Of all the political messages which have filled my inbox, news feeds, and social media sites over the past several months, those I find the most concerning conflate faith, religion, morality and ideology to advance a very particular and theocratic nationalism. None of this is accidental, and it is not limited to evangelical Christians—in fact this same practice can be found throughout the world in nations where the Muslim, Hindu, and Jewish faith are dominant.
While politics and religion are constant bedfellows, the particular and extreme views which one finds in these countries are startingly similar. They are characterized by a militance that typically masks misogyny, violations of human rights in the name of law and order, suppression of the press, endorsement of exclusion and racially directed suppression and violence, and the belief that patriotism requires adherence to a theocratic world view. A faith—and only one- is deemed the true religion—and all others are considered –if at all, as secondary and subject to outright suppression and elimination. Americans frequently cite the abuses and extremes that are reported in these countries as evidence of our superiority and yet they accurately describe precisely what we are experiencing today in our own country.
I want to be clear that this is not about those who hold to a conservative or liberal viewpoint—individuals of both convictions can and are frequently aligned with those who wish to sunder the separation of Church and State our forefathers –people of deep and abiding faith—worked so carefully to maintain in the creation of our nation. While these were individuals possessed of a rigorous morality and belief that their purpose was guided by a divine inspiration—they also believed that the separation of government and its laws, from religion was a settled issue; render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God, what is God’s.
Today, in political campaigns, in the rhetoric of candidates, in our courts and legislatures, there is a concerted effort to undo what our forefathers enshrined in our formation. So great is the desire for power and supremacy of one faith over all others, that it has been invoked as a litmus test for love of country, and increasingly offers justification for beliefs and actions that are the antithesis of scripture. In fact, many advocates of this form of extremism have twisted scripture to serve their beliefs departing from meaning into abstruse interpretation to justify their actions.
It is long past the time we –and peoples throughout the world-regardless of their religious orientation who love God, reject any and all attempts to invoke him as an instrument of hatred, repression or violence. God has no religion, no country, no love for those who pervert faith to serve their desire for power over others, their greed, and their inhumanity. When we hear any priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, or pujari preach such beliefs we should recognize them for what they are, charlatans—who crave power in this life more than they fear judgement in the next. Theirs is not true faith. All religions agree on the fundamental principle that should guide our actions—love your God, love others as yourselves. There is no margin, no interpretation that can be placed on these most fundamental of precepts that is more powerful, more commanding or more evident as truth.
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