Sanctioned Stupidity

I'm about to vent, and I've got to warn you, some of you may not agree with me, but I don't care. I'm extremely fired up about this, and this is one area where I CANNOT just sit back and be silent. Wanna know what's got me all riled up? I'll be happy to share: Bigotry! Bigotry in the name of religion, bigotry in the name of skin color, bigotry in the name of ethnicity, and bigotry in the name of race- simply put: bigotry in all its forms.

Bigotry is one of the few things that I have absolutely NO tolerance or patience for; and frankly, it is one practice that I am passionately against. Bigotry has no place in God's creation, and it's time that Christians, and everyone else, remembered that! (I am aware that not all Christians are bigots, and that bigots do not originate only within the Christian culture; but unfortunately, bigotry does occur much more frequently within "Christian" culture than it ought to. Since this is a blog with primarily Christian readers, I wish to point out the errors within "our" thinking, as well as those of other groups, that can be defines as such. Please also note: though I say "our thinking," I say so only because I am a Christian, not because I have a tendency towards bigoted attitudes.)

So what exactly constitutes bigotry? It is the thought that a group of people of differing skin color, religion, race or ethnicity, than ourselves, is somehow inferior, as a whole, simply on the basis of that difference. Bigots lump all people with the same general differing characteristic(s) into one whole, and judge them all accordingly. As an aside, I do not agree that all religions are equal, but I DO believe that all people are equal. What I am saying, is that we should be accepting of the people or persons that hold differing beliefs, are of a different skin color, a different race, or a different ethnicity than ourselves.

I don't know about you, but I was taught critical reading in school. I was also taught to think critically about the things I hear, and are told. With few exceptions, I truly believe that this process has served me well, and has been useful to my growth as a person of character. I know too, that I am not the only person that was taught the concept of critical thinking. So why is it then, that so many will allow themselves to be misled about certain things, all because they are too lazy to utilize this simple skill?

For example, on occasion I receive emails from well meaning friends and relatives, in which the text spouts off about a person or group, using generalizations to support their opinion. I received one such email today. (Though I had planned only to respond to the person that sent it, after thinking about it some more, I felt it warranted sharing here, as well.) In the email I received, there was "statistics" listed regarding Muslim terrorist activities, and later the author tied this in with whether or not Barack Obama should be elected president. While I agree that Obama is the least desirable candidate imaginable, I do not agree with the rest of what this email implied.

Firstly, the email listed numerous incidences of Muslim terrorist activities perpetrated by "Muslim males, between the ages of 17 and 40" in support of racial profiling by airport security personnel (does anyone else see this as an awfully broad application for a "profile?"); and then went on to make a correlation between Barack Obama and terrorist Muslims (whether or not this is true, is beside my ultimate point); and finally the original author went so far as to say that Obama is likely the Antichrist- based on a misinterpretation of Scripture (which I could find no basis for, in any translation- and I looked in all of them) stating that the Antichrist would be of Muslim descent!

That last statement deserves a post all of its own; but I'll touch on it briefly, as my first issue with this email. Obama's religious beliefs may be one of the reasons many don't want him for President. But to say he is the Antichrist?! Come on!!! What are we, children who have resorted to name calling?! My next issue is the fact that someone, claiming to be Christian, would so blatantly cite Scripture erroneously, to support their own agenda. There is very little in Scripture that would indicate that the Antichrist will be of Muslim, or even any other Middle Eastern descent. In fact, the only instances that might suggest this are references to Babylon, in Revelation. Critical examination of the text though, and knowledge of the entire Word, do not support this theory. Ancient Babylon was not the same Babylon as it is today, and was not even in the same location. The name Babylon is derived Babel, in which the worshippers of Nimrod were scattered, and their languages confused by God. In addition, Babylon- spiritually speaking, is more often a reference to the Roman Empire, and even idolatrous worship by the Jews themselves. In the latter, Babylon is not even a place, but a mindset. Lastly, and the reason I became riled up enough to write this post, is the fact that all Muslim men "between the ages of 17 and 40," and by default- all Muslims- were lumped together, by the email's original author, as the most likely to commit acts of terrorism. All this, simply because the author never took the time to really investigate the claims that they have heard or read, and to truly examine their own heart.

Let me explain. While it is true that their have been numerous acts of terrorism committed by those that claim to be Muslim (meaning they practice the religion of Islam), this could be said of many other religious groups, as well. Including Christianity, Jews, and even atheists. How many Americans, do you think, are truly aware that not all Middle Easterners are Muslim? Or, more importantly, that not all Muslims interpret the Quran or even Mohammed's teachings, the same as some of the extremists within the group do? In fact, I would go so far as to say that much like Christianity, the majority of Muslim believers do not condone terrorist acts; and that, just as in Christianity, it is only those that have twisted the applicable scriptures- Bible or Quran- to fit their own agenda, that use it to justify such acts.

I'll put this in context for you. Remember the "Crusades?" These were perpetuated by predominately "Christian" rulers, ostensibly to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the various "oppressors." The "Crusades" were also used to justify acts that could only be classified as terrorist, against other groups as well. Though religion was cited as the main reason for these attacks; in reality, the attacks had more to do with maintaining land, power and wealth, for European rulers and/or the Papacy, than for religious beliefs. In addition to the "Crusades," there are numerous other instances where a person, or group of people-other than Muslims- has used one reason or another to commit acts of terrorism. Sometimes the reason is religion. For example, anti-abortionists that bomb abortion clinics; Catholics and Protestants in Ireland. Other times, the reason is political or power induced. The examples for this include: kings and presidents throughout the world being killed by terrorists from their own country; the Japanese, in bombing Pearl Harbor; the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946, by Jewish terrorists(this is the most deadly terrorist act that has ever taken place in Palestine or Israel to this day!); and let's not forget Timothy McVeigh, Theodore Kaczynski, or White Supremacists in the American south (KKK).

My point here, is that Muslims are not the only group to have factions within, that commit atrocious acts, nor are Christians, nor are whites, nor blacks, nor Jews, nor ANY other group. Each of these groups could be said to have committed numerous categories of assaults that the victims would consider terrorist. So why is it then, that anyone can justify hatred or intolerance, directed toward any other group, based on the actions of a few???!!! What happened to "love your enemy" and "judge not, lest you be judged?" Just because we don't agree with a group's religious beliefs is no reason to judge them all the same, and there is NO reason to judge any group negatively, strictly on the basis of race, skin color or ethnicity. Absolutely no reason.

Now that I've finished my rant, its time to look at what we can do about this. First of all, each of us needs to examine our hearts and our motives, and adjust our thinking according to what is "true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report" (ref. Phil 4:8). Secondly, we need to teach our children this Truth. Bigotry does not fit any of the definitions of those words. Our children learn what we teach them. Are you teaching them good or evil? Thirdly, we need to take a stand against such things as I have shared with you today. Let it be known that love is the answer, not hate. As long as we allow the continuation of these attitudes, and don't voice our objections, they will continue. Being a Christian does not mean being quiet when we ought to be loud. That's not humility, that's just fear and laziness. Now, perhaps the attitudes will continue regardless of what we do, but that does not negate our responsibility to do something about it. This is called social responsibility, and ultimately, it is an area in which we that are Christians will be judged. We must do whatever we can to thwart the deceiver's plans to cause chaos and hatred to run rampant; and the only antidote to hatred is love. What do you say? Are you with me? Have a great week, and blessings to you all.