Our Truth is Marching On: Like John the Baptist, We Prepare the Way for Liberty, Democracy, and Christianity

_{Image © Austin Cline
Original Poster: National Archives
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The war drums are beating again and seem to be getting louder. Is it mere coincidence that many of the things which were said by the administration and Bush’s conservative fluffers about Iraq prior to its invasion are now being said by the same people and in the same ways about Iran? Perhaps — coincidences happen all the time. It’s wise not to trust coincidences, though, and this administration’s past use of violent rhetoric has usually been carefully choreographed and planned. It’s possible that the current language has been chosen in order to deliberately scare Iran into thinking that an attack is coming, but that’s a trick you can only effectively use once or twice. That an actual attack is being planned is at least as likely, and possibly more so.

What can be driving this obsessive interest in invading other nations and overthrowing their governments? If the Bush administration seems to be almost messianic in its approach, that’s because it is. American politics and religion have been infused since the very beginning with a sense of divinely appointed destiny: America is the New Israel, a City on the Hill which has been given a mandate by God to bring the light of democracy, liberty, and Christianity to all the dark parts of the world.

This isn’t an attitude which is limited to just conservative evangelical Christians. Liberals can be heavily influenced by it as well. In fact, it can occur in a secularized form with the focus being on democracy and liberty. Conservatives, though, have been pushing the rhetoric hardest, and their international policies appear to be most strongly influenced by this ideology.

When you believe that you are doing God’s Will, it’s hard to see the wisdom of imposing any limits on one’s actions. When you are God’s Instrument, then you can’t possibly fail unless you lack sufficient faith. This means that one’s faith is the only deciding factor when it comes to success — not the number of troops you have, not the level of preparation, not the assistance of allies, and not whether there is any rational consistency to your behavior. Indeed, to even consider such issues would itself suggest a lack of faith and thereby almost guarantee failure.

Seemingly inexplicable and irrational behavior can thus sometimes be explained as a “rational” consequence of relying on strong, sincere faith. That appears to be the sort of faith which President George W. Bush has and which thus may be driving many of the decisions which others have trouble understanding. He believes that he was given the presidency by God and that God is directing his actions. With that sort of faith, he could believe that nothing will stop him and that nothing else is needed for victory. Unfortunately, when faith overwhelms good sense and sound reasoning, people tend to get hurt.

People sometimes ask what harm there is in faith, especially religious faith. Such people themselves usually have a faith which seems harmless enough and thus appears to justify the bewilderment that faith could be a source of danger or suffering. Here, however, it should be clear that faith is not inherently good, positive, or beneficial. It’s also not inherently evil, negative, or harmful. The problem is, there really aren’t any standards which allow us to separate “good” faith from “bad” faith. People with “bad” faith are every bit as sincere and committed as those with “good” faith. We can criticize people with “bad” faith all we want, but there aren’t any criticisms which cannot readily apply to “good” faith as well.

At least, not until we get to the consequences of that faith — consequences like an unjustified war of aggression. At that point, though, isn’t it a bit late?

The above image is based upon a World War II poster promoting the U.S. Army and stating “Right is Might.”

I hope you enjoyed the two sermons today — at least I managed to tackle different topics this time, right? my gallery of Christian Right Propaganda Posters.