PJ Media – Philip Carl Salzman, December 4, 2024: Religious Wars in America Today
Throughout the history of civilization, many major conflicts have been framed as religious wars. Opponents identify with different religions and refer to them in explaining the conflict.
Beginning in the 7th century, Muslim warriors invaded lands between Morocco and India, north into the Iberian Peninsula and Sicily, and south into Africa, putting “infidel” warriors to the sword, enslaving some of the conquered, converting some, and imposing Islamic supremacy on the others. In post-Reformation Europe, including Britain, France, and Germany, beginning at the end of the 16th century, Catholics and Protestants engaged in sanguineous attacks and battles. Burning opponents at the stake was a favorite punishment and a useful public example.
More recent religious wars include the conflict between Hindus and Muslims in India, and between India and Pakistan after independence. Catholics and Protestants fought a guerrilla war in Northern Ireland through the 20th century. Attacks on Hindus by Muslims in Bangladesh are current in 2024.
The hundred-year holy war, jihad, by Muslims against the Jews of Israel continues to this day. This is a holy war for Muslims because Israeli Jews have violated two basic principles of Islam. First, Islamic supremacism requires Muslims to be religiously and politically dominant, and those of other religions to be subservient. Second, land once conquered and controlled by Muslims may not be alienated from Muslim control. Thus Israel must be destroyed and Jews killed or made subservient once again, as in the past. (Speaking to Westerners, Muslims will tailor their statements to their audience, claiming the war is about rights to territory and human rights. Don’t be fooled.)
In America, the Islamic holy war, the jihad, reached home in a spectacular and devastating fashion on September 11, 2001, with the crashing of hijacked passenger jets into the Twin Towers in New York City, as well as into the Pentagon, and another that crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania. The jihad continued under the radar as the Muslim population of America increased through immigration and fertile reproduction, and infiltrated into American institutions. Some Islamists call this “immigration jihad.”
The barbaric October 7, 2023, Hamas pogrom in southern Israel involved atrocities including gang rape, dismemberment, burning families alive, and murdering babies, all gleefully recorded and broadcast by the perpetrators. The invasion was not limited to Hamas terrorists, but also joining in were Gaza civilians, who scavenged the property of the dead. In North America, students and professors went on the internet and in the streets to celebrate the “great victory” of the resistance against Israeli “oppression.”
But the Hamas uprising in America was just beginning. Advocates for Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah decided that disrupting civilian life was their best course for discrediting Israel and Jews who support Israel. They invaded university campuses, setting up tent encampments and blocking entrances, and harassing and exiling Jewish students as best they could. They demanded that Zionists be excluded from universities. While some claimed to be anti-Zionist and not anti-Jew, they sported swastikas, chanted “death to the Jews,” “Jews to the gas,” celebrated “the final solution,” and advised Jews to “go back to Poland.” Their most popular chant was, “From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free [of Jews],” a call for the genocide of Israeli Jews. They also took to the streets, especially in Jewish districts, blocking traffic, as well as demonstrating at Jewish-owned restaurants and bookstores. Big marches were held in downtown main streets of many cities. Long live the jihad!
The party of “flyover country,” the America between the coasts and in the south, is committed to God, family, and country. They believe that America was founded on Judeo-Christian morality, and that this should continue to be a touchstone. Obama was not wrong to say that they cling to God.
For the flyover party, its commitment to God makes this a religious war, although so far not a lethal one. For the lapsed Christians and Jews that make up the coastal party, their ultimate commitments make this conflict a religious war. Both parties see this as a struggle of good versus evil, a baseline definition of a religious war. What might ideally be handled as a civic policy disagreement, has become more intense, bitter, and nasty. But the line should be drawn forbidding violence, if our corrupted security institutions were capable of such a constructive and non-partisan action.
Based on the themes and discussions in the PJ Media article by Philip Carl Salzman titled “Religious Wars in America Today,” here are some practical ideas for fundamental Christians to protect their religious values in a society increasingly influenced by extremist ideologies:
1. Strengthen Personal Faith and Knowledge:
Deepen Your Understanding: Regularly engage with scripture, theology, and apologetics. Understanding your faith more profoundly can help in articulating and defending your beliefs in challenging environments.
