Straight White American Jesus Myths of Violence: How Guns Became Sacred in America
Dec 15, 2025
Dr. Rachel Wagner, a Professor of Religious Studies and author of Cowboy Apocalypse, delves into the troubling intersection of gun culture, religion, and masculinity in America. She explores how firearms have evolved into sacred symbols tied to apocalyptic narratives and notions of protection. Wagner discusses the NRA's transformation into a quasi-religious force and the cowboy messiah myth that shapes societal views on violence. The conversation highlights how these narratives simplify history and breed dehumanization, culminating in events like January 6 being seen as performative acts of violence.
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Slow Cooker As Cultural Symbol
- Brad Onishi uses a slow cooker story to show how objects carry cultural meanings.
- He compares domestic nostalgia to how guns become rites of passage for some families.
Growing Up Around Guns
- Rachel Wagner recounts growing up in Arkansas with guns casually present in trucks and kids' cars.
- She notes that gun symbolism has shifted dramatically toward political and apocalyptic meanings.
Gun Culture's Religious Form
- Gun culture functions like religion by creating symbols, rituals, and community cohesion.
- The NRA explicitly framed itself to be understood as akin to 'one of the great religions of the world.'
