Why gun violence is a Christian issue

[cbayer]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/10/03/why-gun-violence-is-a-christian-issue/

BY HENRY G. BRINTON
October 3 at 9:02 am


(George Frey/Getty Images)

A suicide by shotgun in the City of Fairfax, following closely on the heels of the Navy Yard killings, has rocked many members of my congregation. As I counsel them, I struggle to find words to bring comfort and guidance in a time of trauma. I also realize that my church, and the larger religious community, has offered a terribly muddled message on gun violence.

Perhaps this is no surprise, since most congregations include both gun control advocates and gun owners. The clarity of the message “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” is not lost on me, nor is the fact that the headquarters of the National Rifle Association is located just a short distance from my church.

But the religious community needs to unite around a message that will keep guns out of the hands of people who will use them to do violence to themselves and others, whether they are depressed young people, delusional shooters, or children who stumble across guns in the home. I’m not talking about new gun control laws, but instead a new consensus on the proper place of firearms in our society.

At a recent Faith and Media Conference sponsored by Odyssey Networks in New York, religious journalist Lisa Miller suggested that guns are a “stumbling block” for both the mentally ill and children, and our moral obligation is to remove them from the hands of such people. She cited the work of Rabbi Marc Katz of Brooklyn, who points to the command in Leviticus 19:14 to avoid putting “a stumbling block in front of the blind.”

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[libodem]

1. Thank you cbayer

For this most compelling piece. You are an excellent steward of the religion group. Your articles are never preachy and have a wide range of subjects and points of view.

I'm not religious but I never feel unwanted here. Thanks for making this a welcoming atmosphere.

[cbayer]

2. Thanks so much libodem.

I'm not religious either, but I am fascinated by the interplay of religion and politics.

And as rough as it can get in here, I much prefer it to GD!!

I'm glad you feel welcome and I value your participation.

[libodem]

3. I care about those things, too

I took western civ in high school and in college. The intersection of religion and politics is fascinating to me. I appreciate that no one is trying to convert me or force me to comply to any rules except civility.

There are often good things to read here and I like a lively discussion, too.

[cbayer]

4. It can be lively at times, that's for sure!

My father is a minister and a political activist (very progressive/liberal), so I grew up in a home where the intersection of politics and religion was central.

I think the religious left stood by idly while the religious right took over during the last 30 years or so. I'm very much in favor of seeing the religious left come back to life.

I'm also very interested in the rise of atheism and the "nones". The religious left has a lot in common with them politically and large and powerful coalitions could be formed.

I hope you will continue to be an active participant here.