Fear-Mongering Not the Answer to Fear
Some New York-area rabbis are planning to bring weapons to High Holy Day services this month to guard against terrorist threats. In June, a Kentucky pastor invited his congregation members to bring their firearms to church to celebrate the Second Amendment. Do weapons belong in worship? Should clergy be armed? Do the Ten Commandments trump the Second Amendment?
The announcement by some rabbis that they were planning to bring guns to High Holy Day services in order to deal with any would-be attackers brought to mind my own holiday services, Eid ul Fitr, which are coming up in a couple weeks. Many mosques in America hire security services, or have police details ensuring security during the very popular morning services. When I first started going to Eid services, such measures didn't even cross the minds of mosque officials. Now, due to regular attacks on mosques across the country, they are considered de riguer.
I have not seen any statistics on the percentage of mosques that have been attacked, but The American Muslim website lists over 175 incidents -- from graffiti and threatening phone calls, to arson, vandalism, and gunshots fired into congregations -- most of which occurred since 2005.
The proper response to these kinds of attacks is just what the Muslim community has done -- to ensure extra security during events that are likely to attract large crowds. Having the Imam -- or the Rabbi -- carrying a gun is not only ineffective, but it only serves to create or enhance irrational fears.
The fact of the matter is that even though vandalism and destruction of mosques is an ongoing and significant problem, the likelihood of any given mosque being attacked this Eid is pretty darn slim. So, too, even though there have been a couple well publicized attacks on Jewish institutions or foiled plans to attack synagogues in the past year, the chance that any one synagogue will be attacked this holiday season is pretty negligible.
By carrying a gun, though, the rabbi is telling his congregation that they personally are in danger. That attack is imminent and likely, and that they should be prepared to deal with it. (As though a gun-toting rabbi would be able to prevent a car-bombing plan such as was prevented earlier this year, or stop an assault rifle wielding assailant from entering the building where he was leading services... that's what the police and security services are for.) Fostering irrational and unrealistic fears in one's congregation does not serve them well -- it makes them feel unwelcome in their homes and unsafe in their daily affairs when this is not an accurate reflection of reality.
While religious authorities have to deal with threats to their congregation in a serious and conscientious manner, they also need to be careful that they do not engage in fear-mongering.
By
Pamela K. Taylor
|
September 9, 2009; 3:05 PM ET
Save & Share:
Previous: Support Your Local Religious Gun Nut |
Next: Racism and the Religious Right
Posted by: starjack | September 18, 2009 1:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
O' O.U.R. Dear fellow AMERICAN's, & Friendly's: DO NOT believe in White-Hous's BIG LiE!
According to todays NEWS; DO-NOT, NO/NOT BELiEVE [Todays] THE U.S. Controlled News-Networks nor such FEDeraly paid SiNdicates via PENTAGON & CO. i [WE] know, via facts & 'TRUTH' (opposite MYTH) THAT: Osam Bin Laden is Really/Acually Dead; since June 2007 by a Botched Kidney-Transplant Failure.
Do not Listen to the News-Networks nor believe their "FAKE-TAPES" [Voice makeovers] P-R-o-p-a-g-a-n-d-a's campaign. Osam Bin Laden is Really Dead; since June 2007! Shame on BUSH! Shame on OBAMA, POLOSi, BADEN et al!
Osam Bin Laden is Really Dead; Osam Bin Laden is Really Dead; since June 2007!
.....O.......……………………,/////////////……………..........,/..
..0.........………,……..__,---///////////////////,…..............,/././..
0............…………,-'.. ). ). ). ). ). ).''///////_\…........../././././ ..
....O.......……_,-' ))`.. ) .) .). ) .) .) .). ). ).)..`-......././././././
............…/..()_).).).).).\. ) .). ) .). ). ). ) .). )__././././././././ .
............…\____ ).).).).).). ). ). ). ). ) .). ). ).__.\.\.\.\.\.\.\.\...
{-OSAMa ALQAiDA;> |.))))). )./.). ). ) .). )_/,-’__.\.\.\.\.\.\..
............…..___,').),'). ). ). ). )_),,--'……………...\.\.\.\.\.\ …
............….(_______............\.\)_),--'"……………...`\.\.\.\ ...
............……………….-.........\.\.\……………………...`\.\.\ ..
............……,…………...........\.\.\……………….............`\.
.....................................................................................
