Racism is at the source of American laws on guns, incarceration and the death penalty, according to tattooed public theologian Nadia Bolz-Weber. An ordained Evangelical Lutheran Church in America minister, Bolz-Weber is author of several New York Times Best Seller books including Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint.
The Unfinished Church Podcast is a production whose content is created for “all who are ready to unite and build a world in which racial prejudice has no power.” Hosted by United Methodist bishops LaTrelle Easterling, Michael McKee, and Gregory Palmer, the podcast has garnered support from a number of prominent figures. Its home website features quotes of praise from Wesley Theological Seminary President David McAllister-Wilson, and North Texas Conference United Women in Faith President Julie B. Noel. The podcast’s first episode featured an interview with Bolz-Weber touching upon race, American gun laws, self-defense and correcting – in the words of Bolz-Weber – “spiritual malformation” that has become commonplace in the American Church.
Bolz-Weber notes that on her international speaking tours in other Western nations, many of the citizens of these nations can’t understand how America deals with gun laws, incarceration and the death penalty. Racism, Bolz-Weber argues, is at the source of these issues.
“You cannot understand these spiritual maladies in our country unless you’re willing to look at white supremacy,” Bolz-Weber states, advocating the need of a South African-style Truth and Reconciliation Committee. The Lutheran minister claims the mentality of “we have to protect ourselves” and “we have the right to protect all of our (expletive)” stems from a failure on America’s part to properly address slavery and conflict with Native Americans.
Bolz-Weber detailed a tragic story about her 23-year-old nephew in treatment for alcoholism who went through a mental breakdown where he proceeded to break into a home he thought belonged to a family member and was shot and killed by one of the occupants. Though she acknowledged how terrifying it must have been for the home occupant to have their broken into by a mentally unsound man, Bolz-Weber believes the “sickness” behind the mentality that allows for Stand Your Ground laws (where people may use deadly force when they reasonably believe it to be necessary to defend against violent crimes) and the Castle Doctrine (the right to use force to protect against a home intruder) is rooted in a society permeated with violence. Bolz-Weber thinks restricting gun ownership will help alleviate these deadly situations. Part of her grieving process was a pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Bolz-Weber says that when she told the story to people on the walk from different countries, she said they were “horrified” that the man who shot her nephew would not be facing charges or go to prison.
At one point, Bolz-Weber recounted her experience at a Lutheran worship service, mocking the use of multiple ritual books and the liturgy.
“The first time I went to a Lutheran service” Bolz-Weber said, “they gave me a red hymnal, a green hymnal, and they gave me a worship book that had code in it… it said curiae on it… I don’t know what the hell any of this means” and claimed that churches need to know the difference between being “welcoming” and “friendly” to make sure people come back.
Throughout the interview, only one passage of Scripture was read, which was at the beginning of the interview, and the words “Jesus Christ” were only said once right at the end. Both of these references were made by one of the interviewers, not Bolz-Weber.
Comment by Dan W on August 1, 2022 at 7:36 am
Bolz-Weber is opposed to self defense and individual property rights? I have to agree, the U.S. is experiencing an epidemic of violence, but leaving people defenseless is not the solution. After all, when seconds count, the police are minutes away.
Comment by Stever Rogers on August 1, 2022 at 10:38 am
The ELCA (“Everything Luther Cautioned Against”) is what the UMC will become in a few years. I feel story for all the Nicene-creed following UMC congregations that think they can stay put, just preach the gospel, and ride out the storm. My once thriving Lutheran Church thought it could do that when the ELCA was formed. They are now an empty husk. The ELCA shows what having no doctrine or having doctrine but not conforming to it does to a church.
Comment by David S. on August 1, 2022 at 1:28 pm
Yes, white supremacy is the modern boogeyman of the left. In denying the biblical original sin, the theological left now has a new original sin to blame for all issues. From the above false preacher’s assertion to the PC(USA)’s assertion in HSB-11 that says prolifers are against abortion because of white supremacy to slave trading that occurred in nations prior to the establishment of the transAtlantic slave trade in nations that had never seen a white person until the Ages of Discovery and Empire arose, everything is the fault of white supremacy.
