Community | January 18, 2010 | 125 comments

U.S. Military Weapons Inscribed With Bible Codes

source: http://ABCNews.com

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DeliaTheArtist
"Coded references to New Testament Bible passages about Jesus Christ are inscribed on high-powered rifle sights provided to the United States military by a Michigan company, an ABC News investigation has found.

The sights are used by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the training of Iraqi and Afghan soldiers. The maker of the sights, Trijicon, has a $660 million multi-year contract to provide up to 800,000 sights to the Marine Corps, and additional contracts to provide sights to the U.S. Army.

U.S. military rules specifically prohibit the proselytizing of any religion in Iraq or Afghanistan and were drawn up in order to prevent criticism that the U.S. was embarked on a religious "Crusade" in its war against al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents.

One of the citations on the gun sights, 2COR4:6, is an apparent 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."

Other references include citations from the books of Revelation, Matthew and John dealing with Jesus as "the light of the world." John 8:12, referred to on the gun sights as JN8:12, reads, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Trijicon confirmed to ABCNews.com that it adds the biblical codes to the sights sold to the U.S. military. Tom Munson, director of sales and marketing for Trijicon, which is based in Wixom, Michigan, said the inscriptions "have always been there" and said there was nothing wrong or illegal with adding them. Munson said the issue was being raised by a group that is "not Christian." The company has said the practice began under its founder, Glyn Bindon, a devout Christian from South Africa who was killed in a 2003 plane crash.

According to a government contracting watchdog group, fedspending.org, Trijicon had more than $100 million in government contracts in fiscal year 2008. The Michigan company won a $33 million Pentagon contract in July, 2009 for a new machine gun optic, according to Defense Industry Daily. The company's earnings from the U.S. military jumped significantly after 2005, when it won a $660 million long-term contract to supply the Marine Corps with sights.

"This is probably the best example of violation of the separation of church and state in this country," said Weinstein. "It's literally pushing fundamentalist Christianity at the point of a gun against the people that we're fighting. We're emboldening an enemy."



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125 comments // U.S. Military Weapons Inscribed With Bible Codes

  • unclecharlie
    • 0
      unclecharlie  

    • It is common knowledge that the military is largely conservative and Christian. These Bible verses do not lessen the effectiveness of the weapons. They'll still kill a Taliban with or without the Bible verses on them. If you gotta bitch about that, well, how about all our currency with "In God We Trust" on it? This is a minor issue- not one to make a big stink out of!

    • 2 years ago
  • ras_menelik
  • curtisreed
  • palooch
    • 0
      palooch  

    • What if, instead of a bible verse, a religious symbol was used. Say the Symbol of Islam? How would you feel then? Neither are acceptable to be on any supplied equipment to the US military. Neither should slogans or catchphrases. Our soldiers and equipment would look like a NASCAR event. But with slogans or catchphrases you don't put our soldiers life in danger.

    • 2 years ago
  • ras_menelik
  • curtisreed
  • bubbuzuka
    • 0
      bubbuzuka  

    • Hmm, Mr. College boy Saladin, Mr. "I am on here because Current is off-beat and I drink my coffee at a coffee house while I check my e-mail on their internet", ya don't get that I was being sarcastic about this whole thing? I think that is absolutely crazy to put such Bible quotes on the scopes that are killing another religion. Come on man. Feel the sarcasm. haha

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
  • bubbuzuka
    • 0
      bubbuzuka  

    • "...to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." BOOM! "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." BOOM! WOW, I am finally convinced that we are crazy...coo coo

    • 2 years ago
  • bubbuzuka
    • 0
      bubbuzuka  

    • "...to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." BOOM! "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." BOOM! WOW, I am finally convinced that we are crazy...coo coo

    • 2 years ago
  • unclecharlie
  • 2hellnwait
  • DeliaTheArtist
    • 0
      DeliaTheArtist  
    • unclecharlie:

      Feel free to fact check, I've found this on other sources too, another one of them is posted on Current by SleepDirt. Like I said, feel free to point out any inaccuracies with this story- the article would imply that this company is completely aware of it's actions and stands behind them.

