The Perils of Religion and the Rise of American Fundamentalism

Throughout history, religion has been both a blessing and a nightmare. Ironically, there is no distinction as to which religion – its any religion. There have been conflicts and world wars fought because of it. What makes us all descend into total devotion for such a phenomenon we have neither touched nor seen?
Nothing seems so far irrational then religion. During the late 1700’s into the 1800’s, religion was looked upon as something that Europe’s elite pursued. The vast masses never saw it as a priority in their often-miserable existence. In fact, during this time, hostilities were often fueled, not by religion, but by a strong sense of economical insecurity. After all, there was class warfare in modern Europe, and religion, be it Judaism or Christianity, did not abridge this.
As an increasingly economically splintered Europe took hold, the continent experienced the rise of Nationalism. Feelings of togetherness were not because of an inherit belief to worship God, but instead, were manifested by the nationalist government’s imperialistic appetite decimating foreign lands and peoples. Yet, where was religion when Hitler saw the need to annihilate an entire race because of his twisted Christian principles and innate hatreds [in the name of nationalistic pride]? Where the almighty Church was as these inhumane tragedies took shape?
Generally, world leaders follow a set of religious standards whenever they see the need to justify a decision. Just look at modern history. Starting with the beginning of this great country, George Washington and others left England to start a new country, yet declared religious persecution by the King of England as the ultimate reason for their departure. Was a lack of economic independence by an increasingly oppressive King the true reason, or were rebellious Englishmen taking advantage of an insane leader? Furthermore, to build this new nation, was taking a people from a different continent against their will, solely for the purpose of indentured servitude, really the most religiously astute thing to do? Just whose God were these noble men following?
We can continue to look at history to confirm that religion is indeed losing its true meaning in the Americas and in the world. One may wonder just how could the institutional degradation of a race, by so claimed God-fearing, church attending people, go unchecked for so long? Simply put, it was a lack of true religious conviction that precipitated the misfortune of so many people, not for their religious affection, but because of the color of their skin. Furthermore, although it was a dark time in American history, it wasn’t religious compassion that brought an end to such a tremendous injustice. Instead, it was the secular, religiously independent national government that saw a wrong and made it right.
Today, religion continues to lose its vigor to positively shape minds, and it has lost its relevance in solving people’s problems (some which are found throughout the world). Mainstream religion has been taken over by religious fundamentalism, caustic behavior to which American is not immune. When one looks at fundamentalism, one automatically thinks of radical individuals killing themselves by flying airplanes into buildings, or perhaps a freedom fighter blowing [themselves] up for a cause. But according to the American Heritage Dictionary, fundamentalism is: an unusual religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism. If indeed the American Heritage definition holds true, and I believe it does, then Reverent Farewell, Pat Robertson and others on the far religious right, are definitely American fundamentalists. Middle East fundamentalists justify their attacks on Americans for their lifestyles and their overall belief in Judea-Christian principles, principles that obviously run counter to holy Islamic law. They are utterly opposed to any attempt by Americans to export their beliefs, beliefs that Islamic fundamentalist find repulsive to their lands. These intolerant views are strikingly similar to the views of American fundamentalists, in that, they attack the very people that exercise rights given to them by worldly governments despite the fact that these governments represent the will of the people. Katrina van den Heave of the Nation Magazine expressed the view that the Reverend Farewell is an American Fundamentalist. Although she did not elaborate on her opinion, the facts are hard to deny.
Other examples continue to multiply day by day. Where are the outcries of the religious right, when the President of the United States, an avowed Christian, supports the grossly unfair and racist death penalty that targets low income and black defendants? Furthermore, where are the outcries when the same President campaigns insistently for the capture or killing of Saddam Hussein? The key word here is killing: What Bible are they reading? I specifically remember that one of the Ten Commandments is “thou shall not kill”. But then again, the President won’t actually do the killing, will he? He’ll just order others to break God’s law. Even if it was acceptable to allow the killing of some to save the masses, if fundamentalists followed strict Christian law, thou shall not kill under any circumstance.
There is now talk of how, and why, the intellectual growth of the Arab World is being stymied by the strong religious influences led by a move back to fundamentalist teachings. In a report by Barbara Crossette commissioned by the United Nations, she states clearly of this intellectual stagnation spreading throughout the Arab World. But America’s religious fundamentalists are also stymieing any intellectual and technological growth in America as well. This lack of growth can be attributed to the reality that the fundamentalists have taken over the political agenda in this country and at this point, they have even taken over the White House. At the forefront of this nation’s conservatives bewildered intellectual but bankrupt thought is the war against terrorism. No real intellectual thought is developing because Attorney General Aschoft believes he has a higher moral calling to hold people indefinitely or destroy lives in the name of an unsighted war on terrorism.
