RELIGIOUS TERRORISM

Yet another terrorist attack in Paris France with more people killed (129) and more wounded (392). Again, it was terrorism from “religious” fundamentalists— fanatics who misuse religion for hatred, intolerance, murder, and brutality. They are fanatics who never understood the true meaning of religion or who have only been exposed to a sick and distorted form of a hateful and intolerant religion. Either way, their misuse of religion, in this case Moslem, corrupts it so that it does not honor God but diminishes Islam making it a thing of shame. To run into a building crying “God is Great!” and then start shooting civilians— women and children is the ultimate sacrilege that dishonors God. It does not and cannot please God who, according to the Bible, is “love.”

Now just to be clear, Islam is not the problem. It is the misuse, abuse, and corruption of Islam into “radical Islam” that’s the problem. If Islam was my faith, I’d be as mad as hell against such barbarian infidels and would be speaking up every chance I get against them. That’s what ever person who holds Islam as a healthy, respectful, and peaceful religion should be doing.

Intolerant fundamentalists did the same thing to Christianity some 500 years ago. They corrupted the spirituality of a religion whose first command is to “love God” and whose second command is to “love your neighbor like you love yourself.” Their intolerance back then led to the inquisitions, crusades, torture chambers, and dozens of other forms which showed hatred, not love. It led to what we call “the Dark Ages.” It also led to people fleeing Europe for America as a counter-movement. They sought out a place where there would be no State-based Churches, but where they could have freedom of religion (not freedom from religion). They wanted to practice tolerance of differences, acceptance of people with different views, and where religion and politics would operate as separate realms.

Today those who practice the Moslem faith is facing this same challenge— to separate religion from politics and to develop a tolerance and acceptance of those who hold different views. While there are many outspoken Islam people speaking up against the current intolerance and brutality of ISIS by Islamic radicals and terrorists here in the United States—there is far too much silence in the Arab countries and too much acceptance of the violence. The time has come for this to change. If there is to be a true and lasting Arab Spring, leaders have to arise who will speak out against the current corruption of Islam by the Jihadist terrorists and against the idea of creating a country governed by religious law.

Everywhere that Islam believers rejoice at the murder and brutality that occurred in Paris we have a demonstration that they share the hate and prejudice of the Radical Islamic terrorists. They too

have corrupting a religion, showing their lack of understanding, and adding to the problem. May there be an ever-rising chorus of voices rejecting violence as a corruption of Islam (and any other religion) and creating more and more a culture of tolerance, acceptance, and love.