Hey everyone,
So, I’m not what you’d call a particularly religious person, but I definitely consider myself spiritual. I find meaning in the world around me, in nature, in connections with others, and in moments of introspection. Today, I want to dive into something that’s been on my mind lately, especially after seeing a photo circulating on social media yesterday. It featured Donald Trump, Lauren Boebert, and a few others in what looked like a staged prayer session in Trump’s office. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
Now, let me be clear: I see Donald Trump and Lauren Boebert as the epitome of hypocrisy when it comes to religion. It feels like they’re playing a part in a theatrical production, pretending to be pious while their actions often contradict the very principles they claim to uphold. It makes me wonder, who are they trying to fool? It seems like they’re just pandering to the religious right in America, using religion as a prop to gain support and legitimacy.
This brings me to a broader point about religion itself. When it gets hijacked by politicians and used as a tool for power, it completely loses its practical purpose. Religion is supposed to uplift humanity, to provide a moral compass, to bring people together in love and understanding. But when it becomes a vehicle for oppression, discrimination, and division, it strays so far from its original intent.
Despite spending much of today in the presence of the Shroud of Turin, I’m not the type of person who has grand spiritual encounters—no burning bushes or angels showing up on my morning walk. I don’t claim to have divine revelations or the inside scoop on what God thinks about our everyday lives. But I do have a lot of questions, especially when I see people claiming to speak for God. Who gave them that authority? Where in the teachings of any religion does it say that one person can condemn another in the name of God?
It seems to me that the divine, if it exists, would be far more concerned with love, compassion, and understanding than with judgment and punishment. And let’s talk about discrimination for a second. Why would any God worth believing in discriminate against women, who make up half of humanity? Or against anyone else for that matter? If there are issues to address, isn’t it up to God to handle them?
When it comes to spirituality, I believe it’s a deeply personal journey. Each of us has our own path, and it’s not for anyone else to dictate how we should connect with the divine. I find it troubling that some people feel entitled to speak on behalf of God while simultaneously wielding their beliefs as weapons against others. It’s not just hypocritical; it’s dangerous.
The Core Mission of Religion
Let’s start by remembering what religion is really about. Whether it’s Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or any other belief system, at their core, religions are all about addressing those big questions of existence and promoting ethical behaviour. Christianity teaches love and forgiveness, Islam focuses on submission to a compassionate Creator, Buddhism is all about alleviating suffering, and Hinduism emphasises righteousness and liberation. Despite their unique teachings, these traditions share a common goal: to elevate humanity and provide a framework for ethical living. They encourage us to look beyond our basic survival instincts and tribal divisions, fostering empathy and societal harmony.
In their purest forms, religions serve as moral compasses, guiding us toward reflection and understanding. They help us navigate life’s complexities and encourage us to act with kindness and compassion. But what happens when politics gets involved?
How Politics Seizes Religion
Politics is all about power—gaining it, holding onto it, and using it to crush opposition. When political figures start using religious language or platforms, the spiritual mission of religion gets pushed aside for political agendas. History is littered with examples of this manipulation. Remember the Crusades? They exploited Christian teachings to justify horrific acts of violence. The Spanish Inquisition twisted Catholicism to silence dissent. And more recently, extremist groups like ISIS have hijacked Islamic principles to rationalise their terror. It’s a grim pattern, and it’s all about taking something pure and turning it into a propaganda tool.
This manipulation usually follows a familiar script. Leaders claim they have divine backing, twist sacred texts to fit their narratives, and label anyone who disagrees as heretics or enemies of faith. What once was a source of unity and moral guidance becomes a weapon for division and oppression. Instead of uplifting and inspiring, religion is used to suppress dissent and consolidate power.
The Erosion of Religion’s True Purpose
When religion gets tangled up with politics, its foundational purpose starts to crumble. Instead of guiding personal growth and ethical clarity, it becomes a mechanism for enforcing political loyalty. Take the United States, for example. The alliance between evangelical Christianity and partisan politics has shifted the focus from love and salvation to culture wars. Issues like abortion and nationalism take centre stage, overshadowing the core messages of kindness and humility that should define faith. Similarly, in India, the use of Hinduism by nationalist groups has led to sectarian violence, directly contradicting Hinduism’s teachings on universal truth and harmony.