Faith-Based Education: Encourage participation in Bible studies, Christian education classes, or seminars that focus on the historical and textual integrity of Christian teachings.
2. Community and Support Networks:
Build Strong Church Communities: Participate actively in your local church or Christian community. A supportive environment can offer both spiritual and practical support against external pressures.
Fellowship with Like-Minded Individuals: Regularly meet with other Christians for prayer, discussion, and mutual encouragement to counteract feelings of isolation or marginalization.
3. Cultural Engagement:
Cultural Literacy: Stay informed about cultural trends and ideologies that oppose Christian values. This knowledge can help in engaging with others in a way that is both informed and respectful.
Engage in Dialogue: Learn to communicate your faith in a way that is non-confrontational but clear, focusing on dialogue rather than debate to reach common ground or at least mutual respect.
4. Legal and Political Awareness:
Know Your Rights: Be aware of your legal rights concerning religious freedom. Organizations like the Alliance Defending Freedom or the American Center for Law and Justice can provide resources and legal support.
Participate in Politics: Vote, engage in local politics, or support political candidates who align with Christian values to influence laws and policies that respect religious freedoms.
5. Prepare for Physical and Digital Safety:
Physical Safety: In light of growing extremism, consider practical safety measures like home security, awareness in public spaces, and community watch programs.
Digital Safety: Be cautious with online interactions, protect personal information, and be aware of digital threats like doxxing or cyberbullying due to your faith.
6. Family and Education:
Faith-Based Parenting: Instill Christian values at home. Use Christian homeschooling or faith-based schools if public education systems are at odds with your beliefs.
Teach Discernment: Educate your children on how to navigate a world with conflicting values, teaching them to question and evaluate ideas critically through a Christian lens.
7. Service and Outreach:
Live Out Your Faith: Demonstrate Christian values through acts of service and charity. This not only reinforces your faith but also can change perceptions in society.
Community Service: Engage in community projects that reflect Christian values, thereby showing the positive impact of faith in practical, everyday life.
8. Prayer and Spiritual Warfare:
Prayer Life: Prayer is not just a ritual but a lifeline to God, as emphasized throughout scripture. Ephesians 6:18 instructs believers to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” This means actively seeking God’s wisdom, protection, and peace not only for personal life but for the broader Christian community and the nation. In times when Christian values are under siege, the Bible calls us to be vigilant in prayer, as James 5:16 states, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Christians are encouraged to make their supplications known to God (Philippians 4:6), trusting in His power to bring about change and to guard their hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).
Spiritual Warfare: The notion of spiritual warfare is vividly described in the Bible. Ephesians 6:12 explicitly warns, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Here, we’re reminded that the battle is spiritual. To combat these forces:
Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-17 introduces the concept of the “armor of God,” which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. This metaphorical armor equips believers to stand firm against the devil’s schemes.
Fasting: Jesus himself practiced fasting, as seen in Matthew 4:1-2, where He fasted for 40 days to prepare for His ministry, showing the power of fasting in spiritual preparation and warfare. Fasting is portrayed as a means to humble oneself before God, seek His guidance, and strengthen one’s spiritual resolve (Isaiah 58:6-7).
Scripture: The Bible is our primary weapon against falsehood and temptation. Jesus countered Satan’s temptations with scripture (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10), demonstrating its authority and effectiveness. By meditating on and memorizing scripture, Christians can resist evil, discern truth from deception, and fortify their faith.
These spiritual practices are not just defensive maneuvers but proactive steps in challenging evil:
Challenging Evil: Jesus commands His followers to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16), indicating that Christians should influence their surroundings positively, pushing back against darkness. The imperative to challenge evil is clear in 1 Peter 5:8-9, which calls believers to be sober-minded and alert because the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour; we are to resist him, standing firm in our faith.
Strength Against Spiritual Wickedness: The Bible repeatedly calls for courage and strength. Joshua 1:9 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Similarly, 1 Corinthians 16:13 advises, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” These verses embody the ethos that Christians should not cower in the face of spiritual adversity but should stand firm, knowing their strength comes from the Lord.
By engaging in prayer, fasting, and immersing in scripture, Christians fortify their faith, support their community, and actively engage society, countering the pressures of extremist ideologies with a commitment rooted in biblical imperatives.