Both Muslim and militant Secular fundamentalists are quite alike. They both seek a monopoly on power and wield this power through the worship of an "us vs. them" political deity which will use just about any means, including demolishing their opponents, to accomplish their political ends. Both marginalize their rivals: one uses the tactics of fear in mass media by demonizing their opponents, relegating them to a outer margins of society through the endless repeating of the mantra that those who do not think like them belong to the untouchable status of a bigoted hate group; the other through forced conversions or death. Both groups are ultra-violent and genocidal: one toward those who do not convert; the other to those who are an inconvenience. Both are enemies of free speech: The secularist originally championed free speech but now that they have gained power the first amendment has started to become a liability to them. Political Islam believes outward submission is all that matters so as long as no one freely speaks about their actual thoughts and feelings then all is well. Both fine or tax groups that disagree with their agenda (Jizya). Militant Secularism sings "Imagine no religion" while seeking to privilege its atheistic values, as in Communist states. Islam sings "Imagine a worldwide caliphate." Hmm, Not that different after all. The biggest difference between these groups, I would argue, is that Fundamentalist Islam does not really conceal their true intentions. It is right there in their historic doctrine and early practices. But Secularism is a bit less transparent. It pretends to be tolerant and believe in freedom of conscience, all the while ultimately having similar totalitarian tendencies. This may give ISIS-style fundamental Islam the political edge over secularism as ISIS and other groups associated with fundamentalist Islam have no qualms over openly suppressing dissent with violence. However, militant exclusionist secularism, like Islam, is a recipe for social disharmony; it feeds the 'culture wars' in the US and provokes those it seeks to exclude.
These are some of the many reasons why the world so desperately needs the gospel which breaks the endless, natural "us vs. them" cycle of corrupt human nature and and recognizes, by grace, that we are all not so different from each other ... that we each share the same image of God and the same fallen sin nature ... that, apart from grace, we are all equally captive to our sin and justly deserve the God's displeasure (Presbyterians and Pagans alike). I know this is true about myself. Unless God invaded my life with His mercy, I was on the bottom of the bucket as far as human beings go. And any so-called Christian who thinks they have gained God's favor because they think they are better (or more moral) than their neighbor has not even understood the most basic truths of the gospel: That those who, by grace, have received God's mercy, are no better then anyone else, because it is mercy that got them there and mercy alone which keeps them there ... and that the kingdom of God is not advanced, even a little, through political victories or violence, but rather, through mercy and grace alone. No "us vs. them" mentality ... just beggars pointing other beggars to bread. If you don't believe in Jesus, sure, I will try to persuade you but nothing is gained for your soul by my coercing or having power over you. This does not mean that Christians do not participate in politics; they do and they should, but it means that politics are small and relatively insignificant compared to advancing the kingdom of God through the gospel ... something that can be done even under the most oppressive of environments. God's laws enacted will indeed bring greater peace and human flourishing, so we should participate in the political process for the good of all, but they certainly cannot give life.
In fact, if all outward laws on the books became "Christian" with no inward change of heart, the kingdom of God would not be advanced. Belief in Christ cannot be forced or coerced. This is why free speech and freedom of conscience are the natural outcome anywhere influenced by true Christianity while censorship and group think are then tendencies of fundamentalist secularism and Islam since they both use fear as a way to control society. No doubt there have historically been "Christians" which have been oppressive... it cannot be denied ... but it is not because they were following the Bible too closely, but because they were not following it closely enough. True Christianity is pre-political and advances through persuasion and by grace. That is a fact.
When will the media begin to recognize that they are the prime progenitor of our increasingly dualistic, Manichean "us vs. them" society ... and they stoke the fire every time they ignorantly and prejudicially pick up their pen to write an article and ascribe to Christians to the unforgivable status of "hate group"? Probably not any time soon so lets advance our cause peacefully and do everything without complaining so we will shine as stars in the sky to those around us, who, like us, need grace.
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