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Standing Up to Gundamentalism
Last edited Sun Jun 5, 2016, 07:50 AM - Edit history (1)
Just Jane
Sermons, Stories, and Musings by Rev. Jane Page, Unitarian Universalist Minister
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Standing Up to Gundamentalism
This weekend is one of two weekends in March identified by the interfaith group “Heeding God’s Promise” as a weekend to promote Gun Violence Prevention. Other organizations including the Brady Campaign have been encouraging faith groups to get involved for some time. But this big push for something this month probably is in hope that the timing is right for the government to finally do something – pass something – vote on something, -- if enough voices are heard.
So a while back when I saw this request, I checked the box and agreed to dedicate this service to gun violence prevention. It’s not the kind of sermon I especially enjoy doing. I like uplifting sermons, funny sermons, sermons that make our hearts glad! Yet – I am determined that we as Unitarian Universalists must stand up not only to religious fundamentalism – but today to religious gundamentalism.
Gundamentalism is a term coined by Rev. Rachel Smith, founder of the God not Guns Initiative. It’s an offshoot of fundamentalism. Its adherents believe that nothing is as important as the right to own and carry a gun. Or many guns. Their interpretation (and now the court’s interpretation) of the 2nd Amendment to the constitution appears to be more important than any commandment that Moses toted down that mountain or any passage from Christian scriptures. Rev. Smith says that their mantra, “’Guns don’t kill people, people kill people,’ is a magnificent half-truth that attempts to absolve gundamentalism of responsibility for the American epidemic of gun violence. This mantra is chanted over and over until it drowns out the Bilblical mandates of thou shalt not kill; love your neighbor as yourself; forgive seventy times seven; do good to those who hate you.”
Gundamentalism emphasizes FEAR of the other. And their Lord of protection is the powerful NRA – (“praise be unto it”). They really believe that the answer to our gun violence is more gun violence. I thought Rev. Smith had a good response to the call to allow guns on campuses after the Virginia Tech shootings. She said: “Sometimes I wonder if the proponents of guns on campus have ever been on a children’s playground. Just picture a group of children playing. If one child picks up a stick and begins hitting the others, what would you do? Most parents would take the offending child aside, take the stick, and if the child can play without harming others, let the child return to the group. One thing we certainly wouldn’t do is give all the other children sticks (bigger, better sticks perhaps?) with which to defend themselves. If we wouldn’t arm our children with sticks when they are small, why would we arm them with guns when they are older?” Yet the NRA and various state legislatures keep moving in the opposite direction.
Then on December 14, we had the Newtown shootings at Sandy Hook School. Although we’d had many mass shootings before – at schools, public gatherings, malls, theaters, and even houses of worship, this one seemed to capture the hearts and attention of folks even more. Perhaps it was because of the age of most of the victims – cute, precious little first graders. While thousands of urban teens and young adults are victims of gun violence each year, that doesn’t get the headlines or the hearts as easily. Even some very conservative folks were saying, “Enough is enough.” But the powerful religion of gundamentalism led by the NRA will not give up. This may take a massive and continuous outcry to make a difference.
So here I am today --- crying out with others that – Enough is Enough! You’ve heard the statistics before – so I won’t show a lot of slides for each of these, but I do want to give a reminder of some of the BLOODY STATISTICS.
Each year nearly 30,000 Americans are killed by guns. In the last 40 years, more than one million Americans have died as a result of gun violence.
Firearms are the second leading cause of death (after motor vehicle accidents) for young people ages 19 and under in the U.S.
Eight American children and teens age 19 and under are killed by guns every day.
Here’s a comparison statistic that should shock you. “The number of children and teens killed by guns since 1979 is two and a half times greater than the number of U.S. military personnel killed in action in the Vietnam (47,434) or Korean (33,739) Wars, and over 22 times greater than American military personnel killed in the wars in Afghanistan (1,712) and in Iraq (3,518).” Yet, “The United States of America has spent $1.5 trillion on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars so far, purportedly to protect our children and citizens from enemies without, while ignoring the reality that the greatest threats to child safety and wellbeing come from enemies within.” (Marion Wright Edelman Huffington Post blog).
ALSO -- There are far more suicides than there are homicides. And, guns kept in the home for self-protection are 43 times more likely to kill a family member, friend or acquaintance than to kill an intruder, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Guns on the street or in the house make us less safe.
And finally, if dollars mean more than lives to some folks ---- Gun violence costs the U.S. at least $1 billion annually.
snip------------------------
http://revjanepage.blogspot.com/2013/03/standing-up-to-gundamentalism.html
44 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Is real - open your heart.
Marine veteran Jon Ritzheimer has organized what's being called a "freedom of speech" rally, which was being held in front of a mosque Friday night.
Ritzheimer stated his purpose loud and clear before saying a word during an interview with AZCentral.com.
As he sat in front of a camera, Ritzheimer wore a t-shirt that read "F*** Islam." Still, Ritzheimer — who says he's a patriot and an atheist — claimed, "I don't condone any threats against the mosque."
http://www.businessinsider.com/an-anti-islam-rally-held-in-front-of-a-mosque-in-phoenix-urged-participants-to-bring-guns-2015-5
Ritzheimer stated his purpose loud and clear before saying a word during an interview with AZCentral.com.
