Two bloggers I much respect may both be misunderstanding a rabbi's denunciation of gun rights as idolatry. Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, the President of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations said,
Is the need for sensible gun-control a religious issue? You bet it is.Eugene Volokh thinks his point is a metaphor run amok, and Clayton Cramer thinks the rabbi's position springs from a lack of comprehension of the gun culture. Either or both may be right, and as Mr. Volokh says, it's hard to speculate on the motivations of a speaker, but I have a different take.The indiscriminate distribution of guns is an offense against God and humanity.
Controlling guns is not only a political matter, it is a solemn religious obligation. Our gun-flooded society has turned weapons into idols, and the worship of idols must be recognized for what it is-blasphemy. And the only appropriate religious response to blasphemy is sustained moral outrage.
My first thought when I read the quote was that the rabbi was calling an affinity for guns "idolatry" because the gun owner is depending on the weapon for protection, rather than on God. If Rabbi Yoffie is a pacifist, for example, he may believe that all forms of defensive violence betray an underlying lack of trust in God, and from such a perspective a gun could, in fact, be a literal idol: usurping God's role as our protector.
Accusing gun rights enthusiasts of "worshipping" guns is a common argument among gun-grabbers, be they secular or religious. If there's any idolatry here, it's Rabbi Yoffie's worship of the state itself.
If Rabbi Yoffie is a pacifist, for example, he may believe that all forms of defensive violence betray an underlying lack of trust in God, and from such a perspective a gun could, in fact, be a literal idol: usurping God's role as our protector.
If that's that case, I hope the Rabbi doesn't go to doctors, since (if you follow that line of thinking) doing so would be usurping God's role as our Healer.
Both: Well duh, I'm not saying I think his position is right.
Michael,
I realize that. It's just that I've heard that argument before from people ("I refuse to own a gun because God will protect me.") and have always thought it was presumptuous.
Does the wise Rabbi lock his doors at night? Does he wear a seatbelt, does he put his children in car seats? All of these, and many more, following his line of reasoning, are usurping God's role.
In my opinion, God often gives us the earthly tools to fulfill his mysterious purpose -- protecting your family and others is one of those purposes.
Talmud is pretty specific: if one rises to kill you, one is religiously OBLIGATED to kill him first.
My kids know more Judaism than most Reform rabbis who are social activists with pulpits, hardly religious scholars.
I'll also point you to the Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership.
Statue of Judah Maccabee (hero of the Hanukkah story and potential subject of an upcoming Mel Gibson movie) is at West Point.
Abraham... soldier.
Moses... soldier.
King Saul... soldier.
King David... soldier.
The rabbi is beyond ignorant of Judaism.
Aaron: Right, but just to take the other side, if King David defeated Goliath and then went on and on about how great his sling was, and how his sling defeated the Philistines, and how everyone needs a sling to protect their freedom, and so forth, I think you can see how he could slip into idolatry.
There is a positive commandment to "choose life". The tools of self-defense are merely tools. I don't worship knowledge at the temple of University-ism, either. Knowledge is but a tool, not an end, too.
Most of the Hebrew scriptures is filled with commandments that defy modern "isms". Can't be a vegetarian/vegan radical and fulfill the Paschal offering. Can't be an egalitarian with the divisions of the tribal roles. Tons of examples.
Much of the Torah is intentionally obscure and requires the oral tradition. (eg the command to slaughter animals in the way G-d specifies, yet not one single instruction on the procedure exists in scripture; ditto the "fringes" on cornered garments and what goes on doorposts and "between your eyes") The Talmud is explicit in saying that when one rises to kill you, you are obligated to kill him first.
Passivity is nowhere commanded in Jewish scripture. It's open-ended. Scripture doesn't mention guns, bombs, sniper-rifles, etc., leaving the tool up to the times.
There is an element of "purity" in combat. There is an unusual detail of a military camp specified in scripture... the commandment for a soldier to have a spade to dig a hole and bury his excrement.
My rabbi says that getting to "into" anything other than scripture is flirting with idolatry, from being a sports "fan" or a movie "fan" or even too much into politics.
He doesn't yet know about my blogging habit. :-)