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VIEWPOINTS: Is gun control a religious issue?

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The debate about gun control has swept the nation since the Dec. 12 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. Do you believe this issue has moral or religous components? If so, why? 

Topics: Politics, Law, Crime & Court
Beliefs: Bahá'í, Buddhism, Christian - Catholic, Christian - Orthodox, Christian - Protestant/Other, Freethought (Atheist, Humanist, Agnostic), Hinduism, Interfaith, Islam, Judaism, Mormon, Other, Pagan/Wiccan, Sikh, Wicca & New Age
Tags: gun control, newtown, nra, sandy hook

Comments

  1. PastorLuke | Jan 24, 2013 | 3:34pm

    Yup! It’s a big one. And a tension we see in the Gospels.

    In the synoptics, Jesus commands his followers:

    “Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff ; for a worker is worthy of his food” (Matthew 10:9-10).

    “He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics” (Mark 6:8-9).

    “And He said to them, ‘Take nothing for the journey, neither a staff nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece’ “ (Luke 9:3).

    The staff was the first century’s equivalent of a 12 gauge. Or an openly carried weapon. It was the most basic form of self-defense. Mark says to take one, Luke and Matt say not to. What’s going on here?

    The earliest Christians were non-violent. At least the communities Luke and Matt were writing in were. Mark… not so much.

    Then we get to Luke 22:36: Jesus commands his disciples to “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” And the disciples say “Look! We have two!” And Jesus responds, “It is enough.”

    Note the disciples didn’t have to go anywhere, they already had the swords. This is a set up job. Then Peter uses one of the swords to feebly attempt to keep Jesus from being arrested (I mean the dude takes a swing and only gets an ear. AN EAR! How had of a swordsman do you have to be just to hit an ear. I mean there’s a should and a neck or the head that should be a part of hitting an ear… just say’n) and Jesus says, “No more of this! Whoever lives by the sword, dies by the sword.”

    Big theological ramifications here. This debate is not new. And it is very biblical.

  2. Denis Eble | Jan 29, 2013 | 1:53pm

    PasterLuke writes, “This debate is not new. And it is very biblical”

    Very biblical indeed.  After all, the pages of the Bible are filled with swords, slaughter and blood. It almost makes one question if ‘God’ enjoys violence.  … just say’n

  3. PastorLuke | Jan 30, 2013 | 2:24pm

    Good point Denis! There’s war in there all over the place. Yet there’s wonderful passages of peace on earth, the lion laying down with the lamb, and such. What to do with it all is how you approach the bible. I don’t think everything in there should be taken as “hey, this is a good idea!” any more than we would pick up a history book and say, “Let’s try a world war again!”

    All depends on the approach. Were the writers saying that God sanctioned the violence? (Joshua does at least) Or is God saying that violence solves nothing? (Most of the prophets, Jesus, and even Paul could be read as saying such). All depends on how you approach it.

  4. jules | Apr 7, 2013 | 11:12pm

    Pre-dating Christianity, The Buddha told us Do no harm”

    Need more be said?

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