As he sat in front of a camera, Ritzheimer wore a t-shirt that read "F*** Islam." Still, Ritzheimer — who says he's a patriot and an atheist — claimed, "I don't condone any threats against the mosque."
http://www.businessinsider.com/an-anti-islam-rally-held-in-front-of-a-mosque-in-phoenix-urged-participants-to-bring-guns-2015-5
Who unsurprisingly turned up in Oregon.
http://www.dailydot.com/politics/oregon-jon-ritzheimer-armed-militants-anti-muslim-donald-trump/
And after three months is out on bail awaiting federal charges.
http://www.12news.com/news/jon-ritzheimer-granted-pretrial-release/89144227
Had to give up his guns as a condition of bail, though.
Last edited Fri Jun 3, 2016, 09:56 AM - Edit history (1)
To paraphrase Mitt Romney, "Guns are people too, my friend".
Atheists with Guns added a new photo.
April 28
That's the latest post there. April 28 is pretty recent. I wonder what spurred this latest meme?
Or did you fail to actually read Reverend Page's sermon in the OP?
It’s not the kind of sermon I especially enjoy doing. I like uplifting sermons, funny sermons, sermons that make our hearts glad! Yet – I am determined that we as Unitarian Universalists must stand up not only to religious fundamentalism – but today to religious gundamentalism.
Gundamentalism is a term coined by Rev. Rachel Smith, founder of the God not Guns Initiative. It’s an offshoot of fundamentalism. Its adherents believe that nothing is as important as the right to own and carry a gun. Or many guns. Their interpretation (and now the court’s interpretation) of the 2nd Amendment to the constitution appears to be more important than any commandment that Moses toted down that mountain or any passage from Christian scriptures. Rev. Smith says that their mantra, “’Guns don’t kill people, people kill people,’ is a magnificent half-truth that attempts to absolve gundamentalism of responsibility for the American epidemic of gun violence. This mantra is chanted over and over until it drowns out the Bilblical mandates of thou shalt not kill; love your neighbor as yourself; forgive seventy times seven; do good to those who hate you.”
Gundamentalism is a term coined by Rev. Rachel Smith, founder of the God not Guns Initiative. It’s an offshoot of fundamentalism. Its adherents believe that nothing is as important as the right to own and carry a gun. Or many guns. Their interpretation (and now the court’s interpretation) of the 2nd Amendment to the constitution appears to be more important than any commandment that Moses toted down that mountain or any passage from Christian scriptures. Rev. Smith says that their mantra, “’Guns don’t kill people, people kill people,’ is a magnificent half-truth that attempts to absolve gundamentalism of responsibility for the American epidemic of gun violence. This mantra is chanted over and over until it drowns out the Bilblical mandates of thou shalt not kill; love your neighbor as yourself; forgive seventy times seven; do good to those who hate you.”
Some folks don't like UU's because of their opposition to fundamentalism.
Are folks not allowed to criticize fundamentalism here in the religion forum?
Or are some forms of fundamentalism deemed off-limits to criticism?
As usual, nobody knows what the hell he's talking about.
I included her name and a photograph in the OP, as well.
Rev. Jane Page, Unitarian Universalist Minister
Last edited Sun Jun 5, 2016, 03:04 PM - Edit history (2)
He wants to talk about how simply horrid guns are.
I quite agree but we don't see them over here so I don't feel the need to rave about them.
I quite agree but we don't see them over here so I don't feel the need to rave about them.
mr blur
Profile information
Gender: Male
Hometown: Chichester
Home country: U.K.
Profile information
Gender: Male
Hometown: Chichester
Home country: U.K.
Sometimes, when it comes to religion, it's not all about you and your privilege.
In fact, many atheists would disagree with your self-centered notion that if one is privileged in some way, nobody else matters, and silence is an acceptable response.
So, while I will congratulate you on your privilege, I will not allow you to use that privilege to enforce religious silence on serious issues of religious significance here in this country.
Rev. Jane Page's sermon on gundamentalism deserves to be heard, even if you feel that her sermon isn't needed where you live.
America Marked Memorial Day Weekend with a Deluge of Mass Shootings
Over the past seven days, America witnessed nine mass shootings that left one dead and 43 wounded. These attacks bring the US mass shooting body count so far in 2016 to 112 dead and 443 injured. Meanwhile, Europe suffered zero mass shootings last week, holding the continent's body count in such attacks this year steady at 20 dead and 66 injured.
snip----------------
http://www.vice.com/read/america-marked-memorial-day-weekend-with-a-deluge-of-mass-shootings
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027882563
Over the past seven days, America witnessed nine mass shootings that left one dead and 43 wounded. These attacks bring the US mass shooting body count so far in 2016 to 112 dead and 443 injured. Meanwhile, Europe suffered zero mass shootings last week, holding the continent's body count in such attacks this year steady at 20 dead and 66 injured.
snip----------------
http://www.vice.com/read/america-marked-memorial-day-weekend-with-a-deluge-of-mass-shootings
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027882563
And, incidentally, as I explained to another poster above, Rev Jane Page is a woman.
