Jan 1, 2007
Email from Viewer
Dear Gary:
I read with interest you editorial on religious extremism and am pleased you have opened this subject in a reasoned and balanced manner. I have pondered this issue for more than a few decades.
Some 20 years ago the western world was warned that adherents to Islam were plotting the demise of the western democracies. I have posed the following question to several astute political observers: What is the difference between the teaching embraced by the Islamic terrorists and the so-called Islamic moderates? Do they possess different Korans (Qur'an)? One extreme and the other moderate? While the answers differ slightly most agree there is only one Koran.
The same question could be asked of extreme Christians. Are the various versions of the Bible that different that one can spawn hatred while the other promotes love? As to the beliefs of the First Nations, these seem to spring from a combination of Bible-based teachings (the Creator), animism (a belief that a soul or spirit existed in every object, even if it was inanimate), fertility worship and Mother Earth-ism that appears to pre-date the ancient Druids.
I will not discuss my views on the merits of these beliefs since you are quite right, that the extremists will label anyone questioning their "faith" as racist or something else.
It is my view that the extremists of the three groups mentioned in your editorial are not Christians, Muslims or practitioners of Native religions. The extremists must wrap themselves in what they perceive as a legitimate, acceptable mantle in order to contaminate society with their diseases of violence, hatred and xenophobic philosophies.
In the case of pseudo-Christian extremists, they twist the Bible to fit whatever their crusade-of-the-month agenda happens to require. Islamic extremists follow much the same pattern. Preach peace while killing as many infidels as possible so as to reap the reward of 77 virgins and a palace in heaven. In reality they are simply people with a cause who worship their own ideas. In their minds they are right and everyone else must convert or die.
The First Nations, in my view, are a little different. Their beliefs seem to be quite malleable and adjustable to time and circumstances. I am always puzzled at how we hear they respect animal life yet can easily take the life of a killer whale, bear or anything else sacred to them and tell us it is done to satisfy their religious obligations or beliefs. We are told the First Nations are the stewards of the land. While that might be true, have you ever visited places like Moose Factory or reserves in Alberta that have been clear-cut? If we look around we can see many such contradictions among First Nations.
Your comment on Jesus' words that we would know them by their works applies across the board to all religions, although he was referring specifically to the false Christians who would arise after the deaths of his apostles. Their deeds would expose them for what they are. The question is, who is capable of recognizing their works for what they are? I won't even get into such issues as sexual predators in the Catholic priesthood or the attempt at cultural genocide of the First Nations people by our federal government in concert with the Catholic and Anglican Churches.
There is another player in all of this, however, that seldom gets mentioned and that is the mainstream media in this country. We are constantly being barraged by a torrent of misinformation aimed at supporting every half-baked notion promoted by self-serving eco-evangelists or for the purpose of ensuring the survival of free-spending Liberal governments who shower the media with millions of dollars in advertising.
Here are a few examples. Have you noticed how no weather story can be aired or written without reference to Global Warming or Climate Change? Have you noted how they have all but eliminated the term "terrorist" in favour of softer words like "insurgent" or "militant?" Have you seen how they demean and discredit Christianity while showing editorial favour to Islam or Buddhism and other faiths? Have you witnessed how they gleefully brand anyone who questions the validity of Global Warming theory as "deniers?" The term "denier" has been used exclusively in the past to describe Holocaust Deniers. The link has been made by activist groups and seized upon by the mainstream media.
I would urge your readers to be especially careful to read papers like The Toronto Star and the Vancouver Sun to see for themselves to see what I am talking about. On the television and radio front follow CBC News if your stomach can take it. They are masters of labelling and left-leaning slants on their material.
Caledonia Wake Up Call has embarked on a very perilous mission in seeking truth and justice. You will find little of that in the mess in Caledonia or in similar places in the world today.
Best Regards