The New Genesis?
 

In the beginning there was God, and ever since there have been killings and wars in His Name.

We are responsible for our actions and beliefs and will have to answer for our deeds. We will not be asked to answer for anyone else but ourselves according to any religion. Why then are we so bent on forcing others to believe as we believe or face death?

When the passions of religious zeal are involved, whether from fanatic fundamentalism or evangelicalism, reason leaves, and when mixed with politics, that recipe becomes explosive and lethal. The best argument for the wisdom of separation of church and state can be seen by looking at the world today.

The terrorists who have been blamed for the 9-11 attacks were fundamentalist Islamists. Much has been said in the media, and in conversation groups denouncing a religion that would exhort its followers to murder those who don't believe the same. Little however, has been said about the other side of the coin, the evangelical Christians on their crusade.

We have seen the danger of fanaticism in government in the 1980s when Iran was led by the Ayatollah Khomeini in a reign of hate and intolerance. We have seen the danger of fanatic Zionism in Israel, as hate and intolerance toward the Palestinians foments a never-ending cycle of hate and intolerance trying to enforce a 5,000 year old deed that God gave to the Jews. Is it a trick of the mind that prevents us from recognizing the stirrings of the same hate and intolerance in our own American society?

We have a man in the White House who sees his presidency as a mission ordained by God to bring democracy, and therefore the Judeo-Christian principles, to the world. He has said his wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were directed by God, stating, "God told me to strike al Qaeda and I did. Then he told me to strike Saddam and I did." When Joan of Arc made similar statements, she was burned at the stake.

Bush's attorney general has enforced legislation against Muslims that involves indefinite imprisonment and suspends constitutional protections. Before undertaking his position he anointed himself with cooking oil emulating the biblical practice.

General "Jerry" Boykin, deputy undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, a former commander of Delta Force and an outspoken evangelical appeared last June in full dress uniform and polished a pair of boots while giving a speech in Oregon saying that the reason the Islamists hated us was, "because we're a Christian nation"..."and the enemy is a guy named Satan." In another speech, he said those in the Army of God, "were raised for such a time as this."

The Christian Coalition who supports this administration has reinterpreted Christianity to permit their hate as self-righteous indignation toward those who refuse to accept their intolerant views and their desire to shape the world to their mold. We are turning our democracy into fanatic theocracy and a look through history will show that it is doomed to failure, but not before more atrocities are committed under the guise of religious fervor.

These dangerous delusions are not directed by God. They are directed by our own greed, arrogance, prejudice and lust for power. These are human shortcomings. If we sit quietly by and permit these evils to be done throughout the world in our name and in the name of God, we share the responsibility for complicity. If we don't wake up and learn to accept the differences in people, all of whom are children of God, we will destroy ourselves.

10-17-03