    • 2 years ago
  • ahiguy
  • MoonLoon
    • 0
      MoonLoon  

    • I could not resist posting a few verses from the Old Testament, stated by Samuel after the Jews rejected the Heavenly leadership of God and demanded an earthly King (they got Saul).
      "The king will draft your sons into his army and make them run before his chariots. Some will be commanders and some will be slave laborers." There is a lot more; 1 Samuel 8:10-17. Now don't say that we were not warned!

    • 2 years ago
  • navider
    • 0
      navider  

    • It's really amazing that these wars are really over money and profit by corporations ( big oil, the military complex and war profiteers such as Blackwater, Halliburton/KBR, CACI and Titan to name a few..... don't forget that Cheney was the vice president of Halliburton before he became vice president of the US)

      They make it look like its a war over religion and disasters that we were warned about such as 9/11.

      People should never forget that its all about the money!

    • 2 years ago
  • SamuraiDave
  • opit
    • 0
      opit  
    • Image

    • Pushing a warped version of 'Christianity' was done in WW II Germany. I found that in a British history text for kids. Anybody want to argue that the exact same mindset isn't running the 'war' machine today ? ( Don't call it defense : that doesn't apply to land wars in Asia where the Air Force is busy bombing civilians in their beds. )
      http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERchristianity.htm

    • 2 years ago
  • Robert_DeSpain
    • 0
      Robert_DeSpain  

    • So many Idiots here. Are you guys passing the Kool-aid around? It has always amazed me how many people bash Christians and their beliefs when they actually know nothing about it. "There is no greater gift than when a man lays his life down for another". That's what American soldiers are doing, mostly because they are Christian. There would be no innocent casualties of war if the Muslims stood up and took care of their own problems. Either you believe in God or you don't. There will be alot of surprised liberals In the end! Hopefully God will forgive them because LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER.

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
  • SamuraiDave
    • 0
      SamuraiDave  
    • Robert_DeSpain:

      stop bogarting the kool aid, man! Biblical verses on first aid packages would make more sense rather than gun sights used to help kill people. That kind of goes against the whole "Thou shalt murder" commandment thingy, turn the other cheek, and even "Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord" ie not gun toting humans.

    • 2 years ago
  • Reaper26
    • 0
      Reaper26  

    • to me that says un 8: 12 n seems to go on... i do agree that putting bible verse on a gun is creepy can we just drop the religion thing good gosh seems like every one wants to spread religion here and there... its kinda getting lame.

    • 2 years ago
  • QueenGloria
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  
    • QueenGloria:

      That was put on by the Knights of Columbus in the 50's as part of the Red Scare, people often claimed that Christianity was crusading against Communism too. Equally as despicably stupid and evil.

    • 2 years ago
  • Nephwrack
  • SamuraiDave
    • 0
      SamuraiDave  
    • QueenGloria:

      The difference between God's name not His word (He never said "In God we trust") on money and on a gun sight is that I'm not stuffing dollar bills down someone's throat trying to kill them - though I have been known to stuff a few dollar bills down a g-string or two.

      But on that matter considering Jesus said give to the poor, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and a rich man getting into heaven is like a camel getting thru the eye of a needle, it's kind of ironic that God's name would be on it. Plus wasn't there that whole bit of Jesus chasing money lenders out of the temple? Now if Jesus didn't want money lenders in a place of worship, do you think He would want His name/God's name on money?

      However again one must relish the irony and the cynical humor perhaps behind it since many crusades of bloodshed launch in God's name have more often than not been rooted more in financial matters than spiritual.

    • 2 years ago
  • BornAgainChristian
  • itoldyouso
  • lifestudentno83
  • BillinDetroit
    • 0
      BillinDetroit  

    • When a Marine points a scoped rifle at someone, that person has a problem -- and it's not the inscription molded into the scope.

