U.S. Military Using Jesus Guns
73U.S. Military Weapons Have Secret Bible Codes
from the Curmudgeon's desk: GA Anderson
Just when you think people can't get any sillier, you see a headline like this:
"U.S. Military Weapons Have Secret Bible Codes"
Followed by a story that is so incredulous that you would think the "complainers" would want to remain anonymous, but not in this case.They are standing tall. And Righteous.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is publicly proclaiming that the U.S. military's use of weapons with secret bible code references is not only unconstitutional, but also illegal.
Unconstitutional and illegal! Jesus Guns! Secret Bible Codes! Forcing Jesus upon our enemies at the point of a gun! Those aren't satirical statements being used to make fun of the issue, they are part of the supporting arguments used by the above named Foundation in defense of their outrage.
Secret Bible 'Jesus' Codes on Military Weapons
Just so there is no doubt, there really are Secret Bible 'Jesus' Codes on Military Weapons. And the company that manufactures the optics that contain those bible references freely admits it, saying the company founder was a devout Christian from South Africa that believed...
America's goodness has been based on Biblical standards throughout its history, and we will strive to follow those morals."
The company in question is a sighting and optics manufacturer, Trijicon, based in Wixom, Michigan. The company currently has a $660 million multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the Marine Corps for various weapons, including the standard-issue assault rifles.
The secret bible codes being referred to are; "JN8:12, which refers to John 8:12, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life," and 2COR4:6, which is obviously a reference to Second Corinthians 4:6 of the New Testament, which reads: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
These are the only two Bible codes referenced, but since these codes have been "secret" since 2003, and only recently revealed, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation is demanding an investigation of all sighting optics used on all U.S. military weapons.
The unconstitutional and illegal "secret" Bible codes that essentially turn the weapons into 'Jesus' guns are shown below.
caveat: although this article is written with an obvious bias, it is not satirical fiction - this is a true story that broke on ABC news 1/18/2010
U.S. Military 'Jesus' Gun
Can you spot the secret Bible code that turns this U.S. Military Assault rifle into a 'Jesus' gun that is proselytizing Christianity - at the point of a gun? No? Then look below.
Military Religious Freedom Foundation Says It's Illegal
Citing the U.S. Constitutional requirement of separation of Church and State, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation says that the existence of these Bible references on military weapons violates that prohibition. Noting that the codes are blatant religious symbolisms, and the weapons are property of the U.S. government, the combination can easily be construed as a U.S. Government promotion of Christianity.
Foundation spokesman Micheal Weinstein offers this explanation for his groups opposition to the Bible references:
"It allows the Mujahedeen, the Taliban, al Qaeda and the insurrectionists and jihadists to claim they're being shot by Jesus rifles," he said.
Stating that the Foundation had received numerous complaints from currently serving military personnel that are concerned the existence of the Bible references on their military weapons could be used as a recruiting tool by the enemy as proof that the U.S. military missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Arab nations really are Christian crusades against Islam.
Further, Mr. Weinstein also states that the inclusion of the Bible references is illegal. The U.S. military created specific rules against proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan, purposely to avoid that perception by Arabs. Using a Defense Dept. website photo of an Afghanistan soldier being trained on one of the weapons, his contention is that the use of these 'Jesus' guns provided to the Afghanistan soldiers by U.S. soldiers is proselytizing.
The photo is shown below.
U.S. Military Proselytizing for Christianity with 'Jesus' guns
U.S. Military response to Secret Bible Codes
U.S. Army and the Marine Corps spokesmen said their services were unaware of the biblical markings, but now that they have been pointed out, officials were discussing what steps, if any, to take in the wake of the ABCNews.com report.
Apparently the Military Religious Freedom Foundation feels this issue is such an egregious violation of all things right, that nothing short of a total recall and removal of approximately 800,000 Trijicon weapons optics systems will do.
Only in America....
GA Anderson - on Politics
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U.S. Military Using Jesus Guns CommentsLoading...
@Brett - Greetings, and thanks for taking the time to read U.S. Military Using Jesus Guns.
But... Because I feel this is such an obviously silly issue, maybe I have tunnel vision and could benefit from another's perspective.
First, the "codes" were not promoted, and essentially no one besides the company knew they were there. They were stamped as part of normal equipment markings, even the same size. So there appeared to be no obvious intent to promote Christianity.
So... does it really make a difference? And it would be ok if it were a war you felt was just? but not if you didn't agree with the war?
Do feel it was seriously wrong for the company to include the references - considering it appeared to be because of their beliefs, not to blatantly promote them.?
I appreciate your comment, thanks
GA
You know, it is late and my mind is tired, but there are those "each to his own" Scriptures ... the ones with regard to food, drink, and feast days ... and inscriptions on gun rifles??!
I do not personally support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But ... I wish to be careful not to recreate the mistakes of Vietnam. I am grateful there are those who will go "to war" to protect my freedoms.
If having these Scriptures engraved on their rifles gives them or the rifle makers comfort, I am happy for them to be comforted. Who am I to criticize? I am a 53 year old woman who is very grateful not to be out there fighting for what I enjoy.
There are many things I am quite comfortable leaving to God to decide.
b. :)
@Brett - thanks a lot for the return comment. And yours is a very sensible position.
but... I guess I didn't ask the right question.
It appears, from the writ-ups, that most of the soldiers didn't even know the references were there. That's what I meant by it being just a "company thing"
GA
Recalling the optics may be impractical, but I understand the reasoning for wanting to.
The Crusades were done in the name of Christianity, although there was nothing Christian about them.
Muslims and non-Muslims alike still blame Christianity for that whole mess.
