The Devil's in the Details

Bishop Thomas Weeks, head of the international Christian ministry Global Destiny, was recently arrested for assaulting his estranged wife and renowned evangelist, Juanita Bynum:

According to an Atlanta police incident report, Bynum said her husband "choked her, pushed her down, kicked and stomped her."

She told police Weeks "continued stomping" her into the ground until a hotel bell man pulled him away. Police also said Weeks threatened Bynum's life.

But his parishoners are naturally rallying around him, and he "took the pulpit two days after his surrender to authorities in connection with the alleged attack."

His remarks included appreciation for the prayers and support that he said have come in for him and his wife and thanks to those in attendance in spite of the controversy.

…Weeks, wearing a dark suit and his customary bow tie, blamed the devil for the accusation that has him facing two felony charges. He didn't, however, offer any specifics.

Come on, Bishop—don't leave us hanging—we need details! Was he possessed by the devil when he choked and stomped on his wife? Was she, and he was just trying to beat the devil out of her? Did the devil just grab his hands and make them hit her, like a big brother who forces you to punch yourself in the face then demands to know, "Why are you hitting yourself?"

Or, is Weeks suggesting, as I suspect, that his wife is lying (despite objective witnesses to the attack), but cloaking it in the ludicrous, passive-aggressive, and autonomy-denying language of attributing her accusation against him to her having been "taken by the devil"? I guess that's just the Christian way of calling your wife an evil bitch.

In any case, let's hope Bishop Weeks elaborates on this devilry at his trial. Maybe the devil himself will even be called as a witness.



"What can I say? I made him do it!"
[H/T to Ebonmuse at Daylight Atheism.]