      Hey Saladin; in the US we have a folk saying for that: it's known as 'the pot calling the kettle black".

      God has not ordered this war, men have. The Christian Bible acknowledges that Satan is, temporarily, running the show on earth. Putting a scriptural reference on a scope is just one evidence of that ... similar to the "Allah akhbar" (ISTR) of the Detroit plane bomber.

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
  • SamuraiDave
    • 0
      SamuraiDave  

    • This is like emblazoning the word Abstinence on condoms.

      If they put Biblical verses on weapons they should put John 11:35
      "Jesus Wept."

    • 2 years ago
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  
    • SamuraiDave:

      I recommended your comment SamuraiDave, It had the sharpest edge and truthism I've seen in sometime. Right to the point. (I know truthism is not a word but maybe a Colbert word for sure)

    • 2 years ago
  • cztheday
  • Nephwrack
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  

    • JonRaymond, you are better than that! Come on man the folks in the military are for the most part honorable people and are stuck much of the time lately in a no win situation. Give them credit for doing a job they are made to do and most of the time obey military code of justice. I am very proud of our military, it's the fucking civilian and military leaders I question. The whole direction of this military industrial complex has our nations priority's screwed up and way the hell off track.

    • 2 years ago
  • JonRaymond
    • 0
      JonRaymond  
    • kennymotown:

      They are duped morons. I was one of them for over 11 years, so in effect I criticize myself. I have earned the right to say these things. If they wake up and see the errors of their ways that's one thing. Otherwise, they deserve nothing less than eternal hell, if there is such a thing, or perhaps they live there already, in which case you could say they commune with the devil.

    • 2 years ago
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  
    • kennymotown:

      Of course you have that right JonRaymond, thats why I have said to you that you are better than that, tonight might be one of those nights of regret and oh do I understand military regret being a former soldier and I know what great insight you have too offer our soldiers and young persons contemplating a military career. You are a very wise commentator and your knowledge is needed more than you know. The country has been long duped as you say about individuals that have been as well, but how do they get duped and how are things justified in their minds that is the true question of an individuals choice.

    • 2 years ago
  • JonRaymond
  • kennymotown
  • JonRaymond
  • SamuraiDave
  • keithponder
    • 0
      keithponder  

    • That UWZall dude was trying to argue with me on this "America should not have to be Jesus for entire world" crap on another post.

      Well if that's the case, America needs stop acting as if only America can speak for Jesus, and acting like America knows the word of Jesus better than the rest of the world. As a matter of fact, the rest of the planet chooses not to follow Jesus because America has prostituted the name of Jesus for control, permission to kill in the name of God and shear profit.

      AMERICA DOES NOT HAVE COPYRIGHTS ON THE NAME "JESUS".

      America better hope that Jesus really doesn't come back any time soon. We'll probably be the first in line for a good Jesus ass whoopin'.

    • 2 years ago
  • JonRaymond
  • MoonLoon
  • imadvanced
  • Scathian
  • remanns
    • 0
      remanns  

    • Kewl. How "old school" Like a smith naming a sword. I would rather consecrate warrior ironworks to Thor,...Tyr,...or Odin, myself,.......but hell,...(Hella),....whatever gets you "round". (The owner is still going to name her what he likes).

    • 2 years ago
  • 02
    • 0
      02  
    • remanns:

      You know there are still forged billets piled outside the old Viking mines. You could go and gather and hit the smithy with the real stuff.

    • 2 years ago
  • GavinTheMother
    • 0
      GavinTheMother  

    • Jesus was non-violent. Therefore, Christianity should be non-violent. People can call themselves anything they want though. I doubt you'll be seeing the "love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you" text on these sights any time soon.

    • 2 years ago
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  

    • This is just plan crazy stuff to be putting on any weapon, unless that weapon is yours and as far as I remember that weapon your holding while in the military isn't yours but the U.S. Governments. Somebody's head needs to roll, or fired at least and maybe a contract with this company should be broken. Plenty of people out there looking for work that could use a start up company for firing sights.

