Written by Dr. Roger Kotila   

Religious extremists frequently hijack a religion and bring out the worst in it, rather than the best. "Good religion" becomes a victim of "bad religion". Under the spell of bad religion we see the emergence of intolerance, hate, fear, and exceptionalism -- a poisonous brew that can lead to violence and war.

We have seen the tragic effects of "bad religion" in all major faiths, but the current war in Israel/Palestine/Gaza and Iraq/Syria highlight the danger when bad religion overcomes good religion, and there is no global authority capable of limiting the conflict. The current wars in the Middle East reveal an underbelly of theological ideology feeding the violence.

The vast majority of all religions practice what may be defined as "good religion," and pose no threat to the safety and security of our world. But in times of religious extremism and geopolitical opportunism, the moderate and morally healthy voices of religion are drowned out by sociopathic extremists who practice division and exceptionalism.

When extremists hijack religion:
History and current geopolitics are full of tragic examples of what happens when extremists hijack a religion. Hitler used Christianity against the Jews. Jewish Zionists interpret the Old Testament to justify stealing the land and homes of the Palestinians. Claiming to be God's "chosen" people, Zionists argue that the "Promised Land" was meant for them. Violent force has been the Israeli Zionists' method of choice that is currently being used to bring the Palestinians in Gaza back into submission.

The forcible heist of Palestinian lands by Israel is being aided by fundamentalist Christians who long for Armageddon, and by American Empire seeking more control in the Middle East. (The American Congress recently voted unanimously to support the right of Israel to violently destroy an almost defenseless, imprisoned Gaza population. Nothing was said about Palestinians' rights to freedom and equality.)

Speeding up the end of the world:
Christian fundamentalists help fund illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands to fulfill Biblical prophecy and to provoke a final war in the Middle East. They seek to quicken the pace to an Armageddon (massive death and destruction) telling themselves that then the promised Rapture will occur, and Christ will return.

The United Nations has been unable to prevent the routine violations by Israel of international law and UN mandates. The UN lacks an effective and fair world judiciary and enforcement system. (The Earth Constitution would correct this fatal flaw in the UN Charter.)

When the Palestinians protest their captivity in Gaza by building tunnels to the outside and firing rockets against Israel, so much the better for Armageddon loyalists.

When bad religion is in the driver's seat, the good and decent people of the world who practice a loving and kindly form of their religion become victims themselves. This irony is illustrated in an important attached article by a thoughtful Muslim scholar, Dr. Aslam Abdullah.

It is an important article that challenges the negative stereotypes of the Muslim faith currently demonized by much of mainstream American media -- what appears to be a propaganda campaign to insure that Americans have an "enemy" to fear and loath. Instilling fear is a handy tool for the military/industrial/national security complex to insure large budgets (and big profits).

Dr. Abdullah brings out the core goodness from the Quran -- the loving principles that define the authentic Islamic faith practiced by the vast majority of all Muslims, yet at the same time he addresses the problem of extremism such as reported regarding ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).

Authentic Islam rejects extremist violence:
Dr. Abdullah challenges those (extremist) Muslims who have called for death of those who criticize, or show irreverence toward the Prophet Muhammad and the Islamic faith.

Blaspheme, Abdullah explains, never justifies punishment by death which is contrary to the teachings and the actual life lived by the Prophet.

ISIS is allegedly insisting upon sharia law, parts of which violate universal human rights such as punishing females who seek the same freedoms given men, and threatening punishment by death for blaspheme or other forms of apostasy. Dr. Abdullah's description of authentic Islamic values suggests that the ISIS use of sharia law is wrong, and not representative of true Islam.

Abdullah's article, titled "Is Blaspheme Punishable by Death in Islam?" helps us to understand bad and good religion, and is an antidote to western media prejudices that have demonized the Muslim faith. Below is the link (you may need to copy and paste)*

http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC1103-4546

*Thanks to IslamiCity.com for permission to publish. Other relevant articles can be found on their website at www.IslamiCity.com. The article was also published 5/7/2011 in the Muslim Observer.

Path to a peaceful and safe world:
The misuse of sacred texts (by Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc.) is a major obstacle to world union and to a peaceful, prosperous and safe world. We need more theologians like Dr. Abdullah to speak out when their own religion is captured by extremists.

We know that the vast majority of all religious faiths consist of moderates who favor love, kindness, and tolerance of others, and who simply seek a peaceful, safe, and healthy world for themselves, their families, and their communities.

The Earth Constitution offers a solution not found in the UN Charter. It provides for peaceful alternatives to war to resolve conflicts by means of enforceable world laws and a democratically elected World Parliament. It insures freedom of religion but also protection for universal human rights.

-- R Kotila, Ph.D.
Editor, Earth Federation News & Views @ www.earthfederation.info