# US military weapons inscribed with secret bible codes **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 19, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518 "2010-01-19T03:36:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/21 "2010-01-19T05:34:09Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > And again this would entirely be a feel-good measure on our parts to reassure ourselves of both our secularism and our capacity for reassessment and self-adjustment. Fine and dandy, but my point is that it won’t matter a tinker’s damn to the guys on the other side. Your point is taken. However, I might also point out that it further undermines the war to two additional demographics - US civilians and soldiers, the people on our side who might actually buy that it isn’t about religion. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/22 "2010-01-19T05:36:35Z")
I would say its less about ‘the other side’ and more about the US’s general impression on the world at large. Otara ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/23 "2010-01-19T05:37:05Z")
Your steak sauce isn’t made by the government with taxpayer money. It’s also not valid to say that if something does not bother you, then it shouldn’t bother anybody else. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/24 "2010-01-19T05:44:57Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s also not valid to say that if something does not bother you, then it shouldn’t bother anybody else. Sometimes I think the world would be a better place if it was. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/25 "2010-01-19T05:46:03Z")
Well, I can tell you that every time I hear stories about anything relating to the US Military attempting to turn itself into the Holy Christian Army, it certainly undermines any credibility they have with my heart and mind. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/26 "2010-01-19T05:49:55Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I am pretty sure that as long as America is allied with Israel, we are going to be “Crusaders” to them, and removing a coded Bible verse from a rifle sight is not going to change that. As long as America and Israel are allies, we are going to be the Great Satan allied with the Jew Devil. It’s interesting you mentioned Israel. Know who else uses Trijicon sights, and will be less than happy to find that they come with New Testament quotes? Yep, that’s right. I bet someone’s contract is about to be re-examined. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/27 "2010-01-19T05:51:41Z")
I’m given to understand they’re _really_ good sights. The tritiums they sell to civilians certainly are. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/28 "2010-01-19T05:52:33Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It’s interesting you mentioned Israel. Know who else uses Trijicon sights, and will be less than happy to find that they come with New Testament quotes? Yep, that’s right. I bet someone’s contract is about to be re-examined. Divide and conker. Trijicon is owned by Al Qaeda! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/29 "2010-01-19T05:55:37Z")
That’s pretty insulting if we’re giving those things to Israel. ---
**Author:** ![bettyporkta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@bettyporkta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bettyporkta)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/30 "2010-01-19T06:39:45Z")
psssst!, those bible inscriptions sure aren’t working… how long has it been since the yanks had a military victory…? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/31 "2010-01-19T07:52:29Z")
This absitively, posolutely makes no fucking sense. I totally don’t get it. I mean, what good is a coded message unless the guy at the other end has the code? Who the hell is going to read a code on the side of the sight and instantly think “John, chapter eight, verse twenty eight”? Is it some form of bizarre Pentecostal shamanism, Christian voodoo like snake handling? Is the intention to attract some state of grace upon a _weapon_? And even in the cold and sterile light of _realpolitik_…Clauswitz and von Bismarck rather than Jesus of Nazareth…this makes no sense. As Sun Tzu once said “Offer your enemy a recruiting tool so that he can gather fanatical soldiers to hurl at you? What are you, fucking retarded?!” Well, it sounds more elegant in the original. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/32 "2010-01-19T10:21:14Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > This absitively, posolutely makes no fucking sense. I totally don’t get it. I mean, what good is a coded message unless the guy at the other end has the code? It gets something from the Christian religion somewhere. That is the point of religion; to spread itself, to wedge itself into every possible nook and cranny until nothing is left without the touch of religion upon it. It’s a mind-virus; it has no goal beyond spreading. That’s all the sense it needs to make. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/33 "2010-01-19T10:39:53Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > This absitively, posolutely makes no fucking sense. I totally don’t get it. I mean, what good is a coded message unless the guy at the other end has the code? Who the hell is going to read a code on the side of the sight and instantly think “John, chapter eight, verse twenty eight”? I agree - it makes no sense as presented here. Calling it a violation of the separation of church and state (last page of the linked article) seems a bit overblown though - is it really all that different from, say, aircraft types named after Greek or Roman mythological characters? (I realise these religions aren’t actively recruiting much nowadays, but don’t think that makes a big difference) Might the inscriptions serve some other purpose? - such as manufacturing batch IDs or something? (albeit IDs based on Bible verse numbers) I’m struggling to see how this is more offensive than it is pointless. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/34 "2010-01-19T10:47:20Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I agree - it makes no sense as presented here. Calling it a violation of the separation of church and state (last page of the linked article) seems a bit overblown though - is it really all that different from, say, aircraft types named after Greek or Roman mythological characters? > (I realise these religions aren’t actively recruiting much nowadays, but don’t think that makes a big difference) I would imagine that the fact that it is referred to specifically as mythology appeases atheists, whereas something like Christianity has active practitioners. But who’s to say? I’m a Catholic, atheism doesn’t make too much sense to me when juxtaposed with my beliefs. > [@](#): > > Might the inscriptions have some other purpose? - such as manufacturing batch IDs or something? I’m struggling to see how this is more offensive than it is pointless. No. They are clearly references to Bible verses. I thought they were some sort of production markings as well until I saw two of them, and I don’t believe in coincidences. Also, [Trijicon has acknowledged that they are Bible references](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/01/19/2010-01-19_firm_takes_flak_for_rifle_scopes_with_bible_verse.html). ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/35 "2010-01-19T10:51:38Z")
What about the Navy’s Blue Angels team? That’s definitely a religious reference - has anyone raised any objections to it, on these same grounds? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/36 "2010-01-19T10:55:54Z")
I’m trying to envision the circumstances under which the answer to “What would Jesus do?” is “Go for a headshot.” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/37 "2010-01-19T11:03:05Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > No. They are clearly references to Bible verses. I understand they are valid bible references, but could it be that they are _being used_ by the manufacturer as production batch IDs? - that’s what I meant (actually, it’s also what I _said_ - you edited that bit out when you quoted me - why?). ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/38 "2010-01-19T11:06:46Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I understand they are valid bible references, but could it be that they are _being used_ by the manufacturer as production batch IDs? - that’s what I meant (actually, it’s also what I _said_ - you edited that bit out when you quoted me - why?). No. Read the link I gave you. EDIT: I didn’t edit it out. I started to respond before you edited your post so it wasn’t there. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/39 "2010-01-19T11:11:45Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > EDIT: I didn’t edit it out. I started to respond before you edited your post so it wasn’t there. Ah. Sorry - my mistake - hope you can see why it confounded me in that way. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518/40 "2010-01-19T11:17:18Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > No. Read the link I gave you. I’m not seeing anything in that link that rules out the possibility that a manufacturer with religious leanings might be using bible verses as batch identifiers. What are you referring to? The only bit that looks relevant is: > [@](#): > > Trijicon did not return calls for comment yesterday but confirmed the engravings to [ABCNews.com](http://ABCNews.com). And the company’s mission statement is steeped in religion, saying it strives to follow morals “based on Biblical standards.” So: 1. The company has confirmed the engravings exist (or something) 2. The company has a religious bias [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-weapons-inscribed-with-secret-bible-codes/525518.md?page=3)