DEAR "C.ONcered C.hristian N.ow L.iberated" & CO;
According to Ye Jealous Diciples @ LUKE12:51.. that
Your (not OUR) "NT" , as if ye (not OUR) god be in 'Flesh' & 'Blood' is in fact "ANTi-HUMANITY" & thuseth, but FREUDiANTLY slipeth'd & begged yo singing, "Suppose? I came not to make/bring YE (not Us) PEACE [Blessing]; but NO-NO-NO rather & in TRUTH (opposite MYTH) I, ye Rabbi & PELEGian-Yashua/Jesus-gods player, INSTEAD brings ye WAR [Blessing]s, D-V-i-S-i-o-n.." la la la. AND
@ LUKE:14:26 .... "HATE-HATE-HATE la la Ye-selves, Ye Kids, Ye Mother & Father, Syblings & ALL LIFE FORMS, if Ye want to Follow ME/US & get to the Kingdom..." [Similar sang]! Sooooo
C.C.N.L. & CO., a self-ordained/serving Expert on YE (not OUR) "N.ew T.estament" a Jealous Copy-Cat JUDEO-abe-JU Bible (Bas{orah) rehashed from YE (not OUR) "O.ld T.estament" and suddenly became the JUDEO-abe-CHRiSTO [un{ holy (Masorah) Book; similar to the Jealousy's of the WHABI JUDEO-abe-ISLAMIcO's!?
C.C.N.L & CO; YE art DRUNK & gots Blinded by Swallowing To much "PUKARIST" aka Symbolic Cannabilism & Vampirism [Communion/Eucharisk] via eating rabbi JESUS's FLESH & BLOOD in effigy!
Luckilly for YE & Co; there are "EKLAHT"ion run REHAB CENTERS that can reverse the CURSE/SiNs of Ye Parents (not Ours) To Reverse the "WAR BLESSINGS & translate & Expose, to OUR S.S. Earthlings the "RiDDLES OF YE DEVIL/JINN/SATAN/KALi.."!
Posted by: spaceship-earth | September 14, 2009 6:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment
B R E A K i N G --- N E W S:
Osam Bin Laden is Dead; since June 2007!
Osam Bin Laden is Dead; since June 2007!
Osam Bin Laden is Dead; since June 2007!
Osam Bin Laden is Dead; since June 2007!
Osam Bin Laden is Dead; since June 2007!
Posted by: spaceship-earth | September 11, 2009 6:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
^ .^. ^
FOOD
http://{J}
http://.{O}
http://...{Z}
http://......{E}
http://.........{V}
http://............{Z} dot US
HOME
http://................{J}
http://..................{O}
http://......................{Z}
http://.........................{E}
http://...........................{V}
http://..............................{Z} dot US
L♥VE
http://.................................{J}
http://....................................{O}
http://.......................................{Z}
http://..........................................{E}
http://.............................................{V}
http://................................................{Z} dot US
CLOTH
http://.....................................................{J}
http://.......................................................{O}
http://..........................................................{Z}
http://.............................................................{E}
http://................................................................{V}
http://...................................................................{Z} dotUS
AND: Don't Worry KEEP BUSY:
IMPORTANT: Rich, Middle-class or Poor, If YE hath All these “4-Tetra-Needs“ then Ye hath No Worry’s on this Blesseth Holy Cosmic Miraculous, & zero biblical Sineth, S.pace-S.hip Planet EARTH, aka S.S. GAiA, S.S. GEOiD, S.S. TELLUSng something!
Posted by: liveandlove | September 11, 2009 6:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Fear mongering is wrong because fear does not accomplish anything. But to neglect those that would destroy you is also wrong. Sometimes it is not paranoia to feel threatened.
hariaum
Posted by: Navin1 | September 11, 2009 1:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Putting the Kentucky pastor and the rabbi in the same category is silly since they are dealing with two very different issues.
The problem of Muslim terrorist threats against synagogues, Jews in predominantly Jewish neighborhoods has been going on for decades. Frankly, people are sick, tired, and disgusted with being targeted.
A few years ago, some individuals, such as the rabbi mentioned in the topic began stating that they intended to defend themselves during the High Holy Days. They do not want their congregations to be burdened all year with the cost of paying for private security and they don't want to be under seige by police.
The synagogue I occasionally attend declined police protection. This resulted in a meeting with the chief, followed by two more, in which she and hre committee were finally persuaded to relent.
I well understand the frustration of this rabbi. Enough is enough. Jews have enough problems living day to day without being threatened by Muslim terrorists. However, the rabbis way is not the right way.
We need to organize, as taxpayers. We need to stage demonstrations demanding that those who threaten us be caught, tried, and jailed, if convicted. As this discussion continues within the community, I am hopeful that this will occur.
Perhaps a few million celebrating the High Holy Days at City Hall om 2010 will do it.
Posted by: Farnaz1Mansouri1 | September 10, 2009 5:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The comments to this entry are closed.

Twitter










It is entirely reasonable for a threatened people to establish a security cordon. My mosque has security personnel at the door, and in Europe it is common for Synagogues to have very strict security -- much like at airports!
But once inside that perimeter bringing in guns only contributes to potential danger, at least from accidents, and likely worse. A house of worship should be a peaceful refuge from the violence of the outside world. For religious community leaders to encourage bringing weapons into a church, mosque, or synagogue is irresponsible at best, and whips up the sense of fear and besiegement that religion might better alleviate.