    • 2 years ago
  • bking74
    • 0
      bking74  
    • kennymotown:

      Your right this is crazy, I have no idea how this idea got off the planning board and actually went into production. While it's true that all your equipment that the U.S. Army issues you is government property, it some unit esp. combat brigades some latitude in personalizing your own gear. Support and Supply Units tend to get issue weapons when needed while Combat MOS's keep their weapons. I have had the same AR-15 and M4 carbine for the last five years and I am allowed to buy after market parts, such as my own Mark 3 illuminated reticule scope and extended clips. My body armour has Pslam 91(which is the soldier’s pray) written on it.

    • 2 years ago
  • kennymotown
  • cztheday
    • 0
      cztheday  

    • What this company is doing is clearly wrong. The invasion of Iraq was wrong. The loss of innocent lives -- whether they are in the Middle East or anywhere else -- is wrong. Cheap self-righteousness from the comfort of one's living room? Also wrong.

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  
    • cztheday:

      Normally I would agree, but this isn't just come cheap yuks issue that everyone can have a good rage over and carry on with daily routines.

      This is something really fucked up that threatens serious American cultural values.

      Say what you want about armchair self-righteousness, I agree. But you're pretty damn cynical if you think that people shouldn't be pissed off at their government signing contracts to put bible verses on automatic weapons meant to kill (typically) Muslim enemies. At the very least because their elected officials are violating our security and the first amendment and ideally at best because their fellow Christians (I assume, I dunno your religious opinions) are seemingly psychotic murderers killing in the name of Christ.

      Plus to qualify for armchair partisan you'd need to be getting outraged over something that you should be fixing in your own community, but I'm guessing not many people inscribe bible quotes onto their automatic rifle scopes in my community.

    • 2 years ago
  • Xenzaka
  • Ragan
    • 0
      Ragan  

    • If Christians have so much faith in the bible and religion and their hipocritiocal leaders as their way of life. Let them volunteer to die for their beloved leaders like George W Bush and Obama. The true American will stay home and protect his shores. That way there will be no nameless innocent people being killed in the name of American freedom.

    • 2 years ago
  • randallr01
  • joe_shaffer
    • 0
      joe_shaffer  

    • Many, but not all, Christians are just as bad as anybody else about pushing their religion by any means necessary. Violence and fear tactics are the norm for these people.

    • 2 years ago
  • boiscalm
    • 0
      boiscalm  

    • This is just wrong! Ingnorance like this gets people killed. End the contracts now. I am Christian and this is not what Jesus had in mind.

    • 2 years ago
  • ryan8566
    • 0
      ryan8566  
    • boiscalm:

      boiscalm, thank you...i have never met a christian...or anyone who could tell me what this guy jesus had in mind. it is obvious that the 'early followers' saw an opportunity to build an empire. i just can't find in the 'testaments' that christians follow, where he said go build me a multi-billion dollar empire, by witholding the sacraments until paid for, elimininating women from the deal, etc.

    • 2 years ago
  • Tyr
    • 0
      Tyr  

    • Ibrake4rappers, can you explain to me the difference between second degree murder vs. when one of our "errant" bombs hits a home with innocent families in it, or a wedding party?

    • 2 years ago
  • ibrake4rappers13
  • Saladin
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  

    • American soldiers have been inscribing their weapons and equipment with bible verses since the revolutionary war. However, this is being done by a private company employed by the US government. I dont know if the government is complacent in this but either way this should be put to a stop immediately.

    • 2 years ago
  • ryan8566
  • ibrake4rappers13
    • 0
      ibrake4rappers13  

    • I think its a good idea, it certainly shouldnt be mandatory, but if a soldier chooses to inscribe his equipment with bible verses, thats fine with me.

      And to those who say that Christianity isnt violent, theres a difference between murder and what our soldiers do.

