American Fundamentalist Christianity and Fundamentalist Islam —Two Sides of the Same Coin

For those who have followed my blogs over the last couple of years, know that I am a supporter of a secular society and secular humanism. They also know that I am Jewish and observe the faith and traditions of Judaism. My basic belief system is centered on a concept of Tikkun Olam, which in Hebrew means to heal the world. The healing is to make the world the very best place to live for all of G-d’s creation. As such; I am not committed to one set of dogmas, doctrines, morality or anything else that separates us into a status of ‘us and them’. My religious beliefs are mine and mine alone and I don’t wish anyone else to adopt them or subscribe to them. However, there are necessary and sufficient secular beliefs and actions that do better the general condition of mankind and the planet, which I support.

 In the title; I identified two groups, American Christian Fundamentalist and Islamic Fundamentalists who are committed to the same goal; a theocratic society. The two groups have squared off and claim to be in direct opposition to one another. Yet each subscribes to a set of traditional values that would restrict all to their view of the world and how it should operate. What we should believe, how we should conduct ourselves, what we can say, etc; should comply with their interpretation based on values and principles that all the rest of us don’t necessarily adhere. Both groups seem to find modernity and change especially threatening and against the will of the Most High. One thing that is common to all is that as the physical environment, the technological environment and the social environment change, we, if we are to survive, must also adapt and change.

The Islamic Fundamentalist is dedicated to an interpretation of Islam that dates to somewhere around the 12th or 13th century. They believe in men having absolute control and women and girls are nothing more than chattel. The societies that were created under the Iranian Republic and Afghanistan, under the control of the Taliban, are prime examples of the imposition of their form of theocracy. We in the west are at odds with these two and we routinely criticize them for their restrictions of freedoms and violations of human rights.

Christian Fundamentalism wants to take American Society back 60 years to a time prior to the dramatic social changes of the 60s, 70s and beyond. They have romanticized a society of order and peace where “Father Knows Best”. It doesn’t matter that so many injustices were occurring at the same time, but it wasn’t something people  wanted to talk about, and didn’t. One thing many in this movement either don’t remember or weren’t around to remember is that religion and politics kept a healthy distance from one another. The 1980s changed all that and the American Christian Fundamentalist Movement became politicized and powerful. From this time forward  there has been only one objective of this group; a theocracy of their own making. The theocracy will eliminate all controversial social issues and embrace unregulated free market economics. G-d’s elect will come forth and rise like cream to the top of the milk pail surely indicating their state of divine grace; but at what cost?

I think, that the cost will be too dear for most Americans to endure, the loss of freedoms for which this republic was founded. We have seen how theocracies operate, not only the Islamic world but also from our own western history and traditions. Plymouth Bay Colony comes quickly to mind.

Many of the American Christian Fundamentalist Camp draw a distinction between themselves and the Fundamentalist Islamists over the issue of terrorism and other acts of aggression. However, what do you call the actions of Westboro Baptist Church, the unquestioning support of Israel’s West Bank Settlements to hasten the “Second Coming” or the taking of lives of abortion providers? The ACF (American Christian Fundamentalists) whole heartedly supports the actions of the US Military in attempting to contain the ‘evil’ forces of Islam.

In all, there are more similarities between radical Islam and radical American Christianity. When someone indicates that they support a theocracy based on their beliefs, then be prepared to fight for your rights. Theocracies don’t promote free societies but promote a social order that only benefits the adherents of that particular theocracy.