The Conservative Bulwark

As I've stated before, I believe that the ability to inspire...the ability to lead...is one of the greatest gifts that God can bestow upon anyone. Combined with noble action, it can be utilized for extraordinary good, or it can be the catapult for unbridled evil. (Hitler, anyone?)

The one other phenomenon that can match this ability in sheer power can only be someone's religious faith. Throughout the history of mankind, there probably has never been a force quite its equal, just in terms of being able to unite so many, while shedding so much blood.

I don't even know if I can adequately describe the type of influence and power of faith as well as I'd like. I don't consider myself a deeply religious person. I know what I believe and I believe that I'm right in my view. However, I've never been in the position as millions of others in our past have...a position that dictated that in order to show the ultimate homage to your God, you had to take the life of another and all those like him.

The difficulty in reining in something like this is obvious...at least I think it is. When the driving force behind someone's actions is embedded in their personal faith, the laws and persuasions of man automatically come in second place. When you're fighting someone or some group over "whatever"...it's a little hard to convince them that you (man) are in the right and they (backed by their God) are wrong. See the point? This, I believe, is the heart of why religious conflicts are the bloodiest and most carnal. The irony can be a little disheartening.

Today's world, politically anyway, is not all that different from the world of a thousand years ago. There's more people. More technology. Things seem a little quicker paced...but other than that, you basically have wealth and religion dominating everything...just as it did in the past.

The religious struggles of today are also mirror images of those of centuries past. Islam and Christianity are still at the forefront of these "conflicts". Time, though, has had its impact...and I think I can explain it. Emphasis on "think".

Christianity is roughly 600 years older than Islam. (The Islamic calendar begins around 622 AD). If you were to travel back 600 years, you'd see that Christianity would be in the same state that Islam is today. The Crusades were still within memory. The religion was still marred by power hungry individuals, deception and betrayal, and more importantly, fear. The vast majority of those that called themselves Christians lived in terror of those that ran the faith. The smallest transgression could bring about accusations against man, woman, or child. The punishments were horrific and ultimately, after much suffering, ended in the merciful release of death. The Truth became the red-headed stepchild in this very violent and ugly period of time.

As Christianity advanced through the ages, it still had its forgettable incidents (Salem rings a bell, but its transformation became very apparent. The more violent, blunt "faith" that permeated throughout most of Europe for centuries was slowly, but surely, being replaced by a more open, accepting, and non-violent religion. After being ruled over and dominated by fear for so long, Christians began to take back their religion. Those that advocated the old way of doing things eventually died off or got pushed off to the side, where they largely remain today.

Islam, however, is a different story. Due to a myriad of reasons (lost wars, lack of exploration, its relative youth, etc.), Islam today is where Christianity was 600 years ago. It's a religion practiced by a billion people, but at the same time, its dominated by a few. Some of these are just as radical and violent as their enemies were centuries ago. Many Muslims today live in fear. They know that the smallest transgression or accusation, can instantly bring about torture and/or death to them or any member of their family...just like those early Christians. Those that perpetuate this chaotic path are urged onward by their violent interpretations of their sacred texts and by their perceived wounded religious pride (most of the "offenses" can't even be recalled anymore...its just simply what has to be...kind of like those family feuds that have lasted for generations).

Unlike Christianity, however, Islam hasn't had its reformation. Its participants and followers haven't yet reached that threshold that will tell them to take their religion back. For now, the black eye that taints Islam, namely terrorism, is allowed and tolerated. Until that changes, Muslims will be forever marked as unwilling participants to a greater atrocity. One can only hope that religious evolution will take hold of Islam as well. When and if it does, religious conflicts can at least have a chance of becoming things of the past...not continue to be living landmarks of entire regions.