Is this an invitation for more of that? I can see how this could be used as a recruiting tool for extremists.
@Chris - once again welcome.
but I see it differently. Not that your perspective is wrong - it's just different from mine.
well maybe it is wrong then, after all I am the all-knowing universal expert and authority on everything.
wait, wait, Cred might drop by, I better point out that was just a joke.
seriously, I just think it is a lot less important than it is being made out to be. If the Islamist need a motivational or recruiting tool, we already give them plenty. If we have to be concerned about things like this - that have to be "discovered," then we are already dominated. Life is too short to be this damn politically correct.
Glad to have your perspective though, just as I mentioned to Brett above, I only know how it "seems" to me, so if I'm not seeing it from the right perspective, then I hope to be enlightened, (seriously), but so far, I still see the issue as another example of political correctness shown for what it is - bull-hockey.
GA
God Bless America! You could not make this up!
Presumably if an agnostic or Muslim or Jewish soldier were issued with such a weapon they might wish to refuse to use it. Would they then be acting illegally?
@Charles - welcome, glad to see you visiting. Thanks for reading U.S. Military Using Jesus Guns.
Interesting question. What would you think the odds would be that someone with common sense would find a per-case solution.
Even though I don't think it is a big deal - maybe those of your example would. Even if other optics weren't available, the "offending" designations could be abraded off. Unless that is too simple a solution.
Good question, thanks
GA
Probably the easiest answer is to place in the standard USA military purchase contract a requirement that religious imagery or references are banned as from a date in the near future, to give time for suppliers to retool. Then any objectors can be given the new supplies.
Over time the weapons can be taken out of commission and sold on the second hand market to terrorists/ Christian militia - whoever has the cash.
I was just giving my two cents. I'm sure it's being blown out of proportion.
"If the Islamist need a motivational or recruiting tool, we already give them plenty."
--- Touche ---
There is your military industrial complex with just a little dash of that "old time religion" thrown in for good measure.
I have picked up on this story some time ago, still just as crazy.
Modern ministry at the point of a gun? Bring back the crusades!
Don't you just get to the point where people just make you sick?
Nice touch with the Ray Stevens video, he does not look too bad since he performed "the streak" in 1974
@GA Anderson - I told you. There's a Crusades reference right above me. lol
@Credence2 - Ray Stevens is hilarious, glad you liked it.
But the rest of your comment has me in a quandary...
Serious? Tongue-in-cheek? I hope the latter, because it was a bit over the top if not.
I did a little more research on the company, Trijicon, and...
The founder of the company, Glyn Bindon, started the company in 1987 as a family business, as an inventor, it was his innovations in self-luminous sighting optics - that really worked - that allowed his company to get the military contracts. Not lobbyists, big money, and political connections, his product was chosen because it was the best, and in several areas, only, one for the task.
Even though by 2005 the military contracts were worth hundreds of millions of dollars, I don't think his company is what is typically thought of when someone says "military industrial complex" which generally has negative underhanded connotations. Plus, the company is a major and respected supplier of sighting optics for the private market too. On this point I think you are off-base.
"Old time Religion" thrown in? It is true that he was a devout Christian who lived his faith in every way. Which is not a bad thing - as long as you don't try to push your beliefs on others, and there is no indication that he did. I think the Bible references, (remember, they were not "up-front and in-your-face), were just his way of saying "this is who we are"
The company's mission statement reads like something every American, left or right, would want a business to behave like. For instance;
TRIJICON'S VISION
Guided by our values, we endeavor to have our products used wherever precision aiming solutions are required to protect individual freedom.
and it ends with this:
Morality
We believe that America is great when its people are good. This goodness has been based on biblical standards throughout our history and we will strive to follow those morals.
None of that seems like proselytizing to me, just a man developing a company in the mold of his beliefs - not claiming superiority of purpose, or "blessing" the product with a religious imprimatur.
And..."Modern ministry at the point of a gun? Bring back the crusades!" Come on Cred, you're not serious? What a knee-jerk reaction. Sounds like a secret plot to me, can't you see it? A bunch of rich religious folks holding their Bibles and scheming to "sneak" a religious message onto military weapons so they can proclaim God is on their side... Geez.
And yes, I could agree with you that "it could just make you sick," but for me it would be reactions like those in the article that has taken - What I think - is such a small and innocent action and blowing it up into a big religious controversy.
Political Correctness run amok.
But other than that. good comment :)
And you know I always welcome your participation, and don't take it personally, we all have off-days. hmmm... I'm thinking about that day back in 78'...
GA
@Chris - thanks for the comment, but I don't have time for a long response, I have to run down to the church and get my "cross-shaped" Bowie knife blessed.
GA
Nah, GA, a little toungue in cheek for you. There is a link in this society between the military and evangelicals which strains credulity at times. Did not mean to ruffle feathers here.
The link between so called christinity and military activity escapes me, sorry... there is that left bias oozing all over again. Obviously the owner of the company saw a correlation, I never did, sorry.
Thanks for the education as to the fact it is a small firm and not exactly a McDonald Douglas, it is just the theme. This guy may well be a fine fellow. I would not say it was proselytzing anymore than the Santa Claus or Christmas Tree in the mall.
Ask the evangelical right what their perspective of the role of the military is in the world?
I went beyond the scope of the article, my apologies. No religious plot, believe me, this is far too innocent to apply, no, we have bigger fish to fry.
Thanks Cred2
Brett Winn Level 4 Commenter 4 months ago
Indeed. I am a Christian, and practical besides, but honestly! I think I'd feel more comfortable were these so inscribed weapons being used in a just war ....