Religion

stone space

(6,498 posts) Fri Aug 7, 2015, 04:49 AM Aug 2015

The Idolatry of Nuclearism [View all]

The Idolatry of Nuclearism

After the United states dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Dorothy Day noted that "the Lordship of Christ has been replaced by the Lordship of the bomb.". -a sentiment that was underscored by Openheimer's decision to name the first test "The Trinity". According to Plowshares activists, Americans have become thoroughly enamored with the power of these weapons. This has led to a state of "nuclearism" in which the US population has become psychologically and politically dependent on it's nuclear capacity. The Catholic Left believes that this mentality has transformed nuclear weapons into gods of metal, because people have placed their ultimate faith on the power of these missiles, violating God's commandments, Thou shall have no other gods before me" and "Do not bow down to any idol and worship it". as Author Laffin notes, To pledge our ultimate allegiance to the state and top place our security in idols of death betrays our faith in God and constitutes ultimate blasphemy.

Religion and War Resistance in the Plowshares Movement
by Sharon Erickson Nepstad

https://books.google.com/books?id=_HTIZhUv994C&pg=PA66&dq=Religion+and+War+Resistance+in+the+Plowshares+Movement+nuclearism&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMI85jNq9iWxwIVze-ACh1rcAdb#v=onepage&q=Religion%20and%20War%20Resistance%20in%20the%20Plowshares%20Movement%20nuclearism&f=false

78 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The Idolatry of Nuclearism [View all] stone space Aug 2015 OP

Misuse of the word "idolatry" Android3.14 Aug 2015 #1

The "sloppy rhetoric" is not the author's. stone space Aug 2015 #4

"gods of metal", eh? mr blur Aug 2015 #2

I always thought 'Trinity' was the name... uriel1972 Aug 2015 #3

It was named for a poem by edhopper Aug 2015 #6

"The Trinity" is part of a much longer poem. rug Aug 2015 #9

especially from a secular Jew\Humanist edhopper Aug 2015 #11

According to wikipedia, Oppenheimer is not sure why he chose it. Jim__ Aug 2015 #14

He may have been retconning when he said that. AtheistCrusader Aug 2015 #18

Good to see the Christian Left isn't above hurling accusations of heresy and apostacy at opponents. Act_of_Reparation Aug 2015 #5

And blasphemy! Don't forget BLASPHEMY! trotsky Aug 2015 #8

The Liberal Christian Inquisition will sit them in the comfy chair... Act_of_Reparation Aug 2015 #10

! beam me up scottie Aug 2015 #23

I don't understand your references, especially since... stone space Aug 2015 #32

I understand that you don't understand. Act_of_Reparation Aug 2015 #45

So "Liberal Christian Inquisition" is a metaphor for trials put on by the State... stone space Aug 2015 #51

No. Act_of_Reparation Aug 2015 #59

What should happen to these militant Christians, I wonder? stone space Aug 2015 #33

It's an accusation of idolatry, not of heresy or apostasy struggle4progress Aug 2015 #21

Oh, shit. I didn't realize. Act_of_Reparation Aug 2015 #47

It's outrageous, isn't it? Not only do they have bizarre and disgusting religious ideas -- such as struggle4progress Aug 2015 #53

Aw, snap. Act_of_Reparation Aug 2015 #60

Outside of the second Heston Planet of the Apes movie edhopper Aug 2015 #7

Dr. Strangelove Warren Stupidity Aug 2015 #19

That was learning to Love the Bomb edhopper Aug 2015 #20

Dunno. One might make a case that Edward Teller, Curtis LeMay, and Henry Kissinger all worshipped struggle4progress Aug 2015 #22

In the way people worship Jesus and Allah edhopper Aug 2015 #24

It doesn't seem to me that I am conflating meanings struggle4progress Aug 2015 #25

Did they really edhopper Aug 2015 #26

We use too many words too differently to have a productive discussion struggle4progress Aug 2015 #27

fine edhopper Aug 2015 #28

Polytheistic pissing match. stone space Aug 2015 #34

Certainly, the theology of the Plowshares movement is in opposition to... stone space Aug 2015 #30

Another shotgun blast of ignorance. cleanhippie Aug 2015 #12

... trotsky Aug 2015 #13

More like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet. stone space Aug 2015 #31

More like the rat a tat tat of endless blather firing from your extended magazine. cleanhippie Aug 2015 #42

A much bigger problem skepticscott Aug 2015 #15

GWB edhopper Aug 2015 #16

nuclearism (noun) stone space Aug 2015 #35

You missed the target completely, dude skepticscott Aug 2015 #36

Any thoughts on the Plowshares movement? (nt) stone space Aug 2015 #37

It's OK if you didn't get it, dude skepticscott Aug 2015 #38

Just trying to keep the thread on topic. stone space Aug 2015 #39

You're a "militant atheist"? mr blur Aug 2015 #40

And a "mathematician", too! cleanhippie Aug 2015 #43

Also a 'logican' when he's not Yosemite Sam'ing it up on the forums. AtheistCrusader Aug 2015 #48

Oh sweet baby back jesus Lordquinton Aug 2015 #50

You seem to be confused. Militant Pacifism has a long and proud history. stone space Aug 2015 #54

So now your comparing yourself to MLK? Lordquinton Aug 2015 #57

This is a thread about militant nonviolence. stone space Aug 2015 #61

What is militant nonviolence"? Act_of_Reparation Aug 2015 #72

You're jumping all over the place and making no sense Lordquinton Aug 2015 #74

Firing blanks again, home skillet. AtheistCrusader Aug 2015 #17

Don't shoot the messenger. stone space Aug 2015 #29

Messenger or hitman? If at the end of the day you need to put the gun down, might not be a messenger AtheistCrusader Aug 2015 #41

Sharon Erickson Nepstad is a hitman? stone space Aug 2015 #44

No, you. AtheistCrusader Aug 2015 #46

What did you learn in school about the Plowshares movement? stone space Aug 2015 #55

How old are you? That movement started several years before AtheistCrusader Aug 2015 #56

I'm old as dirt, it seems. On September 9, 1980, I was 23. You? (nt) stone space Aug 2015 #62

Two years old. AtheistCrusader Aug 2015 #69

So this movement has been ongoing throughout most of your lifetime. stone space Aug 2015 #70

It's laudable, but doesn't seem terribly effective. AtheistCrusader Aug 2015 #71

What is it exactly with your obsession of guns and killing? cleanhippie Aug 2015 #49

Does it disturb you to hear about what religious folks are doing? stone space Aug 2015 #52

Holy non-sequiturs batman! Lordquinton Aug 2015 #58

Is this not the correct forum for discussing religion and theology? stone space Aug 2015 #63

Except, the author is really bad, with a feeble grasp of facts. AtheistCrusader Aug 2015 #73

Well, that's a good question coming from one of our more prolific Gungeon posters Starboard Tack Aug 2015 #64

At worst you just gave a compliment Lordquinton Aug 2015 #75

Aha! Starboard Tack Aug 2015 #77

Your wit is truly baffling Lordquinton Aug 2015 #78

"On Freedom of Religion and Contempory Idolatry." stone space Aug 2015 #65

So, turn the position you're against into a religion, trotsky Aug 2015 #66

The Plowshares movement does not use violence. stone space Aug 2015 #67

Oh, so a peaceful Holy War then? trotsky Aug 2015 #68

"... the US population has become psychologically and politically dependent on it's nuclear capacity Jim__ Aug 2015 #76