June 19, 2023
A Difficult Truth
Across much of the world, the incidents of hatred against any who are sexually different has risen dramatically in the last few years. In Canada, it has risen by half in the last year. A horrific incident in a Pride parade in Europe was reported this morning, as an act of terrorism This has been noticed in the Press, but rarely have we heard about the cause. Chances are, it was Religious Terrorism.
These actions are not just random. The root of it comes from the rise of power and wealth of Christian Fundamentalism, originating in the U.S. but now growing throughout the world. In their view, God is against anything sexual that they aren’t comfortable with. . Also, they know that it is against God’s will for any women to have authority over men. Just last week, the Southern Baptist Convention voted to expel churches that have insisted on keeping their pastors, who just happen to be women. In every instance in the U.S. where laws against abortion or gay rights have been changed, churches are the instigators for change. For them, it is God’s will.
It is highly ‘unpolitical’ to mention this orthodox but evil aberration, but it must be addressed. This is most easily seen in the U.S. where laws are being changed, lives ruined and liberties lost but it is a global campaign. Look at Hungary, Poland and Uganda. Mainly funded and coordinated from the U.S.
I’m certainly not saying that all Christians in those churches agree with this trend, but they are the source, well funded and organized. It would help if the more moderate churches raised their voices to challenge the right-wing rhetoric, but they are used to staying out of the news. It’s up to all of us to defy the well funded minority who are, in the name of their God, doing this evil. If we continue to close our eyes to this religious weaponization, we will deserve what we get.
This is truly a religious war. Get used to it and get involved, because it is affecting our lives and our future.
I look more deeply into this in my forthcoming book Bread versus the Sword – The Fundamental Schism Within Christianity and How Its Weaponization Threatens the World.
Keep smiling but do what needs to be done.
Anthony
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Anthony Gifford
