Religion's scapegoats: Finding blame in all the wrong places

It seems in vogue lately to blame all the world's problems on organized religion, specifically Christianity. Lee Feder's recent column "Losing our religion" is the latest in the series of these factually-deficient attacks on religion.

There is the oft-recycled claim that organized religion has caused most of the conflict in the world. Northern Ireland is usually cited as a modern example of fighting between Protestants and Catholics.

The Irish believe Northern Ireland belongs to them. The English think it is theirs. Ireland has a national religion, Roman Catholicism. England has a national religion, the Church of England. The conflict is a geopolitical one. The fighting has nothing to do with Henry VIII's fertility issues. If it was, the Irish would be throwing bottles of Viagra, not pipe bombs.

Then there is the fighting in Iraq between the Sunnis and the Shiites. Even a cursory examination of the history of the Sunnis and Shiites shows this to be absurd. The division occurred after the death of Muhammad on who should succeed him. Both groups share the fundamentals of Islamic faith but differ on secondary issues. The division is political, not theological. Further, the two groups in Iraq are fighting over division of oil revenue and political power; not fine points of the hadith. Likewise the fighting over Kashmir is over control of the territory, not because it's "God's will."

Lastly, there is the fighting between Israel and the rest of the Arab world. That conflict stems from Israel believing they have a right to continue living and the Arab world that is still angry that Hitler didn't finish the job. I'm not sure theological lines can be drawn there either. Before criticizing people as idiots, one might want to make sure they have their facts straight. Mr. Kettle, meet Mr. Pot.

What Lee and others can't grasp is that ethnic groups tend to share a common religion, and have throughout most of history.

The Shiites and Sunnis are more than religious factions; they are sociopolitical groups. Nations have often identified with only one religion, that doesn't mean every war they fight is a religious one.

If we take a look at the most vicious genocides in human history, we'd find them products of secular governments, not religious ones.

Socialism, communism and liberalism have wrought the worst episodes of death in human history. Hitler's Germany, Stalin's Russia, and Mao's China show just how far the godless can go in dealing death. And let us not forget the worst genocide known in human history, another product of godless liberalism, that of abortion.

Then there is the admonition to heed Jesus' advice to keep religion "personal" and spend more time living Christian principles. It is always amusing to be told what my faith teaches by someone who rejects it. It is hysterical to watch those who would mount the Judgment Seat of the very same Christ they reject.

As far as the living of Christian principles, one only needs to compare the charitable giving between Christians and others. Christians give substantially more.

A glance at the number of charitable organizations in this nation will show an overwhelming number based from Christian churches. In fact, where do you think the "cross" in Red Cross comes from? The people who claim Christians don't live Christian teaching ought to try and go out and meet a few Christians first.

There may be a "non-violent religious war" going on in America, and that is of those who seek to suppress those who would express Christianity. It is waged by those who shout out "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" but somehow manage to forget "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." People have a right to express their ideas, even religious ones, and it's time that people stop demanding people bend their theology to meet some fabricated political notion.