While The General’s Away, The Atheists Will Play

I have a feeling that the General, when he asked me to help fill in during his absence, had no idea just how depraved I am, or that I’m an Atheist, which I have recently learned means that I am viewed as amoral by most of my fellow Americans. But considering that my father has already publicly aired his disappointment in my lack of faith, I’m sure the General would have given me the opportunity anyway, knowing that I come from good stock and have already been put in my place, so to speak.

So in the spirit of finding common ground, I thought I would focus on something that the General and I likely agree on, that George W. Bush is not the Antichrist. I’m sure we come to this conclusion through very different means, but hey, it’s a start.

I watched a show on the History Channel a while back about the Antichrist, sometimes the best of television is on in the wee hours of the morning and this was no exception. The show delved into the Fundamentalist Christian idea of the rise of the Antichrist which will facilitate the Rapture and the return of Jesus, who will of course win the ultimate battle between good and evil, thus ushering in 1000 years of Heaven on Earth. It almost made me wish I believed.

Christians were interviewed as they left their mega-church in Colorado and asked to give their take on the Antichrist. I found it surprising that they were so willing to share their views on the topic, but trying to follow their logic made my head spin. Many of them went into great detail describing the characteristics they believe the Antichrist will exhibit, he will be a powerful leader, he will pretend to be one of them and he will be intent upon creating a global empire and a world economy that will require anyone who wants to participate to be a true believer in his vision. See where I’m going with this?

First off, I find it hard to fathom the extent to which a person must ignore reality in order to truly believe in the Rapture and the return of Jesus, but by following their distorted logic, I could come to only one conclusion. George Bush fits the profile that they themselves set up, yet they are unable to see it. Now, I have no idea how each personality trait ranks in importance, but the only characteristic given by these faithful worshipers that the Antichrist will possess but Bush lacks, is great oratory skills. Perhaps this is hanging them up more than I realize, for all I know it is the singularly most important skill of the Antichrist, and would certainly explain their inability to peg Bush as the one.

Once the show was over I realized that they had convinced me, George Bush is the Antichrist! But then I had to admit that he couldn’t possibly be, because the whole concept is ludicrous (besides, if I don’t believe in God, believing in the Antichrist would be just plain silly). I also recognized that my frustration that these people can’t see what is laid out before them stems from my desire to inject logic into an ideology that has none. Faith is just that, and it requires no logic, in fact it demands a rejection of it.

I find it sad that, because those who subscribe to a Fundamentalist reading of the Bible give away their ability to think critically, they are the ones who will ultimately fall victim to the charms of the Antichrist that only they believe in. It’s almost as if they are intent on becoming what they spend their whole lives demonizing. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy that, in the end, will leave them confused as to where they went wrong, and will prove them to be the carriers of the evil they fear most.

You can ask God to absolve you of your sins, but unless you absolve yourself, change your behavior and accept your part in evil deeds that are committed in your name, there is no redemption. But that is just my take on life on planet Earth, I’m sure they could poke holes in my beliefs as well. Just not with logic.

Posted by, The (liberal)Girl Next Door