Religion: The Great Satan

By Carol Harper

A couple years ago I was invited by a lawyer-musician friend of mine to participate in a politically-charged e-mail group which converses often about the issues and challenges that America faces. Sometimes the subject matter is derived from news headlines or commentaries from articles or special features, or from a random question, opinion or perspective. What I find fascinating about the group is the mix of social and political persuasions and backgrounds, conservative and liberal viewpoints, and the quite civil, intelligent contributions that come from each participant. Though the debate-like forum can get a bit heated at times, I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the group for the level of intellectually-stimulating conversation.

One day, the subject matter was terrorism, and one of the participants in the group - a highly-decorated retired military officer - made the point that the war on terrorism has us fighting an “unseen enemy”. One thing I love about the group is that it often looks back and examines America’s past triumphs or transgressions. That we must learn from the past in order to have a vision for the future.

I inserted a reminder that the writers of the US Constitution was mainly made up of lawyers, businessmen/plantation owners, and a few physicians. We should look back at our history and remember that the British red coats were targets of an “unseen enemy” in the Revolutionary War. But Britain was fighting for a territorial king…Americans were fighting for freedom from that king. What and who do terrorists fight for?

Religion does complicate things. It creates an "unseen enemy", and that could be viewed by others (Muslim countries especially) as a weakness, an "Achilles heel": the United States has no "state religion". However, I see great irony with the First Amendment's "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...", while they had no problem disrespecting the American Indian's way of life. Were the Indians "the enemy"? Many of the tribes here didn't know what to make of the white man, but it wasn't until the intent was made clear through military action - to take over the land, eradicate and kill them, their women and children - that they understood, and often, it was too late. "Onward Christian soldiers", right?

Nearly 3000 people died in the 9/11 attacks, but millions of indigenous Americans died in what has been called the "American Holocaust". God-fearing American soldiers had no problem fighting in WWII to put an end to German and the Japanese regimes. Who came to the defense of the Indian? We have sent billions of dollars and troops to help other countries, yet who has cared about the poverty, depression and corruption that exist on America’s Indian reservations? I bring this subject up often, but until we learn from our history lessons, we are destined to repeat the same mistakes.

I guess my question is: what are we doing? Why are we spending so much time, energy, money and lives of our young soldiers fighting this "unseen enemy" in Islamic states when that time, energy, money and lives could be spent here, in our own country, finding alternative fuels and resources instead of oil, giving "good medicine" to our own, creating jobs in our own country, defending our freedoms…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...right here in America? We have National Guardmen going to Iraq. Why? America is in just as bad shape (or worse)! Do we not have roads to rebuild, jobs to create, women and children to care for, resources to find?

I don't know if you knew this (I didn’t, until just recently) but Nashville has the highest concentration of Muslims, per capita, than any other US city. In fact, our neighborhood borders on a community with a Kurdish population of about 10K. Religion: Islam. Sure, we also have about 4000 Christian churches here (and a Mormon temple in Franklin, I might add!). I can't help but call Nashville "America's Jerusalem"!

I met with my councilman about a month ago, and he told me that the most "crime" you'll ever find in the Muslim areas are minor code violations, and they are always very good (and quick) to correct them. There are very few problems with the Muslim people/communities. Heck, our landlord is Muslim! Which brings to question, how many Muslims simply want to live, do business and practice their religion peacefully in America, and how many what to use and abuse America to hide terrorist cells? Who knows.

The issue of terrorism or a terrorist lies in the definition. What is an infidel? What is a terrorist? Who is the enemy? Is it okay to kill in the name of any God, whether it is the Christian God or Allah? Was it okay for Brigham Young to threaten and terrorize Mormon apostates? Is it okay to let some crazy in Jonestown kill nearly a thousand people...or watch the Heaven's Gate cult catch a ride on the USS Hale Bopp?

I say, religion is the enemy. Religion is the disease, the plague, the cancer, the “anti-Christ”.

Jesus said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28.

I couldn't say it better. Of course, I worship Someone known as the "Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace..." (Isaiah 9:6). Amazing to me, how He just keeps getting crucified over and over again...

By religion.

Carol Harper