Comment by Tom on August 1, 2022 at 5:31 pm
More proof that the only true part of “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America” is that it is indeed in America.
Comment by Bebe Cofer on August 6, 2022 at 10:31 am
Not to be confused with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Comment by Bob on August 6, 2022 at 3:18 pm
This is Nadia…living with a boyfriend, advocating openness to “ethical non-monogamy” and “ethical porn,” filling the air with f-bombs, proud of her convenience-based abortion, yep, quite an authority on whatever.
Comment by George on August 8, 2022 at 12:19 pm
I would ask tattooed Nadia Bolz-Weber , who she would blame had her 23 year old alcoholic deranged nephew broke into the house and taken a kitchen knife and murdered its occupants. I’m sure she would have found some way to blame us white folks for that also. The liberals always blame and shame. Remember what Joshua said. “As for me and my house, we shall arm ourselves .” Or something like that.
Comment by Jeff Kelley on August 11, 2022 at 8:08 am
What unadulterated hogwash. It’s one thing to publish a myriad of viewpoints, but publishing complete nonsense like this only serves to diminish the credibility of the IRD and the JE website.
Comment by Lee Cary on August 11, 2022 at 10:22 am
Mr. Kelly,
I resent your reference in this article to the arguments of the tattooed lady as “unadulterated hogwash.” It casts a negative light on all pigs. In fact, miniature pigs make fine pets. (I had one once, went on leave, and the local Vietnamese ate him.) They’re at least as smart as cats and cocker spaniels.
As for characterizing the tattooed lady’s message, may I offer a short list of alternative characterizations that avoid the slam on hogs: baloney; bilge; blarney; claptrap, crock; drivel; folly; foolishness; hokum; malarkey; nonsense; rubbish; and trash.
With respect.
Comment by Donald Sensing on August 12, 2022 at 11:34 am
Well, gun control laws in America originated after the Civil War with the deliberate aim to make sure that emancipated slaves would never own firearms. So yes, the racist roots of almost all of America’s gun laws are deep. Maybe bring that before a “Truth and Reconciliation” body.
See, “The racist origin of gun control laws”:
https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/civil-rights/347324-the-racist-origin-of-gun-control-laws/
Comment by James Young on August 16, 2022 at 12:23 pm
How did I know before clicking on the link that this was Nadia Bolz-Weber?
However, much like the historian’s joke about the Holy Roman Empire (“It was neither Holy, nor Roman, nor much of an Empire”), calling Ms. Weber a “Lutheran Theologian” is charitably inaccurate, as she is neither Lutheran, nor a theologian in any meaningful sense of the words/Word. Likewise, as for her call for a “Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” well … she’s interested in neither. That someone such as this could be “ordained” as a pastor is one reason why we shook off the dust of the ELCA in early 2010.
However, she IS a faithful adherent to the Church of What’s Happening Now.
Comment by Dudley Sharp on November 7, 2022 at 8:45 am
Sent to Bolz-Weber:
White murderers are twice as likely to be executed as are black murderers (fn)
From 1977-2012, white death row murderers have been executed at a rate 41% higher than are black death row murderers, 19.3% vs 13.7%, respectively. (fn)
“There is no race of the offender / victim effect at either the decision to advance a case to penalty hearing or the decision to sentence a defendant to death given a penalty hearing.” (fn)
For the White–Black comparisons, the Black level is 12.7 times greater than the White level for homicide, 15.6 times greater for robbery, 6.7 times greater for rape, and 4.5 times greater for aggravated assault. (fn)
As robbery/murder and rape/murder are, by far, the two most common death penalty eligible murder, the multiples may be even greater.
all sources and much more, here:
RACE & THE DEATH PENALTY: A REBUTTAL TO THE RACISM CLAIMS
at http://prodpinnc.blogspot
Comment by Crystal on December 24, 2023 at 2:38 pm
These comments are much of the reason why so many people have left the church.