Religion is defined as the belief in and worship of a superhuman power; a particular system of faith. Throughout the world there are many different religions that worship one or more gods. Even the most primitive and remote tribes practice some form of worship. If there is no supreme being, as in Buddhism, their belief centers on Karma, a practice that encourages acts of kindness to one another; for, as you do to another, so it will be done to you. In general, people who are religious look to a higher power, a spiritual being who will reward them for their good deeds or maybe punish them when they do wrong; ergo, most of their actions are largely beneficial.
When pilgrims came to the new land, they came to escape religious persecution from a country which demanded that they adhere to that country’s imposed religion. The Declaration of Independence and the formation of our Constitution guarantee freedom of religion, a promise that the state or government would not be able to prevent anyone from practicing their chosen system of faith. Here, in America, we have many different faiths practicing freely according to their prescribed teachings. They have done so while observing the laws that govern them as a nation and without contradiction of those laws.
There is one belief system, however, that cleverly entwines their religious practices with governance. With them there is no freedom to choose, no acceptance of other faiths. If you fail to adhere to their beliefs, they say you have broken their law. The consequences are predictably fatal. Problems arise when this group infiltrates free societies taking advantage of the social programs and freedoms of that society while they continue to practice aspects of their beliefs which contradict the laws of that land. The person who devised this system was convoluted to say the least and diabolically cunning when you think about it. A major distinction is in what this group believes about the afterlife. The zealots are promised many carnal rewards in their afterlife if they smite non-believers. Is that even possible? People who have had a near death experience speak of it as being “out of body”. In other words, leaving the body behind for an ethereal experience on a spiritual plane. They reference a feeling of love not one of lust. Without a body, there can be no lust.
The cowardly acts of murder which these zealots perpetrate on innocent, unsuspecting victims who have done them no personal harm are absolutely not acts that a righteous God would approve. Who then is their god?
Many religions have suffered a past that included practices of sacrifice or coercion. However, as civilization advanced, becoming more enlightened and educated, those practices were abandoned. It is unfathomable that such an absence of culture still exists in today’s world; especially since these barbaric zealots use modern western technology to advance their primitive ways. A hell of a hypocrisy?!
If this is Armageddon, be forewarned, my God is an awesome God. My God is a God of love and as it says in 1 Corinthians 13:8 “Love never fails”.