By Will Hall, Message Editor OPELOUSAS (LBM) – The suspect in the burning of three historically black Baptist churches claimed members were “brainwashed people,” according to CNN. Holden Matthews, 21, also reportedly commented via Facebook that he “can’t stand all these Baptists around here” and accused them of “trying to find happiness in a religion that was forced on their ancestors just as it was on mine,” lamenting that “more blacks” did not pursue “ancient beliefs of pre Christian Africa.” Police arrested Matthews, April 11, for setting fire to the St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre, March 26, as well as the Greater Union Baptist Church, April 2, and the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, April 4, both in Opelousas. The congregations have been ministering in their respective communities for more than 100 years each. On social media Matthews described himself as “a metal fan to the bone,” an apparent reference to black metal music, a genre connected with musician Varg Vikernes, who was convicted for the 1992 burning of three churches in Norway. CNN described Matthews’ belief system as “paganism” with interests in Norse mythology. Matthews faces three state counts of arson as well as three state counts of a hate … [Read more...]