Why be surprised

Submitted by J. Krasnow (United States), Mar 29, 2005 at 16:37

The teaching of bigotry and hatred, of supremacy and intolerance is nothing new with fundamentalist religions and totalitarian governments. Both structures demand abosolute belief in the truth of their system. The key word in both systems is "ONLY". If ONLY They possess the truth, then all else is false. Why systems develop that cannot tolerate difference is unfortunately a human condition. "ONLY" is the justification for extermination of races, of nations, of tribes, to protects its members from the Non-belivers, from the infidels.

The middles ages saw the merger of fundamentalist religion with ruling power. That period was called the Dark Ages, a period when all thought was made to fit into a fundamentalist religion. The inquisition was the ultimate expression of join or die.

Freedom of religion ends where the teaching crosses over to conspiracy to inflict harm. The problem with the teaching of hate is the blurring of this line. In the end the line is crossed and a war on "terrorism" is born. The issue is not terrorism - which is a tool - but intolerant systems, the honor murder in the name of holiness.

The holiday of Purim teaches that in every generation there are those that rise up to destory and that good will triumph. Good in todays world means tolerance backed by strength.

I believe that all fundamentalist systems that have at their core the word "Only" must be false. Rather they reflect the merger of a power grab with a religious justification.

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