PeaceBang
The manic mind of the minister -- Auntie Mame Meets Cotton Mather. Blogging about Unitarian Universalism, UU Christian spiritual practice, occasional cultural and political ravings, and the inner life of ministry. PeaceBang is the alter ego of a small town pastor serving an historic New England Unitarian Universalist congregation.
Knoxville
July 29, 2008 on 3:11 pm | In Cultural Commentary, Theological Reflection (Biblical), Unitarian Universalism |All Unitarian Universalist eyes and hearts are turned toward Knoxville, Tennessee, including mine. I would like to thank all of you from other traditions who wrote me off-line to express your solidarity and sympathy for our family of faith. These expressions of care mean so much.
I am angry, devastated, and disheartened. I don’t understand why this country refuses to deal with the issue of gun control and in failing to do so, makes a hypocrite of itself when it declares mourning over these events. This is — what — the fourth or fifth church shooting this year? Are we up to half a dozen yet? And school shootings, how many of those?
I attended a vigil in Boston last night at the same hour the Knoxville community was observing theirs. Our congregation will be joining with four other area UU churches for a service this Friday evening. We will grieve and say the expected things about peace, justice, healing and unanswerable questions. We will sing the expected songs. It will be good to be together. And in my opinion, if we do not move forward with activism on behalf of gun control, our good will and our questions will be empty gongs and clanging cymbals (and symbols?) as Paul warned in I Corinthians 13. Yes, Paul was talking about love, not activism. He was saying that without love, faith has no meaning. We talk about Faith In Action. Is that not the same thing as Love In Action?
Yes, I have faith that this is God’s world. And I have hope and I have love. But in the aftermath of an event like Knoxville, love for me is not a feeling but a calling: a call to keep guns out of more hands by whatever legal means we can manage, and keep at it until the news of some hateful wack job shooting into any assemblage of civilians is truly shocking, unheard of, a crime so rare as to actually stop us in our tracks.
That’s all for now. Peace be upon the dead, God’s strength be with the community, and may justice come.
Photo of the noon vigil in Knoxville by Clay Owen, News-Sentinel
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Prayers for all of you, Peacebang. And “Amen!” on the gun issue…
Comment by Doxy — July 29, 2008 #
I share the grief and also your sentiments about gun control. But after living in Germany, Switzerland, and Boston I now live in the West, in Golden, Colorado, and I’m surrounded by progressive liberals who own guns and like to go hunting. I’ve been to several dinners where hunted deer or antelope were served, from the freezer in the basement. It’s similar in the midwest where hunting is a big part of life.
Your or my dislike for hunting won’t ever make it go away. We come from hunter gatherer stock and I’m absolutely sincere when I say it’s in our blood. (I studied hunter gatherers while in college). Personally, I prefer shooting pictures and hunting for berries, but…)
Senator Obama had to deal with that conflict, and he brought together groups that had to deal with handgun violence in inner cities and those traditional hunters to look for compromise for legislation. I’m told it worked in Illinois.
PS: The UUA just started a Knoxville Relief Fund, I just chipped in. It’s even tax deductable. http://www.uua.org/giving/donatenow/117168.shtml
Comment by Martin Voelker — July 29, 2008 #
I’ve been thinking of you. Thanks for posting in the midst of this busy and painful time.
I think there is a difference between hunting culture and the availability of handguns. We also live in a particularly violent culture here in the U.S.
Good for Senator Obama though - sounds like a very constructive meeting.
There’s also prevention needed, in many different arenas, so that this kind of repeated assault on other human beings (in their places of worship, work, and dwelling) does not happen. There is hunting in the U.K. and Austria, but we don’t see this kind of assault (much) there.
Comment by Jane R — July 29, 2008 #
An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. My heart is just breaking. My prayers are with the grieving and injured.
Comment by revtoots — July 29, 2008 #
Amen to your words, Peacebang. Amen.
Comment by Mars Girl — July 29, 2008 #
Prayer can be angry or mournful or confused - it is a reflection of the state of our hearts. At times like these I find that the bitter Psalms as well as passages such as this from (the third chapter of) the Book of Lamentations speak to my confusion and despair. I offer it in the UU tradition of drawing on sacred traditions, particularly from its Judeo-Christian heritage:
Blessings to and from all of those touched by this tragedy either personally or through the collective human knowledge of suffering. Peace be with you. Shalom aleichem. As-salaamu alaikum. Om shanti shanti shanti.
Comment by Dave — July 29, 2008 #
Friends in the First Congregational Church - United Church of Christ in Marietta, Ohio send prayers for peace and love and comfort. Still we believe the prophet Jeremiah as he reminded people of God’s words: “For I know the plans I have for you…plans for a future with hope.”
The last word is not violence or hate - it must be love.
We hold our UU brothers and sisters close in our hearts.
Comment by Rev. Steelman — July 30, 2008 #
By the way, can someone help me out with this troublesome statement that UUs often make to non-UUs as they try to explain UUism:
“You’re free to believe anything you like.”
Well, I don’t think that’s quite the way to describe it. It seems too pat of an answer yet I’m seeing this on blogs now that the TVUUC situation has been in the news and non-UUs are trying to figure out what UUs are all about.
What is a better way to put this?
Comment by Tracie the Red — July 30, 2008 #
Our congregation will be taking up a special collection this Sunday to help with financial practicalities for the families of the Knoxville victims. Members of our church have also been encouraged to post blogs on Facebook expressing emotional support for the UU folks in Knoxville. We hope our efforts will help make the Knoxville folks feel that they do not have to face this crisis alone.
Om madme padme hum…..
Peace to all,
Shelby Havens
UU Connections Committee Chair
UU Fellowship of Gainesville, Florida
Comment by Nurseholistic — July 30, 2008 #
Tracie,
Instead of “You’re free to believe anything you like,” I prefer “You’re free to believe what you must believe” or even better: “You’re free to search for truth and meaning in a responsible way” (taken from the fourth UU principle).
I like the idea that with freedom comes responsibility, and this can lead into a discussion of how a person’s beliefs connect with working to make the world a better place.
– Bruce
Comment by Bruce Webber — July 30, 2008 #
Tracie the Red,
I suggest pointing them to the page on the UUA that describes our seven principles. I think that explains our beliefs quite well as all of our actions are an attempt to adhere to them.
One guy on blog did just that in defense of UU beliefs and I think he did quite well. (Unfortunately, this incident has stirred the pot of a bunch of blog commenters who want to say that UUs don’t worship the Christian God and therefore are not worthy of as much consideration as a “real” church of God… rrrr… dont read the postings of John Q. Public, it will make your blood burn!)
Comment by Mars Girl — July 30, 2008 #
My heart goes out to all of you during this troubled time.
May your communities continue to be beacons of light and hope in a world where all too frequently violence and hatred burst forth in such painful ways.
Comment by tom — July 31, 2008 #