and her adventures in Atheism
Posts tagged america
Jesus Loves You… with a Bullet In Your Eye
Jan 18th
What Would Jesus Do? Probably not quote himself on a weapon used to kill an enemy.
Oh the irony.
Whether they knew it or not, American soldiers have been displaying Biblical messages on their weapons. A Michigan company, Trijicon, has been inscribing New Testament verses in code on their high-powered rifle sights.
Seen here is a coded reference to John chapter 8 verse 12: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (photo from ABC News)
U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan and were drawn up in order to prevent criticism that the U.S. was embarked on a religious “Crusade” in its war against al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents.
Trijicon confirmed to ABCNews.com that it adds the biblical codes to the sights sold to the U.S. military. Tom Munson, director of sales and marketing for Trijicon, which is based in Wixom, Michigan, said the inscriptions “have always been there” and said there was nothing wrong or illegal with adding them. Munson said the issue was being raised by a group that is “not Christian.”
“We believe that America is great when its people are good,” says the [Trijicon] Web site. “This goodness has been based on Biblical standards throughout our history, and we will strive to follow those morals.”
“It’s wrong, it violates the Constitution, it violates a number of federal laws,” said Michael “Mikey” Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an advocacy group that seeks to preserve the separation of church and state in the military.
“This is probably the best example of violation of the separation of church and state in this country,” said Weinstein. “It’s literally pushing fundamentalist Christianity at the point of a gun against the people that we’re fighting. We’re emboldening an enemy.”
(source)
I realize that Trijicon is a private company that can basically do what it wants with its numbering systems. However, their products were sold to the secular government of the United States. By placing proselytizing messages, even in secret, on their products, they are endangering the delicate balance we hold here at home with the separation of church and state as well as the crumbling image we hold abroad. Especially after the reign of George W. Bush and his Jesus-is-coming-let’s-bomb-the-fuckers attitude, we are seen (even more so than usual) as a bullying Christian nation that will kill in the name of Jesus. These secretive methods just hammer home the antagonistic, anti-foreign-anything image we need to shed.
God + torture = love?
Jul 22nd
Photo © Jim Kuhn
I suppose I’m a bit of an atheist cliché. I have expressed on numerous occasions my distaste for the Judeo-Christian god as depicted in the Bible. (check out why God’s justice is anti-American and God is immoral). But if we don’t speak up about the inconsistencies we observe, they might go un-recognized by those who seek the truth. So in the name of critical thinking, I’ll continue to challenge the Get Out of Jail Free card often handed to God even when our own reasoning indicates he’s in violation of the most basic standards of morality.
So, what about torture? This topic has been the focus of a steady buzz in past months, but only recently have I had much personal interaction with the topic.
Freedom Rings (But Sounds Better Autotuned)
Jul 4th
Dear United States of America,
Today is the day we recognize your childhood rebellion against the overbearing parental units of foreign power. May it be a lovely time to recognize that you don’t actually know everything and can be a bit of an obnoxious twat once in a while, but you’re still totally awesome and I love you to bits.
–GG
In honor of the beloved values of liberty and freedom, I’ve chosen to feature three of my favorite songs by The Gregory Brothers. They adapted, mixed, and autotuned three pivotal speeches from the 20th century–making them more memorable than ever. I hope you love them too!
- “Martin Luther King Sings” samples the civil rights leader’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech given in 1963.
- “John F. Kennedy backed by band from the future” brings new life to possibly the most stirring inaugural address of our history–given by former President John F. Kennedy.
- “Winston Churchill backed by band from the future” (yes, a non-American!) is my favorite of the three adapted from the former British Prime Minister’s 1941 Great Declaration against the Nazi threat.
The mp3s are available for free download.
View a playlist of all three songs is below the cut:
More >
God’s Justice is Anti-American
Jun 3rd
Image by jemstone
Christians declare God’s perfect justice (Zephaniah 3:5 [show] The LORD within her is righteous;
he does no injustice;
every morning he shows forth his justice;
each dawn he does not fail;
but the unjust knows no shame.
; Psalm 37:28 [show] For the LORD loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.; 2 Thess 1:6-9 [show] since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, (ESV)). But how does God measure up against the imperfect American justice system?
YHWH’s Justice
You are guilty until proven innocent. The laws you are supposed to follow were collected over time thousands of years ago in another culture, but you’re screwed because the laws can’t be amended, reviewed, or doubted. You were born guilty–deserving eternal torture and punishment for something you cannot control. The only way for you to be saved from this terrible pain and suffering is for the judge to kill an innocent person instead of the guilty one. But don’t worry, the innocent guy only stays dead for three days, so it’s only a really bad weekend.
American Justice
You are innocent until proven guilty. The laws you have to follow are agreed upon by your local/state/federal governments instead of just one person; if there is confusion, there will be a final word on what’s okay or not okay to do. Revisions are also possible for the betterment of society. If falsely accused for a crime you did not commit, you can appeal to a higher court. You have a right to be judged by a jury of your peers. You cannot be prosecuted for thought crime. Punishments are not eternal, and only the criminals are punished for their own actions.
P.S. I admit, we all know the American justice system is a bit messy; but its ideals are still better than the theocratic alternative. Oh, and if you’re not American, I’m pretty sure your scenario would be very similar. That is, unless you’re from North Korea.
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