Crossed

A Local Pastor and a Local Atheist Debate Terrorism – Is Religion the Cause or the Cure?

July 1, 2016

Rev. Dr. William C. Myers

Senior Pastor at Presbyterian Church of Traverse City

A thorn by any name? Ideology isn’t faith. President Obama avoids the modifier "Islamic" when speaking about Al-Qaeda, ISIL and other terrorist groups. He isn’t being politically correct; he’s identifying a fundamental difference between ideology and faith.

An ideology is a system of ideas. They may be political, ethical, economic, moral, even religious. Ideas may be unique within their ideology, or they may be shared. Ideologies are judged on the merit of their ideas, particularly on the ethical response they generate.

Jihadists, humanists, non-theists, Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and progressives, feminists, Presbyterians, and a host of others are all ideological. All embrace systems of ideas or beliefs. Their merit or detriment arises from the behavior generated by their beliefs.

Jihadists claim Islamic ideals, yet their demonic violence stands in stark contrast to what is true, good and beautiful in Islam.

This is why President Obama distinguishes the two. His discernment is wisdom not PC.

Faith isn’t an ideology. Faith is the experiential response to the existence of God. From that experience arises any number of qualities transcending particular religious expression, including worship, prayer, contrition, grace, charity, and a living relationship with God, which grows deeper and wider in God’s love.

Religion is the ideological expression of the experience of faith. As with any ideology, religions must be judged on the behavior born of their beliefs.

Some would suggest we do away with all religion, but what good would that do? People would continue to fight over their ideas.

Better to teach our children faith that they may wisely judge what is true, good, and beautiful. Faith, not ideology, is our only hope for peace.

GARY’S RESPONSE

The core of our disagreement is that often people actually do associate ideology with faith.

Most religions have become inexorably associated with specific characteristics – Islam with violence, gender discrimination, and homophobia; Christianity with anti-abortion and homophobia; Buddhism with peace; etc. These religions attract those who harbor behavioral tendencies and validate them. It is the power of the group that brings horrific (as well as positive) movements to life.

When was the last time you heard about an uprising of radical Buddhists or Hindus? It is beyond coincidence that so many violent groups of people on Earth, today and in the past, had hell, fire, and brimstone monotheistic religions as their core belief systems and were initiated when they were too young to weigh alternatives.

If those same radical Islamist murderers, abortion facility bombers, and fundamentalist Christian homophobes had been born with non-judgmental, peace-loving, unaffiliated parents, does anyone actually believe so many of them would grow into indoctrinated destroyers of life?

"Better to teach our children" reality based on evidence and science, in my opinion.

Gary Singer

Gary helps businesses with their Internet marketing. He was raised a Catholic.

Terrorist acts stemming from religious extremism have been rising alarmingly of late. Most religious apologists are certain these acts do not occur because of the religion, but due to aberrant psychological issues within the individual. "My" religion (pick any) preaches generosity, kindness, and humility only, they say.

Recent figures from the Global Terrorism Index as reported by the non-partisan Institute for Economics and Peace indicate a fivefold increase in deaths resulting from terrorism since 9/11. Furthermore, "the report’s authors attribute the majority of incidents over the past few years to groups with a religious agenda."

While I would never state that theological belief is directly responsible for such reprehensible behavior, I will suggest that very impressionable people who have been raised within a demanding religious framework have a strong tendency to unite under the banner of that religion and use its primitive supporting texts such as the Bible and Quran to bolster their violent tendencies. Both have unquestionably been complicit in religious violence, from the Crusades to present day Middle Eastern conflicts.

It remains debatable whether the benefits of religious segregation (a by-product of any religious belief) outweigh the costs. As I have stated numerous times, religious organizations do much good. Sadly, that good comes with a cost: Each religion has behavioral guidelines, many of which can easily be interpreted as violent and destructive.

Would these individuals find a way to unite and inflict death and torture without the religious component? Possibly. But there can be no denying that religious systems that offer real or perceived rewards to those who kill or injure others are inherently flawed and counterproductive.

BILL’S RESPONSE

Gary, connect the dots! We live in an increasingly secular culture, which you laud as good. In that culture, we are seeing a decline in mainline Christian thought and practice and a rise in violence related to religious extremism. Yet you see no connection? Could it be that as the cultural influence of a moderate, magnanimous voice of faith has waned, it has created space for other, violent, hateful voices to rise up? We can no longer afford the luxury of the secular, non-theist mantra, "It doesn’t matter what you believe." Our beliefs influence our behavior. The demonic violence of our age is the fruit of the violence and hate being preached from secular politicians and religious radicals alike. We need the peace of Christ.

Gary and Bill agree that, regardless of the source, hate breeds hate and love breeds love. It is up to each of us to find the path that helps create more love than hate.