Waking up in a new world: Part VII

Editor's note: There is no editor's note this time. Except to say, if you don't understand why there is a 'VII' in the title, you should probably start here.

Islamic Fundamentalism

In the movie Scarface, Al Pacino says the line "First you get the money. Then you get the power. Then you get the women." While the last part may or may not have relevance to this topic, without a doubt, the first two do. Power and money. Money is power, and therefore, power is money. Don't believe me? Ask OJ.

In the name of full disclosure, I am a practicing Roman Catholic. And as an inquisitive practitioner I've researched the early Catholic Church, warts and all. And let me tell you, there are plenty of warts. Crusades leap to mind. The Spanish Inquisition. The countless wars to enlarge the greater glory of the Church. How about the concept of "original sin"? Personally, from what I've learned about history, the Church, and human nature, I tend to believe it's a lot more about people in pursuit of power, wrapping themselves in religion, than the religion leading the way to war. When Constantine made Christianity (more specifically "Catholic" "Orthodox" - Greek for "universal" "right-thinking") the official religion of the Roman Empire, I believe he repeated another line from another famous Al Pacino film: "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer."

As I mentioned earlier, I've studied the history of the Roman Catholic Church. The Crusades? Sure, they were on a mission from God to protect the Holy Land from the evil infidels. They also occurred as Europe was emerging from the Dark Ages and becoming a much more stable region. This brought to the forefront a serious flaw in European tradition. Daughters were married off for political reasons and to solidify relationships. The eldest son inherited everything, all other sons either joined the Church, joined the army, became a mercenary, or a peasant. Not a very promising future for a large number of well equipped, well trained soldiers, that was rapidly accumulating as the incessant invasions from the Norsemen declined. Coincidence?

The Spanish Inquisition? Sure that was a way to purify Spain of infidels who were polluting the Church. It was also a handy way for the Spanish crown to ethnically cleanse the population of political enemies and undesirables. Declare Roman Catholicism the national religion, keep sending those taxes to Rome, and the Pope will bless just about anything you want.

Its not about religion, its about power. It's always about power. Who has it, who wants it, and what they're willing to do to get it.

Religion in the hands of good people, tends to produce good. Religion in the hands of evil people, tends to produce evil. When it comes to judging those claiming to be religious, I hold the same advice I use for politicians: don't waste your time listening to what's coming out of their mouths, watch what they do. Pat Robertson can recite the Lord's Prayer till he's blue in the face, but when he starts advocating the US whack undesirable leaders of foreign countries, you know where his heart is.

That's why when it comes to the idea of Islamic fundamentalism, I believe religion is only a cover for much more sinister deeds. bin Looser and company can claim to high heaven they are the most devout followers of the one and only true way, but in reality, they are nothing but murderous scum. They can pretend they are the way to salvation, the protectors of God's people, the savior of humanity, but in reality, they kill people. Men, women, children. They blow up people going to work, people taking their parents to the hospital, little kids going to school. [Annoying Editor's note: These women and children were on their way to work and school too...] They claim, that in the end, it doesn't matter. If they were infidels, they deserved death. If they were devout Muslims, they're going to paradise anyways. Nice dogma. And I get laughed at for eating fish on Fridays during Lent.

My research has also lead me to conclude that Islam is more than just a religion to Muslims, it's a very significant portion of the culture that binds the Muslim world together. Whereas we in the west great each other with handshakes, and hellos, in the Muslim world they end just about every sentence with "God willing." It's tradition. For Christians, God manifested Himself in the resurrection of Jesus. There is no Muslim equivalent. Which is why the Quran is so important to them. The words of the Prophet are the manifestation of God. So whereas the Bible is a book to be read, the Quran for Muslims is proof of God, and therefore to be worshipped. Common themes, different traditions.

So I don't hold much weight in the grandiose religious claims of Islamic fundamentalists. They can claim what ever they want, but in the end, they are still killing people all over the world.

Bill Whittle is one of the best authors I've read to emerge from the blogsphere. His book "Silent America: Essays From A Democracy At War" would do far more good if it were required reading in public schools, rather than "Heather has Two Mommies". In one essay, Whittle relates a lesson his father taught him. I don't remember the exact words, but it went something like this: if three or more people in your life think you're a complete, total bastard, it just might be you. Advice worth noting.

Islamic fundamentalists are currently at war in Iraq, India, Kashmir, The Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, America, Great Britain, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Israel, Chechnya, Russia, Australia and Jews everywhere.

Its not about religion, its about power. It's always about power. Who's got it, who wants it, and what they're willing to do to get it.

[Author's note: By the time this gets posted, I fully expect to see a rebuttal from my editor asserting that religion has far too much blood on its hands to be declared innocent. And he does have a valid point. I accept that religion can be used to make good people do evil things. The wave of suicide bombings around the world are more than proof enough. Uneducated, under-educated, and people of low intelligence can be brainwashed to believe they are doing good by driving a car bomb into a crowd of civilians, that they are doing God's work and that they will achieve a place in paradise for their efforts. But also notice, the ones doing the teaching never seem to go along for the ride?]

[Editor's note: What does 'by the time this gets posted' mean? I'm on vacation! (sort of)]

Next: The Middle East