conspiracy theories that involve grave threat to national sovereignty and/or personal liberty.

Religious extremism

Violence in support of a particular faith-based belief system and its corresponding cultural practices and views, sometimes in opposition to competing belief systems. Characterized by opposition to purported enemies of God, nonbelievers, or perceived evildoers; striving to forcibly insert religion into the political or social sphere through the imposition of strict religious tenets or laws; and/or bring about end times. (Subcategories: Christian, Jewish, Islamic)

Based on what we have learned about Boelter and the definitions above, wouldn't you also classify him as a far-right/right-wing Christian exteremist?

Of course not.

Waiting for what?

Try to read the posts you reply to.

Now that the FBI has alleged with evidence that Mr. Boelter attempted to kill at least FOUR DFL legislators that night will you be revising your statement?

I realize self-reflection and correction are not well-regarded virtues on this site, but they are good for the soul and for development as a person.

? That post contained a question, not a statement.