Religion is very political.
Just ask anyone in a religious organization if the people in it are practicing politics. At first they may deny it, as most groups of people in places of worship would like to think that they are above politics, but the honest person will agree, religion is up to its eyeballs in the fog of political maneuvering and micro-mind wars. Wherever people are, there will be politics, and when the two mix so thoroughly that they become almost indistinguishable major wars are the inevitable fruit of that union.
When we read from the gospels how his disciples acted towards him and interacted with each other we see that they became political very quickly. They jockeyed for position and power both in the here and now, and for the hereafter, seeking to become the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and the pure wisdom their master had taught them slowly became corrupted — no longer from above, but natural and earthly — and as one apostle has said — demonic.
His group also found contention with other religious.
Political organizations such as the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees – each a faction within a party, and having their own belief systems and interpretation of scripture, often arguing amongst one another. Not much has changed in over 2000 years.
He and his disciples very quickly found that they were at odds with the most powerful political groups of his time -the controlling powers of Judaism and the controlling powers of Romanism. Rome believed in the power of Caesar and the Roman Empire, and Judaism in the power of Jehovah and Israel. And, as the story goes, because he opposed both controlling powers, they killed him for that opposition. If we are honest about the narrative, we see clearly that those he opposed most virulently instigated the very plot to have him disposed — his own kinsman, and the very ‘truth’ to which he attested — the Kingdom of Heaven, was also sacrificed on that day.
Throughout the ages religion and politics have caused innumerable conflicts both great and small.
The caustic reactions of those who adhere to opposing philosophies have turned the world upside down in all cultures and creeds. Some would argue that this has been a necessary evil and one which over time has brought us to the global civilization we now know, yet one must ask one’s self, ‘At what cost?’
Blood has been spilled enough to flood an ocean basin in the name of religion and politics, and it looks like the spigot will not be shut off any time soon, for wars over religion and politics continue to this day. Brother kills brother over philosophies, and this ‘love of wisdom’ is quickly turned to the ‘love of hate’. Leaders of political parties are assassinated, by name and reputation, and even bodily, as in the political assassinations of the 60’s — losing three great ones – J.F.K., R.F.K., and M.L.K. Only the religious fervor of politics could cause such a thing. Power has no conscience and would crucify any opposition to remain seated.