Is there an underlying elitism in America today? Under the guise of religion, a few select American religious fundamentalists have gained the so-called moral high grounds, and unfortunately, have challenged the actual foundation of democracy. In doing so, Americans have been denied the true means of living in a true democracy. If one was to really take a close look, is there really a difference between Adolph Hitler’s 1930’s Germany, which advocated by law the creation of the perfect race, and 2000 America, which dictate [through exclusion] that those with disabilities are just simply given a bad straw in life? That only God can correct them? Sadly, the parallel here is that Germany disavowed the very existence of any race of people that wasn’t Arian, just as American zealous elitist religious conservatives, by preaching that stem cell research is an abomination of God, has disavowed America’s physically challenged citizens the right to exhaust all possible research to improve their lot in life. Ironically, the American Heritage Dictionary further defines fundamentalism as: an organized, militant Evangelical movement originating in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century in opposition to Protestant Liberalism and secularism, insisting on the inerrancy of Scripture. Well, unfortunately, this movement is back. When God gave man the ability to think, he also gave them the ability to cure most ailments affecting the world. If not a cure, he at least gave man [through research] the ability to relieve the suffering that these ailments cause, thus improving overall quality of life. Unfortunately, fundamentalists have made life for those facing ailments such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s, Childhood Diabetes, spinal cord injuries (amongst a few), simply unbearable, by specifically directing research away from improving the lives of the living. As a result, and to my utmost dismay, quality of life research has yet to be conducted. The President, with his ties to religious fundamentalists, is denying me, Christopher Reeve, Michael J. Fox and a host of others with disabling illnesses the right to possible research that may improve the quality of our lives. It appears their focus is on the afterlife, something that the living knows nothing about. After all, we are on this earth now, and I know of no living person who wants to die and go to heaven at this exact point in time. I believe God wants us all to enjoy the life he gave us, and in do time, and he’ll see us later.
Furthermore, where is our religious damnation of the corporate thieves littered throughout the country? Isn’t it against God to steal? I remember another commandment that specifically stated, “Thou shall not steal!” Is anyone listening? Are our corporate leaders religious or does financial contributions [by corporate America] to religious institutions override any badly needed divine intervention? And what of capitalism, other than the fact that it has never mixed well with religion. Every stint in the historic growth of capitalism, whether it was 1900 Europe or early 20th century America, reflects how religion took a back. However, with prosperity came a need for religious necessity, and with this necessity came religious intolerance and fundamentalism. Therefore, as nations prosper economically, usually by means of capitalism, religious intolerance also grows.
And what of the allegations of priests committing the worst crimes and misbehaviors against our nation’s children? Where is God’s Will in all of this when the result of these allegations is the prolonged distrust and doubt of Catholicism, specifically in light of the ill-advised cover up that has infiltrated from the great mammoth pristine halls of the century old American Catholic Church to the vast city-state compound of the Vatican.
Ironically, though it all, I continue to have total faith in religion and God. I will continue to help those who are less fortunate than me. I believe and will always believe that religion is an individual’s choice and should remain as such. The decision to follow God’s laws, or burn in hell, should be made by the individual and not by someone preaching to him about his internal damnation. Through all of my trials and tribulations, if religious stewardship has kept me on the path to heaven, then maybe there is a lack of true religious conviction that precipitates the misfortunes that affect many people. Throughout history, it’s been shown that religion does not change the masses collectively for the good of society. It’s also been shown that there is indeed a growing intolerance by those who follow a given religion against those who don’t. God wants us to spread his word of Love, not intolerance.
Although it is true that religion has its place in society, I have come to the conclusion that its place is in peril. Alone, religion can (and does) make some of us better people, simply by helping us to acknowledge what is wrong, and then encouraging us to act accordingly in light of this wrong. This profound goodness is further manifested by the beatific vision of God. But, would the world be any different if we were homogenous in our religious thought? Would we be like China and the former Soviet Union, where religious freedom is and was obstructed? Would we then find something else to kill each other over? I conclude that although politics and religion both most exist, I chose not to mix the two, as religion plus politics equal fundamentalism. Although I can see (and have seen) religion losing out to the all the ‘ism’ of life: nationalism, fascism, racism, fundamentalism, and more recently capitalism. However, I will continue to say, ‘In God We Trust’.



Andre Orr
Senior Fellow

Center for