when fundamentalists go on the warpath
Sometimes, ideological groups who say they loathe their rivals because their notions are polar opposites are actually unaware of just how much they have in common. Their bureaucracy might be different and numerous key beliefs may be in sharp contradiction with each other, but how they choose to live their lives and deal with those around them could be hauntingly similar. It was this observation that created the hyperbolic term for the most ardent and virulent strain of hardcore fundamentalists in the U.S., the American Taliban.
And what would you know, there’s now a group of religious zealots declaring holy war on every objectionable place in Texas, specifically the city of Amarillo, complete with military style tactical maps, battle plans, and lists of enemies for their personal morality crusades as if they’re trying to live up to virtually every dire warning of secular writers.
Maybe there’s something I’m missing here but when did a group of militant atheists barge into churches or a meeting of atheist clubs they thought weren’t hardline enough as well as Bible reading studies and theology lectures, pretending to be soldiers and harassing everyone present? Because that’s exactly what the “prayer warriors” of Repent, Amarillo! want to do with everyone who does anything they find objectionable, even in the slightest.
From Unitarian churches, to Buddhist temples, to your palm readers and gentlemen’s clubs, they’re on a mission to spread the word of Christ in combat boots and fatigues, exactly the way the Gospels record a preacher from Judea with humble roots as saying to his small group of followers. Well, maybe in their minds at the very least. Kind of reminds me of another group of morality enforces who appear to break up any and all events they deem objectionable, publicly shame those present and maybe even hit them with a stick once in a while. You won’t find this group in the U.S. since it’s based in Saudi Arabia and exists to enforce the harshest possible interpretation of Muslim religious law, but the similarities are disturbingly close.
Another thing that we should note here is the Religious Right’s fetish for the military, which is why the Repent, Amarillo’s would-be thugs chose a military theme. The military exists to fight for its nation and those who take the risk and enlist, as well as those who work for or with the Department of Defense to keep the troops better armed and safer on the battlefield, should be treated with at least a modicum of respect. Playing solider for a rush of self-righteousness in front of a local strip club in fatigues isn’t what one would call respect.
Even less respectful to the armed forces is pulling this stunt in front of a church solely to bully and intimidate others who committed the heinous crime of not accepting your personal opinion as the word of God. That’s what morality police squads do in Muslim monarchies. You know, the ones that the Religious Right decry as the symbols of Muslim backwardness and oppression? The only difference between Repent, Amarillo and Islamic morality patrols is that for now, a militia of self-righteous Christian busybodies who call themselves “spiritual warriors” isn’t allowed to charge their targets with crimes and haul them to court. And this is why the West has secular governments. After centuries of religious wars and persecutions, we figured out that it’s not a bad idea to put rabid ideologies on a leash every once in a while. They might just bite if we’re not watching…
