Since this is my one hundredth post, I want to begin with a message rooted in Christian teaching, devoid of political motives or worldly affiliations. This is to highlight the powerful influence of political affiliations on spirituality, which has been, is, and will continue to be, a detriment to all religions.
A while back, I found an old Christian magazine called Awake!, dated December 22, 1988. I kept it because I wanted to write about an article I found intriguing, and now I finally am.
On page 22, there is an article titled “Religion and the World.” Page 23 poses a question that I will quote verbatim:
“Can a religion be approved by God when its clergymen bless men of war?”
The article goes on to assert that national rulers will ultimately destroy the religions of the world. The Bible points to this outcome. Throughout the centuries, false religion has been deeply involved in the political affairs of nations, even though Jesus said regarding his true disciples: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:16) Because of hobnobbing with the world, false religion is depicted in the Bible as a prostitute, or harlot, who has not been faithful to God. A Bible prophecy says: “Come, I will show you the judgment upon the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication.” (Revelation 17:1-2, 18)
This “great harlot” is like a woman caught selling sexual favors in return for high-level government influence. Her punishment fits the crime. God will cause a sudden, foreboding change of heart among her former lovers. The Bible explains that the kings, or political rulers of the world, “will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire. For God put it into their hearts to carry out his thought.” (Revelation 17:12, 16-17)
End quote.
To some religious people, politics is a passionate pursuit, yet their religious leaders have long warned about its dangers. Today, the Pope has altered his message to adapt to changing times. When I look at American politics, the large crowds at Donald Trump’s rallies demonstrate that politics have twisted spiritual values. Regardless of his character and behavior, it seems he will become president. I can only hope he governs with wisdom and compassion, and that his previous actions were merely a means to an end.
Personally, I believe that if you are a Republican and a devout churchgoer, logically, you should support Democrats. Real spirituality lies in the values Democrats uphold, such as social help for the needy. Paying taxes to help those in need is noble and spiritual. If you have been taught that doing spiritual things is socialist, you have been misled by politics. It is hard to understand how spiritual values have been misconstrued as non-religious and non-spiritual.
If a system stands for the masses but destroys individual rights, it is against spirituality. We consume resources throughout our lives and pass on, yet our desire to accumulate never dies, even though our bodies do. I wrote an article called “Reciprocation,” where I explained that we believe we achieve everything ourselves, yet everything is done after we take a breath of free oxygen. Thus, reciprocation is a duty we all have. If paying a small part of your income is reciprocation, so be it. It is not just smart but necessary to reciprocate, as it is a matter between the individual and the source, not exclusively for other human beings.
Select and study any governing system, and you will find they predominantly violate individual rights, not because of spirituality but because of politics. Even if they claim to act in God’s name, harsh punishments for expressing opinions are common. Such systems control through fear, which is unacceptable and spiritually bankrupt. Injustice against even one person is against spirituality, especially when done in God’s name.
I believe these systems are worse than others because they use God’s name to control and violate individual rights, directly opposing spirituality. Other ruling systems are founded on politics and openly admit it.
I strongly believe religions should not be used as political systems because we cannot fully understand God with our limited brain capacity. Thus, religions should stay out of politics entirely. They will eventually have to align with political power, and spirituality will be compromised.
Another issue is that religions often conflict with today’s governing systems, particularly regarding equal human rights. Believing you are superior to non-believers or followers of another faith creates prejudice, preventing acceptance of equal rights for others. The state should uphold a constitution that provides equal human rights and considers prejudice and racism criminal behavior.
When people like Bill Gates, Bono, or Edward Snowden transcend religious and national boundaries for the greater good, they embody spirituality regardless of their belief system.
My writing aims to raise awareness and point out the errors we make, both as individuals and as groups.
Here is another quote from the same article about religion and the world:
“Stay neutral regarding worldly politics while looking to God’s Kingdom for the remedy.
Jesus commanded neutrality and pointed to God’s kingdom, saying: ‘My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendant would have fought that I should be delivered up [to an unjust death sentence].’ (John 18:36) Jesus also told the apostle Peter, when Peter took up a weapon in his defense: ‘Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword.’ (Matthew 26:52)”
End quote.
If Jesus was against even picking up a sword, how did we get from there to the Crusades and modern-day religious wars? It’s all politics. Why do religions believe in harsh punishments for petty crimes, and why did it take two thousand years to stop judging homosexuals or divorcees? The teachings of Jesus about human rights have taken too long to effect change, and many black marks remain on the face of humanity due to religions.
Law and order should be based on equal human rights. Religions should let politicians do their job and stay out of political systems altogether, but the problem lies in our nature. I have been discussing the politics of the sense of belonging since I started this blog.
If our sense of belonging is tied to our physical core, it is influenced by our hormones, making our religious politics volatile. As individuals, we must make decisions beyond our physical urges. This higher level of living is something parents practice, balancing children’s enjoyment of life with control. Our leaders need to adopt this approach, but unfortunately, they often lead their populations into destructive behaviors driven by the politics of belonging.
I discussed this in an article called “Five Bucks.” When people pool their resources, they create politics, whether in a family, community, nation, race, or religion. Differences of opinion are inevitable, leading to politics.
Can religion and politics go hand in hand? I strongly believe and say no, because spirituality is about truth, and the essence of politics is twisting the truth. How can we keep religious groups out of worldly politics? Jesus tried and failed. It is up to us, as individuals, to make this change. If you are not in a position of power, it may be hard to see your influence, but even small contributions matter.
Even in personal relationships like marriage, the politics of power can emerge. Domination is more related to upbringing than genetics. When groups of people pool their resources, political parties form inevitably. Therefore, we need political systems with equal human rights and a clear constitutional mandate to prevent deviations from these rights. Populations worldwide are changing, with the internet playing a significant role. The nutraceutical industry has long criticized pharmaceuticals, and now pharmaceuticals are fighting back. We are caught between two large entities vying for control, using the politics of fear liberally. Liberals argue that once opened, the can of worms cannot be closed, yet leaders like Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran and the Saudi regime manage to do so. America, despite its imperfections, promotes democracy.
Despite its flaws, democracy is currently the best system humanity has. We are better off than under kingdoms, dictatorships, or authoritarian regimes, including religious ones. Injustice in the name of God is inevitable when ruling millions. A society’s constitution should be based on equal human rights, allowing individuals to challenge even the governing party in court for injustices.