Do we face a religious confrontation?

Submitted by J.Kowalik (United States), Jun 19, 2008 at 19:13

We all know that religions deeply divide people and create natural tensions and conflicts. Before the invention of a single god religion by the ancient Jews, religions were less devastating. Judaism was the first religion where god helped and ecouraged killing and wiping out entire tribes.The Jewish god appeared to be strong, merciless , not hesitating to kill masses of people by drowning them or sending plagues.

Islam, deeply rooted in these concepts, added some practical ideas how to conquer and defeat all neighbors who did not subscribe to the Isalmic barabarism. Islam has been expanding by the sword from the very beginning if its existence. The problem now is that it has new weapons and plenty of money. Also The West is now in a weak position to resist .

Our empahsis on democracy, tolerance and multiculturalism has damaged our determination to resist the 7th century Islamic model of thinking and living. Ideally Islam will be reformed and could lose its aggressive and barabaric nature. This is a peaceful solution to the present conflict.

The alternative is a bloody and protracted military conflict with many thousands or millions of victims. Not too many even intelligent people realize how powerful is the real faith in god , paradise, hell and the terrible holy mission for the glory of god. To a reasonable person killing for god is a ridiculous idea, but as thec old testament and Quran illustrate the idea " We will win because god is on our side " or simply",Gott mit Uns," is not new or unattractive to brainwashed soldiers.

Perhaps the single most effective way to avoid a collosal bloodshed would be universal secularization .Wiping out all religions from the planet and replacing them by rational systems of morality and human relationshps. Many ancient gods have disappeared. For example Zeus or Votan. Let us hope that the present gods including Jehovah and Allah will die also and go to the garbage bin of bad humanity ideas.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".