11th April 2011
Religious Extremism – Would a One World Religion Be the Solution?
Mark Hanson
In recent times there has been an explosion of extremist philosophies. I say philosophies quite deliberately: whilst they hold the trappings and dogmatic clothing of religions, the very basis of true religion is starkly missing.
In Pakistan we have seen the murders of top politicians because they desire to see an end to the despicable blasphemy laws, laws which have the main purpose of settling family feuds and other scores, and which have seen a massive persecution of Christians and other minorities: easy targets for a law that is designed to protect only those of the majority religion.
Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's Minister for Minority Affairs, was shot dead in Islamabad on the 2nd March 2011. He had campaigned vigorously for the repeal of the blasphemy laws and was a devout Christian. In a video he made shortly before his death, he stated: “I believe in Jesus Christ who has given his own life for us. And I am ready to die for a cause."
His death followed that of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer on Jan 4th, who had also campaigned vigorously for an amending of the blasphemy laws. He had already been denounced in Mosques throughout the country, and the “proper response” to such an infidel was assassination.
The actions of Afghan Muslims following the burning of the Qur’an by Terry Jones are also a terrible example of the fury that clothes itself in religious colours. I shall say more on Terry Jones later, but it is worth a rounding condemnation of the response by Afghan Muslims, who have gone on a rampage, killing any who have the slightest link to the USA and the West. In defence of a book, albeit a supposed holy book, murder is justified in their eyes. The victims of the rampage did not condone, and neither supported, the insult to Muslims worldwide. Yet the law of retribution, so embedded in the Islamic philosophy, required blood.
What of Terry Jones’ actions? I have, very deliberately, not used the word “pastor”. A pastor is a kind, gentle, peace-loving person who leads the flock of Christ’s people through the troubles of this world. Mr. Jones is not, in his burning of the Qur’an, doing that. He is neglecting the well-being and safety of Christians throughout the world, and is acting in a deliberately incendiary manner towards those who, rather than being told and shown that they are worthless in his eyes, should rather be shown the love of the true God, the God that loves Muslims, even though He abhors the Islamic philosophy. If I were writing for a Muslim audience I may not be as bold to say that God abhors Islam, yet I am not writing for such an audience, and I do want to be bold on this point: God loves Muslims, just as He loves homosexuals, He loves those who have abortions, He loves murderers, prostitutes and thieves. Yet that does not mean that He says that such deeds, views and philosophies are perfectly okay. They are not.
The actions of Scott Roeder, who murdered a doctor who carried out abortions, is another example of the philosophical intolerance clothed in the guise of religion. They are on a par with those who struck the World Trade Centre. They hark back to a philosophical belief where retribution and vengeance are the “desire for God’s people”. But God is quite clear in Scripture: “Thou shalt love your neighbour as yourself.” That commandment is not just a New Testament one, but it is part of the Law of Moses. Jesus merely made clear its importance to a Jewish nation that was doing all the religious things but neglected the weight of the law of love. Scott Roeder was not acting from a Christian love. He was acting in a distorted and abominable version of Christianity, one that is, sadly, growing at a phenomenal rate, especially in the US.
With all these examples of philosophical extremism we come to a very pertinent question: how do we respond?
As the moves towards global governance grow, it will become ever more important that the religious battles and intolerances be suppressed. The militant atheist movement that is growing in Europe will continue to condemn religion, yet the deep, God-inspired yearning for more than Coke and McDonalds will not go away.
The solution that will, I shall be bold to venture, become increasingly appealing, will be to create a syncretistic religion that will be the only permitted religious system in a predominately atheist world. The Romanist, or Roman Catholic, Church is already positioning itself not only to assimilate the other world religions into its Babylonian belief system, but also to gain the necessary influence and cosiness with the emerging world order.
It will not have a comfortable life, as the atheist-driven World Government will hate it. But as the Whore of Babylon takes full form, the days of religious tolerance will be completely suppressed, assimilated into a belief system that will be the only legal expression of anything resembling God.