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • ibrake4rappers13:

      Its not being done by soldiers... thats the problem. The company Trajicon is under contract to make 800,000 sights for the U.S. military and they are inscribing bible codes on the sights. That however is a problem since the US is supposed to be a secular nation of all faiths and lack thereof.

      I have no problem with soldiers inscribing their weapons since its a personal choice of the soldier(although id rather not have soldiers who think they are on a crusade for Christianity).

    • 2 years ago
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • tenletters
  • bking74
  • Ragan
    • 0
      Ragan  

    • This just goes to show how arrogant our leaders are and how ignorant the people are. When I was young I was also totally stupid and ignorant to the facts, but in this period of the internet and awareness there is no excuse for the lack of the truth. Our (Unelected puppets) have the audacity to take for granted that all Americans are ignorant peasants. While many of us are aware that they are nothing more than a pack of bloodthirsty wolves.
      The only difference between Goldman Sachs and AIG CEO's is the location of their out house's.

    • 2 years ago
  • ras_menelik
  • MoonLoon
  • MoonLoon
  • goodname
  • ahiguy
  • Saladin
  • ahiguy
  • Saladin
  • ahiguy
    • 0
      ahiguy  
    • MoonLoon:

      The "Torah" ("teaching" or "law" refers either to the Five Books of Moses (or Pentateuch) or to the entirety of Judaism's founding legal and ethical religious texts) is accepted by Christianity as part of the Bible, comprising the first five books of the Old Testament...

      On the other hand, The Qur'an assumes familiarity with major narratives recounted in Jewish and Christian scriptures, summarizing some, dwelling at length on others, and, in some cases, presenting alternative accounts and interpretations of events.

      The Qur'an describes itself as a book of guidance, rarely offering detailed accounts of specific historical events, and often emphasizing the moral significance of an event over its narrative sequence... i.e. it is little more than a monotheistic veneer over pagan Arab traditions.

    • 2 years ago
  • goodname
  • 2hellnwait
    • 0
      2hellnwait  
    • MoonLoon:

      Not really, it is an anathema to most Muslims. . . it is the Qur'an which they revere and will willingly kill any one if it is perceived they've desecrated it in any fashion. . . true story

    • 2 years ago
  • bking74
    • 0
      bking74  

    • Saladin, I no longer no what “victory” would be in Afghanistan at this point. At first I had a very clear idea of what we were going to accomplish and believe with all my heart and soul we were doing the morally correct thing. I keep going back because I choose a career in the military and I now fight for my brothers. We need to involve the Afghan government more in this “war on terror”. I don’t think we should pull out now, even with the ruinous state of our economy. We made a promise to the Afghan people and I believe we have to keep it. Eliminating the Taliban and other mujahidins is impossible unless we win over the Afghan people trust and help rebuild their country’s inferstructure. The Afghan people are amazing…proud, strong and determined. So, sorry Saladin, I don’t have the answer just more questions…….B

    • 2 years ago
  • MoonLoon
  • bking74
    • 0
      bking74  
    • bking74:

      Your absolutely right Moonloon. The Afghan people have defeated every empire that has ever invaded their native soil. But, trust me we are not at war with the Afghan people (I know many people disagree with me on this) we are at war with the a theocracy regime. The majority of the Afghan people and the current Afghanistan government want our help in eliminating the Taliban.

    • 2 years ago
  • 02
    • 0
      02  
    • bking74:

      The Taliban appears to have a higher degree of fervent designs. They won before and simply may again - fundamentalism doesn't go away. If it isn't a force of good, and it has never been a force for good, it stays and stays.

      And it's been more violent and ruthless than any force for peace and peaceful living. So they will rise as soon as the opposition is displaced.

      Or, if there were victory and a strong, implacable government. Will that happen?

    • 2 years ago
  • bking74
    • 0
      bking74  
    • bking74:

      02, your right the Taliban are extremely violent and ruthless. Also it is almost impossible to defeat a fanatical enemy but I have lived and fought among many Afghan soldiers who are just as dedicated and determined to defeat the Taliban and decide the destiny of their country for themselves. The Afghan people are almost super human in their dedication to their beliefs and fearless. It's why we need to stay in Afghanistan (at least for now), the people of Afghanistan have earned their independence.

