IN THE NAME OF...
Over the last few thousand years, humans have built the basis of their societies on religion. Whether christian, hindu, muslim, shinto, buddhism, judaism or the many other possibilities, we have sought to segregate ourselves into these little pigeon-holes of spiritual devotion.
A couple of millenia ago, it all made perfect sense. The world itself was compartmentalised into what were vast, difficult-to-travel continents, separated by equally vast and dangerous seas, desserts and mountains. Back in those times, why on Earth would someone living here in the northern edge of Europe be even remotely interested in the religions of the Far East or the Middle East? Why would they care anything about something they were entirely oblivious to.
A war in these times comprised of two Kings, or military leaders, having a disagreement of some sort, or of one deciding his realm needed to be extended. The natural order of "Survival of The Fittest" meant that, usually, the man with the biggest force behind him became the victor.
The two protagonists would arrange a time and date, gather their armies at a remote field and fight until someone gave up or ran away. Religious positioning was probably little more than an afterthought. After all, whoever you were, your God, or Gods (or whatever) were inevitably on your side. And anyway, as people pretty much had a god for every aspect of their lives, it was deemed foolish to fight for one and risk the wrath of the others.
As the centuries rolled by and religion took on a proper meaning throughout Europe, it became evident that the cultures with strong, far-reaching trade routes and large civilisations, were the ones who were able to spread their own doctrines with the least resistance. These were still god-fearing times, and the rise and march of Catholisism throughout most of Europe made this single branch of Christianity immensely powerful.
Over the centuries since, the world has become a 'smaller' place. No longer do simple borders and once vast seas impede our knowledge, or our instinct to explore beyond our recognised boundaries... but this has had a cost...
As religions became mutually aware of each other, conflicts between them were inevitable. In reality, "My God's bigger than your God!" was the unspoken war-cry throughout many centuries, and although we had a few breaks from this for geo-political and land-grab wars, in recent times we seem to have returned to the age-old, proven formula, "God is on our side!"
I don't profess to be any sort of expert, and I am in no way a religious zealot hoping to bring you around to my way of thinking. But equally, I am not blind to what goes on around me. The nations of the 'free, god-fearing West' have been quick to rattle their sabres in the last few decades, and although I broadly support the reasons... like many, I fear the long-term consequences.
Religious extremism in any form is highly volatile and dangerous. The Salem Witch Trials, The Spanish Inquisition... both forms of extremism. You could even argue the European colonisation of North America bordered on a type of religious extremism. I'm entirely positive the Native American populace were very happy before we all rocked up with our bibles and gunpowder.
The modern threat comes from the simple fact that communication is now an instant thing. One tweet can circumnavigate the globe in a fraction of the time it takes to read this post... and perhaps this is where we need to place some level of understanding.
In bygone times, religion was studied. It was a way of life for generations. People gave their lives to religion because that was what it took to learn and understand the teachings they followed. You would have to be a fool not to greatly admire this.
These people attained their peace and belief over years of study of texts already hundreds of years old. And as they learned the subtleties of their chosen path, they began to teach others what they had come to learn and understand.
And here's the thing... they did not teach war and death and destruction, they taught peace, tolerance and constructive lives. Yes, they were most likely living in complete ignorance of the rest of the world making various other paths into worship and belief, but at the centre of each path, the themes were basically the same, "Live a good life and your God will be there for you."
Unfortunately, as with all great ideas and ideals, there are those who seek to promote a different interpretation for their own ends.
Twisting the meaning of a religious text, to make people believe something almost entirely opposite to the undelying message of their faith, quickly became the basis for religion-based wars.
The Crusades lasted hundreds of years, all because of the rise of the Muslim religion and the perceived threat from Rome, that access to the established holy land would be cut off... and so the lines were drawn.
We are quick to denounce our governments and, in some cases, even our own armed forces, for their actions and reactions to the religious divides. But think of it in slightly different terms.
What if we did not intervene? What if extremist attacks had not been retailiated against? Would we now be facing a bigger, more impossible task?
We are equally quick to denounce the Muslim religion as being barbaric and full of hatred and intolerance. And yet the extremist elements who profess to be part of the Muslim faith, spend as much time trying to wipe out other sects of their own religion as they do everyone else.
There is little or no logic to this and it confirmes, beyond any reasonable doubt, that these people do not represent the Muslim faith. They merely represent their own skewed version of it.
But enough about that.
Modern society is not really compatible with old religion. In effect, our Gods have had their day. We have evolved. Whether you choose to believe in the divine or not is now nothing more than a personal choice. Our lifestyles and broader knowledge base no longer rely on belief to sustain us.
No, that does not make religious belief something to be shunned or ridiculed. For those who take comfort in their beliefs, their God is a very real part of their life... and more power to them.
Personally, I do not have a spiritual, religious belief.
Yes, I think there was a Jesus... and a Buddha... and a Mohammed... and however many others, but my personal belief is that these were men. Undoubtedly highly extraordinary men, but men nonetheless.
I hate to sound cheesy and quote from a Dan Brown novel, but "As long as there has been one true God, there has been killing in his name."
And this is the same for almost every religion man has devised.
As we step into the uncertain future that, in fact, is hurtling to meet us at an incredible pace. It is time we accepted that we make our own decisions. Fate... our future... is what we make it. Whether you believe in the power of prayer or the odds of chance, it is YOU who will ultimately decide on the best course of action for your own wellbeing.
