The Spiritual Problem of Gundamentalism: Part Two
Here we go again...
It’s truly hard to believe that we are here… again. And I’ll warn ya, this is a long post, but I have a lot to say on this matter, so bear with me because this topic is truly a matter of life and death. Also, some of this post is part of my original post from back in July of 2022. I amended some of it, but most of it holds as truth still. So here goes…
By now everyone has heard about the latest school shooting. A 14 yr. old child (yes, he’s still a child) brought an AR-style rifle to his high school and killed two teachers, two classmates and injured several others. His Dad is also being charged with murder for giving the boy the assault weapon as a Christmas gift. Personally, I’m glad to see parents being held accountable for their part in these shootings.
More than 20 schools have been impacted by gun violence so far in 2024. This latest shooting was number 23. In those 23 shootings, including Wednesday's fatalities and injuries, 49 people have been killed or injured as a result of a school shooting in 2024, with 11 deaths and 38 injuries.
A total of 488 people were either killed or injured in a school shooting in the last six years.
I mean, seriously, can nothing be done to stop this madness??
I looked at several polls that consistently show a majority of Americans favor reasonable gun reform. Here is the most recent gallup poll for reference. No, that doesn’t mean taking away your guns. I’ve been hearing many conservative friends repeating for years that “the government wants to take my guns!” Folks, that is never going to happen. But some reasonable adjustments to the gun laws? Why not, I say.
For instance, congress passed an assault weapons ban in 1994. Former Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter all wrote to the U.S. House of Representatives, supporting the ban of semi-automatic weapons. This ban was lifted in 2004.
Mass shootings grew in numbers. You can see in the graph below - the red line is when the ban was lifted.
From all the research I’ve done, I believe something like this could help again. I mean, why not at least try it???? Who the heck needs an AR-15??? Why are these semi-automatics on our streets in America, getting into the hands of mentally ill young men?? Why does this seem to be the gun of choice for all the mass killings? And why aren’t the gun enthusiasts concerned about this too??
And if it’s not a gun problem, but a mental health problem, as some keep saying, then why isn’t congress passing some mental health bills to help those who need it? I mean, NOTHING is being done to stop this madness and it’s making me crazy!
In a recent speech, Vice-Presidential nominee J.D. Vance said that the answer to this problem is “more school security.” I wish it was that simple. We all know it’s not.
More people holding guns does not feel like the answer to the gun problem in America. According to this article, we already have more guns in America than citizens. Seems to me if everyone having guns was the answer to keeping us all safe, we would be the safest country in the world right now. But clearly, we aren’t.
Like most topics that are polarizing, you can research on the internet and find many websites that will help reinforce your already formed opinion on just about anything. I could link many sites to “prove” that tighter gun restrictions would help in America. Articles like:
Other Countries Had Mass Shootings. Then They Changed Their Gun Laws
Four Countries With Gun Control - And What America Can Learn From Them
I know that many gun enthusiasts can send me back other articles that help promote their side of the issue. It will go back and forth and nothing will ever get accomplished. I have read enough to know that as with any polarizing issue, it’s much more complicated than either side wants to admit.
“The "more guns = more violence" argument and the "gun ownership = decreased crime" argument both sidestep the complicating socioeconomic, cultural and psychological factors affecting violent crime.”
That quote is from an article that I think has the best break-down on the whole topic. It’s non-inflammatory and full of valuable information. I would encourage everyone to read with an open mind: Do Countries With Stricter Gun Laws Really Have Fewer Homicides? It highlights the nuances in this fight that many on both sides don’t want to address. I’ll end my comments about the cultural aspects of this by saying that I honestly believe the only way to come to a better way forward is for both sides to find some compromise because believe it or not, there are some good arguments that whatever your “other side” looks like, has.
Switching away from the cultural aspect of this topic over to what I think is an even deeper problem… the spiritual issue. Many gun proponents say, “We don’t have a gun problem, we have a heart problem.” — and I can agree with that, but probably from a different angle.
Retired Presbyterian Pastor and avid hunter, James Atwood wrote the book, “Gundamentalism and Where It Is Taking America”. It speaks to the trend of people putting their trust in guns instead of God. He shows how this “gundamentalist" idolatry is so pervasive in America that it has a choke hold on the whole country. I’m speaking to my Christian brothers and sisters here, but I hope you can see how this is deeply problematic. When you are screaming “FAITH OVER FEAR” because you refuse to wear a mask to help stop the spread of a deadly virus yet are clinging to your guns until your knuckles turn white, your message isn’t looking very consistent. If you are fighting for your right to bear arms more than you are fighting for America to be a safe country for us ALL, then I must tell you, I believe you have got it backwards.
Last week I posted a verse from 1 Corinthians 9 where Paul talked about his freedom and how he used that freedom -- to benefit the lives of others, not to benefit his own life. Christians that scream about their American “rights” over screaming about injustice to the marginalized in this country are losing their influence over the rest of the world. It comes across as self-serving, instead of others-serving, which is what Jesus exemplified and Paul reinforced. I believe it’s one of the reasons so many are choosing to leave the Christian faith, or at least re-think what it means to be called a Christian. When you merge other polarizing topics along with the gospel, it taints it terribly. Here’s an example:
This is not okay.
And this is even worse:
Last year, a United States Congresswoman, Rep. Lauren Boebert, was speaking at a Christian event run by the Charis Christian Center in Colorado Springs, CO. She said that "little Twitter trolls" often challenge her pro-gun rights stance by asking if Jesus needed an AR-15.
"They like to say: 'Oh, Jesus didn't need an AR-15. How many AR-15s do you think Jesus woulda had?'" she said. "Well, he didn't have enough to keep his government from killing him."
You could hear the crowd respond with laughter.
Are you kidding me??? Is this really where we are? How can we overlook the fact that as Christians, one of the tenets of our faith is knowing that Jesus CHOSE to die on the cross for us— not because he didn’t have an AR-15 at his disposal. Mocking the beauty of the gospel is NOT OKAY.
So yes, I believe we do indeed have a heart problem. Hear me now — I’m NOT saying this applies to ALL gun owners, or even all pro-gun defenders. But I do see that too many Christian’s hearts are turning away from the truth of the gospel, in favor of a gospel of God and guns. This is a big problem.
In one of his recent articles, writer David French says America has a “gun fetish” and he makes the case that it’s putting our democracy at risk. It’s a great read, if you want to check it out:
Or maybe it’s more like this quote from a recent essay from Diana Butler Bass:
We don’t have a “God and guns” problem. America has a “guns are God” problem. - DBB
It’s flat-out idolatry and if we don’t address it, it will take over our country and our religion. I see it happening already all around me. I have to agree with the title of this article: Guns are Americans’ Golden Calf — It sure feels that way lately. I have seen a pro-gun chain email going around for awhile that ends by saying they will “give up my gun when they pry it out of my cold, dead hands.” Huh? Really? That is the hill you want to die on? THAT is the thing you refuse to give up? I’m telling you — it’s idolatry, and God hates it.
And this indeed is The Spiritual Problem of Gundamentalism at its core.
Very well written and researched. I’d like to add some comments of my own but you covered them nicely.
The only thing I’ll add is while JD Vance calls for more school security (instead of common sense gun control) as a remedy, he has also recently called for grandparents to step up and help with the ever escalating cost of Childcare. This is ridiculous in so many ways but, in general, seems to highlight their theme of applying band aids instead of addressing the root problem.
Ineffable