Thousands attended ‘The Response,’ a religious event organized by Republican Gov. Rick Perry in order to pray for God to help save America: ‘a nation in crisis,’ 08/06/11. (photo: Brandon Thibodeaux/Getty Images)
Written by Loren Adams for TPJ Magazine
How you view God is how you see man. An individual’s concept of “God” determines how one treats others. The same principle applies for a culture, nation or movement. If one envisions a vengeful, wrathful superior being, wrath and retribution are levied against “others” outside the “chosen.” The religion justifies prejudice with all its ugly manifestations: verbal abuse, theft, deceit, injustice, violence, and the ultimate – “final solution.” Religion was the foundation for Nazism which gave birth to Holocaust.
This is another law of human nature oft overlooked – which coincides with Voltaire’s cardinal truth: “People who believe absurdities will soon commit atrocities.”
It is a massive cult gripping America spinning it to hell. The current gridlock has its roots in right religion. Remove the religious right’s powerful influence over America, a measure of sanity may return. Imagine a world without religion, as found in John Lennon’s lyrics:
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace
You, you may say
I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
You, you may say
I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will live as one
I am not stating all religion is bad, because it’s in human nature to invent such philosophical mindsets as a security blanket for an torrid unexplainable existence. I’m just saying the distorting of Jesus’ image and words is the sacrilege that destroys individuals and nations – or, for that matter, the perversion of other revered theological figures.
America’s religious right loathes the concept of a Jesus who speaks of humility, meekness, generosity, compassion and sacrifice. Somehow these virtues de-masculinize the Messiah. And Republicans loathe a feminized Jesus, because humble characteristics are feminine, in their view.
Nazis had the same distorted reasoning in that the Jesus of the Gospels didn’t fit their ideology. So they had to mold “God” into their own image, culminating in a Holy Bible re-write of 1938, approved by the Fuhrer, which were loaded with anti-semitic passages.
Republicans worship a Nazi Jesus, not the Christ of the Bible. They picture a Jesus bearing a sword riding a white horse to slay millions of unbelievers. Revelation is where they lay claim to the view, but the Gospels’ depiction must be discarded in order to arrive. A judgmental “God” justifies a judgmental following. Thus, it’s condoned to hate and kill gays, Muslims, aliens, liberals, and all others not of their belief-system.
Jesus’ Number One principle must be suspended in order for them to condone bigotry: “Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and love others as you do yourself.”
But in their view, this cardinal command must be set aside for the End Times prophecies to be completed – when a wrathful, vengeful “God” re-appears to annihilate the billions. This eschatological element is what drives America’s religious right to insanity and what is driving America off the cliff – since the religious right is such a significant segment of society. The culture war is here and now, and it has its roots in religion – albeit counter to Jesus’ teachings.
America’s religious right needs to return to its “first love.”
Re: "I am not stating all religion is bad, because it’s in human nature to invent such philosophical mindsets as a security blanket for an torrid unexplainable existence. "
A tad unfair. A "philosophical mindset," as you put it is exactly what scientists have when they go about testing a theory. Did they "invent" that mindset, or did life lead them to the conculsion they now seek to test? Of course the problem is testing relgious conclusions is usually a fool's errand. We can find all kinds of reasons to dis the concept of God, or praise the concept. But in the end we will find out when we die… maybe.
It certainly was a lot easier when God was supposedly walking on the Earth: seking out Adam and Eve for example… IF that ever happened. I suspect not, Adam and Eve simply being a somewhat dated tale told to teach a lesson. A lesson that is somewhat dated. From a different culture, a different time. That, of course, doesn't automatically lead to the conclusion "no God."
As to Lennon, I like the song but always felt it was wrong. If we didn't believe in Heaven, God, etc. we'd simply find some other reason to fight, to kill, to steal, to covet. It all has to do with power and greed. That goes beyond whether there is God, or not. It goes to our basic nature. Of course it does question the supposed "intelligent design" concept. "Intelligent?" Some days, after all I see and observe, I can only give that a, "Bah humbug!"