This politicisation robs religion of its transcendent qualities. Instead of inspiring believers to reach for higher ideals, it entangles them in earthly disputes. What should be a connection to the divine becomes a service to a nation, leader, or political party. The result? A hollow shell of faith, stripped of its true significance and turned into a tool for ideological warfare.
Providing a Justification for Atrocities
One of the most alarming consequences of this political entanglement is how it can justify atrocities. When political ambitions are cloaked in religious rhetoric, even the most heinous acts can be framed as morally justified. Take the Holocaust, for example. While it was primarily driven by racial hatred, centuries of anti-Semitic rhetoric within Christianity provided a disturbing moral backdrop. During the Rwandan genocide, churches—once sanctuaries—became sites of massacre, with some clergy complicit under political pressure. And let’s not forget Myanmar, where Buddhist nationalism has been used to rationalise the persecution of Rohingya Muslims, going against Buddhism’s core teachings of non-violence.
This dark pattern keeps repeating itself: religion corrupted for political gain becomes a license for brutality. The Crusaders’ massacre in Jerusalem, the Taliban’s oppression of women, the Salem witch trials—each instance reveals a disturbing inversion of moral guidance. Instead of restraining human excess, religion gets weaponised to amplify it, turning its spiritual compass into an excuse for suffering and domination.
The Crusades: A Bloody Quest for Glory
Let’s kick things off with The Crusades. Picture this: Jerusalem, a city sacred to multiple faiths, becomes the epicenter of a brutal campaign where the slaughter of its inhabitants—men, women, and children—was celebrated as a divine victory. Raymond of Aguilers, a chronicler of the First Crusade, described crusaders “riding in blood up to their knees.” Can you imagine that? It’s a grotesque twist on the very essence of Christian mercy. What started as a quest for holy lands quickly morphed into a bloodbath fuelled by political greed and territorial ambition, all wrapped up in the guise of the cross. It’s baffling how such atrocities were framed as God’s will, allowing those involved to absolve themselves of guilt.
The Spanish Inquisition: A Dark Era of Torture and Greed
Fast forward to the Spanish Inquisition, where thousands faced torture or death, with estimates of those killed ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 over the centuries. This wasn’t just about rooting out heresy; it was a systematic effort that enriched the state through confiscated property. The Church’s stamp of approval lent a chilling legitimacy to these acts, branding them as necessary for the salvation of souls and the protection of Christendom. It’s hard to fathom how the very institution meant to provide spiritual guidance became a tool of fear and oppression.
The Salem Witch Trials: Fear and Control
Next, let’s talk about the Salem Witch Trials. The execution of innocent people like Rebecca Nurse, a devout Christian, was justified as a means to purge evil from a supposedly godly community. It’s mind-boggling how political leaders and clergy collaborated to maintain control, using religion as a weapon to silence dissent and enforce conformity. The hysteria that swept through Salem was a tragic reminder of how fear can be manipulated to turn neighbor against neighbor, all in the name of righteousness.
The Rwandan Genocide: A Heartbreaking Betrayal of Faith
Finally, we arrive at the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. In a nation where a majority of the population identified as Christian, the Catholic Church found itself implicated as Hutu extremists executed nearly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. It’s heartbreaking to think that priests and nuns, influenced by years of colonial and political divisions, either participated in the violence or stood by and did nothing. Churches became killing grounds, with horrific events like the massacre at Ntarama, where 5,000 people lost their lives. The call to “love thy enemy” seemed to vanish, replaced by a politicised identity that tied faith to Hutu supremacy, enabling genocide under a religious banner.
Reflection: A Call for Awareness
In a world that’s so divided, we should be using our spiritual beliefs to foster understanding and compassion, not to sow discord and judgment. It’s time we hold our leaders accountable, especially when they misuse religion for their gain. Let’s remember that true spirituality encourages us to uplift one another, to question the status quo, and to seek a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.
So, the next time you see someone claiming to speak for God, ask yourself: Are they truly embodying the principles of love and acceptance, or are they just using religion as a mask for their agenda? Let’s challenge the narrative and strive for a spirituality that promotes unity rather than division.
Peace and love to you all.
