violence – Curious Christian

In Gun We Trust

I often wonder what god is actually being worshipped in conservative America. But I am far from alone in that. Here are a score of satirical depictions of American gun worship.

Martin Luther King once said, “Violence may murder the murderer, but it doesn’t murder murder. Violence may murder the liar, but it doesn’t murder lies; it doesn’t establish truth…. Violence may go to the point of murdering the hater, but it doesn’t murder hate. It may increase hate. It is always a descending spiral leadingContinueContinue reading “Violence can’t murder murder”

War is not a solution for terrorism

Howard Zinn once observed, “If a bomb is deliberately dropped on a house or a vehicle on the grounds that a “suspected terrorist” is inside . . . , the resulting deaths of women and children may not be intentional. But neither are they accidental. The proper description is “inevitable.” So if an action willContinueContinue reading “War is not a solution for terrorism”

Gun bless America

I have gathered here a collection of comics and other images that challenge gun worship. Alan Redpath, a well-known British pastor and author, once defined idolatry this way: “Our god is the thing we think is the most precious. For whom we would make the most sacrifice. Who moves our hearts with the warmest love.ContinueContinue reading “Gun bless America”

Do not envy the violent

The book of Proverbs cautions against envying the violent. But we live in a society that glorifies violence, that sees it as entertaining even. It is hard not to follow in their ways. It is easy to sit in judgment on cultures like that of the Romans, saying that they were barbaric in their gladiatorContinueContinue reading “Do not envy the violent”

Haunted by the sound of Jackboots

Persecution. You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Death threats are incompatible with discipleship

You may call yourselves Christian, but if you’re issuing death threats to one another, the love of Christ is not in you.

Why did Jesus tell the disciples to buy swords?

Every time there is a mass shooting in America and a cry goes out for gun law reform, I invariably hear someone citing Jesus’ instruction to buy swords in Luke 22:35-38 as justification for violent self defence and legislative inaction. Interpreting it as such is problematic though. Consider: what did Jesus say the two swords were “enough” for?ContinueContinue reading “Why did Jesus tell the disciples to buy swords?”

The chains that bind enemies together

Guns in the Garden of Eden

I imagine the serpent is saying, “Go ahead, make my day”. Gun culture needs to be recognised for what it is: a temptation.