Worshippers of death [Archives:2005/815/Opinion]

While there are many agnostics who might disagree with this, but religion has is an integral part of the socio-aesthetic attributes of mankind since any history has ever been recorded. One is almost convinced that religion is instinctively engrained in the mind set of homo sapiens that without this inert desire to link with the supernatural human existence would be devoid of any moral and conscientious attributes. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that even the spiritual inclinations of the most primitive of cultures are more evident in what ever remains are left to attest to their being. Even the still existing innocent Tasudai, probably the last people to keep themselves out of touch and out of tune with all the commotions and transformations that have set the pace for man's tumultuous domain on this planet.

Yet, religion has also been the source of much of the tragedy that has accompanied human existence over the ages. Yes, temptation may drive many men to assume some inkling of power or sway over the religious persuasions of the constituencies that surround them or share some or all their views on the best way of siding with the Divine. This in turn gives rise to the corruption of the true values that spiritual instinct would regard as anathema to the real purpose of religion and of course the corruption of free minds that are instinctively able to discern in their sub-conscience the difference between right and wrong and good and bad. So, religion is not at fault for many of the calamitous behavior of mankind as some skeptics about religious belief would like to suggest. It is really men, who have mistakenly set themselves on a spiritual pedestal that allows them to make use of religion to further their own mundane aspirations.

When viewed openly and with a sense of fair analytical evaluation, there is no evil in any religious persuasion, especially those religious persuasions that have managed to collect sizable constituencies throughout the world. Having said then, it is safer to assume that the three monotheistic religions have probably more in common than they have differences and there is no real human excuse to regard religion as a cause d''tre of human conflict whatsoever, unless non-religious aspirations have found in religious dogma fruitful fuel for inciting men to “defend” this creed against the dangers brought on by adherents of other faiths. These dangers are more likely the imaginary and often mischievous creations of those who have given themselves disguised benevolence and through their own persuasive capabilities managed to enlist followers to join with them. They might taken on various titles to depict their avowed commitment to launch their faith as the supreme faith and through systematic nurturing of their followers will use all means at their disposal to enlist the forces they need to deliver their spiritual trusteeship over all mankind. The fact of the matter is that religion is innocent of such arrogance and would more likely have its argument against any human being who sought to use religion as a pathway to some social prominence.

We see fundamentalist activism within many religions and even as human mores have become mature, there is no major religion without its strong advocates who insist that they are the bearers of the passage to Heaven on Judgment Day. Some of these fundamentalist movements rely on traditional and generally peaceful means to propagate their beliefs. There are also fundamentalists, who have gone much further. These latter missionaries are cause for worry because they tend to think that they are empowered to use violence in any way they deem to fit as long as it serves their cause. We have the new American evangelical right for example, which is unabashed about using all the power and means of the United States to deliver mankind and to create “a free world”. Notwithstanding this hostile Christian persuasion (whatever happened to “turn the other cheek”), the thousands that have died under cover of the War on Terror are fuelled by this misconception of religious values and garnered by a strong taint of arrogance.

Then we have the Jewish fundamentalists, who have brought it upon themselves to displace an entire people from their homeland under religious pretexts that unjustly assume that God Al-Mighty would sanction the deliverance of a “promise” at the expense and to the life detriment of other people. Again, disguised chauvinism and arrogance of power.

Then again, we have Moslem fundamentalists, who have totally misrepresented Islam and made blood a token sign of their masochistic rendition of misconceived dogma. Even the spelt blood of their own is sanctified by these belligerent religious demagogues who have been scientifically nurtured to view death and blood with a lusty craving that is not only anathema to Islam but counterproductive in delivering the message of the Religion of Peace.

One is sometimes astounded by the ability of extreme followers of fundamentalist dogma to harness all the resources that they need to unleash their drives as they deem fit, without regard to the awesome waste of valuable resources that could be used for the betterment of their own constituencies and mankind as a whole. The fundamentalist Christian War in Iraq has cost billions of American taxpayers' money that could have eliminated poverty in the United States first and then carried over to the poor Latin American states that sit at their doorsteps. One study recently showed that Islamic fundamentalism has been fuelled by the funneling of US $ 100 Billion to spreading and organizing the extreme fundamentalist network that has wreaked more havoc and energized more hatred against Islam than God, with all his mercy, could ever be willing to forgive. What is the outcome? Ignorant fundamentalists at war with each other and against the peace and welfare of mankind that God truly wants to see.
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