    • 2 years ago
  • 02
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  
    • bking74:

      That's what I thought bking, and having studied it a bit that's why I believe in the war in Afghanistan.

      I don't think we'll win, but if anyone deserves a chance it's them.

    • 2 years ago
  • Tyr
    • 0
      Tyr  

    • Try to imagine what the Muslim Afghan soldier must feel when he is handed a weapon with Christian religious references on it that he is supposed to use to kill other Muslims...Don't you suppose that there would be some real soul searching as to whether or not he was betraying his own faith and putting his very soul at risk? The stupidity of this country has truly begun to alarm me.

    • 2 years ago
  • MoonLoon
    • 0
      MoonLoon  
    • Tyr:

      Harks back to the days of using pig fat or beef tallow to lubricate British cartridges. In this manner both Hindus and Muslims were offended. Brillant British!

    • 2 years ago
  • BIGDADDYMELVIN
  • unimatrix0
    • 0
      unimatrix0  
    • BIGDADDYMELVIN:

      Christians are every bit as ugly, ignorant and blood thirsty as Muslims. If circumstances were different you can bet Christians would go off and martyr themselves as suicide bombers.

      Religion is nothing but a cesspool of foul ignorance and superstition.

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  
    • BIGDADDYMELVIN:

      Hey genius, THEY HAVE THE SAME GOD DAMN BOOK. Both have the old testament, so Islam says thou shalt not kill either. In fact, Jesus is in the Koran.

      Now, as is typical, the followers take the parts they like and leave the parts they don't.

      But still, nothing pisses me off more than ignorant fucks.

      Edit : I kinda glossed over that 9/11 comment. Keep in mind that 3,000 or so civilians died in 9/11 and probably well over a million have died in our wars since then. So that's wrong too.

      Manpower's got a lot to do with it but hey, the truth is still the truth.

    • 2 years ago
  • bking74
    • 0
      bking74  

    • I can only speak for myself and others in my unit. Unfortunately, when we originally landed in Afghanistan on Oct 7/01 all of us were acting like blood thirsty "Christian Crusaders". Inscribing military equipment, armament and even our personal weapons with religious text was a widely practiced part of war. Eventually after several deployments and years of endless war, we learned to respect our enemy and their religion. When we get any newbie nobs, who still come and act like blood thirsty "Christian Crusaders", we ole boys quickly school them on treating the mujahidin and Islam with respect. But, this is the first time I have heard of a company inscribing U.S. military weapons with bible codes on their own. We are slowly learning that the only way to way any level of success in Afghanistan we have to earn the Afghan people's respect. Many people don't realize that the majority of the U.S. Army is made up of support people and the actually combat MOS's make up less then 25% of the Army. It's because of that fact our entire division is has been on constant rotation since 01 and my Combat Brigade has been deployed 6 times in 9 years (I have been deployed 5 times in 9 years) and going back this spring for round 6...................B....and Saladin your right something spooky and extremely scary is going on but no one is really trying to hard to hide it. Most of the American public no longer exams the reasons we are still at war. Shit is going get ultra-violent real soon and we are stretch extremely thin. 10,000 troops sent to Haiti, another 30,000 to Afghanistan and Yemen is heating up.

    • 2 years ago
  • Saladin
    • 0
      Saladin  
    • bking74:

      Right, but do you still think Afghanistan can be won?

      My heart goes out to those people who have experienced unimaginable suffering these past three decades, but can they come back from the brink or are we wasting our time?

      I was of the position right after 9/11 that we should have sent 200 or 300 thousand troops there, stabilized the area and started nation building. It seems that wasn't part of Bush's plan though.

      But at this late juncture with our economy gutted and our treasury drained, do we still have a chance? I'd like to hear a military perspective.

    • 2 years ago
  • rosettastar
  • JonRaymond
  • bking74
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