The Hijacking of Religion

It starts like a bad joke but turns serious in a heartbeat.

A young man walks into a masjid or a church for the first time. Or the first time in a long time. 20 something, 30 something turning back to the faith of his childhood. Or reaching out to something new; searching for meaning.

What does he find? Does he find Zionism? Politicized religious rhetoric? Puritannical islam? Radicalism, wahhabism, violent salafism, straight up al-Qaeda or a government agent posing as something in between? Does he find what he's searching for? Does he find truth?

Why did he come walking through the door? Could his intentions be violent? Is he the enemy? Is he a spy?

الله اكبر - [allahu akbar] God is greatest (greatest defined as most near/beyond the totality of creation; and then some)

الله آعلم - [allahu alim] God knows best.

"To you be your way, and to me mine." - Surah 109, [al-Kafiroon]; "Those who reject faith" (trans.: Yusuf Ali)

* * *
Coming out of the world's two largest religions are two very different ideologies that are powerful enough to claim legitimacy within the bounds of religious orthodoxy. Zionism, as specifically referencing the Evangelical Christian support of an Israeli state is one; Wahhabism is the other. Both are mostly nebulous ideologies that might be given more credit than their due in some circles, but are affecting their respective faiths. They are also taking regular action, affecting their opinions of each other.

Reza Azlan and Khaled M. Abou El Fadl both play five degrees of separation with Wahhabism; connecting the religious movement to the Saudi Royal family, which connects to both Arab nationalism and the British Empire, ties that were revitalized with an oil hungry United States, ties that lead to a rift between the religious movement (Wahhabism) and the government (the house of Saud). Presented with the option of admitting they were wrong and reforming either a.) the Wahhabi; b.) the other Muslims; or c.) their foreign policy. The correct answer is b.). Saudi Oil dollars are spent instilling a Wahhabi ethic in widely distributed Islamic literature.

This theory takes shape amidst the data presented in Hamid Algar's "Wahhabism: A Critical Essay" where you'll read Algar's summary dismissal of Wahhabi ideology, on page 10-11, "[...], to imagine that the meanings and applications of Qur'an and Sunna are accessible, in any substantial and usable fashion, by disregarding the virtual entirety of post-revelatory Islamic tradition, is unrealistic." [ critique / other side ] He continues by explaining the importance of historical context on said, as well as Qur'anic, traditions.

That's no conspiracy theory, that's the facts of history, and a summary rebuttal of Wahhabi reformist ideology. It should also be noted that before the military conquest of the Hijaz by Saudi backed Wahhabi militants, the Wahhabi ideology was not considered orthodox by the scholarly consensus. However the consensus changed with ownership of the holy cities, Mecca and Medina.

Now, Saudi dollars support those who support Wahhabism. Trouble is, Wahhabism doesn't exist. It's a considered a derogatory term, one regularly denied even by those who support the assertions of Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab. Much like Zionism, or more accurately, the giant evil of Zionist conspiracy.

Evangelical Christian support of an Israeli state, a Jewish majority state dates back to the 1800's. Before that, Catholic orthodoxy was dominant, which includes the doozy of a gem, perpetual servitude in its history of Antisemitism and Jewish persecution. Christian Zionism finds roots in the, prophetic (and protestant) Puritan interpretation of the words of Paul in a letter to Roman Christians, where he writes of Israel and the people of Israel in Romans 9-11, but specifically what's said in Romans 11. Which references God not forgetting about his covenant with Israel, and how the covenant is a two way street that requires the Jew to also buy in to God and God's plan.

But what if the protestant Christian Zionist concept is not grounded in strong, supportable, Biblically sound ideology, what if it's as artificial as "true Islam" taking the shape of the Puritanical (to borrow Al Fadl's terminology) ideology being disseminated from Saudi Arabia? What if the Scofield Bible, and the view of Israel, and support for a Jewish state presented within has changed the face of what it means to be a Christian? Generations of Christian evangelists, and those who were searching the bible for meaning have turned to the Scofield bible.

Before the mid 1800's, there may have been some protestant desire for a Jewish state but there was no mainstream movement, or doctrine of it within the church. The conspiracy would have you believe that the Rothschild family is behind the whole thing. But if Rothschild dollars have disseminated a bible promoting what is easily construed as Zionism through similar channels and means as the Saudi's spread the puritanical, reformed Islam brutally labeled Wahhabism, what does that mean about the dogma of being a modern Christian (and the mandatory status implied as a supporter of an Israeli state)?

Zionism and Wahhabism are at each others throats, with Shi'ism a foil against both. The conspiracy says that to bring about the third of three world wars necessary for total global domination, the Zionists would have to be pitted against the leaders of the Islamic world resulting in the destruction of the Dome of the Rock. After which, BAM! messiah shows up, anti-christ shows up, end of the world scenarios begin to unfold...

The conspiracy postulates that Rothschild (as if it is an everlasting entity) is attempting to use biblical prophecy to take control of the world after a third, even more devastating world war. In essence, Rothschild (who is presented as at once atheistic and satanistic) has hijacked prophecy to meet his goal; actively attempting to shape the course of history by playing differences off of each other.

Now, take away the conspiracy and look at what's left. Let's not worry so much about the possible motivations (and the multitude of factors that are slowly unfolding, creating what we call history and experience from moment to moment), and just look at the facts:

ceteris paribus
1.) Zionism places Christians in league with the formation of a Jewish state; which
2.) displaces Muslims, raises an ethnic minority into a position of domination over a land and those who may call it home.
3.) Through puritanical channels, a potent enough sub-section of Muslims are aggravated. Those who will not stand in inaction against what they see as implicitly worthy of struggling against. Lashing out violently at what they perceive to be the physical manifestations of this enemy ideology (1: Zionism, oppression, secular debauchery taking the forms of associated people, infrastructure and monuments).

The third statement is an escalation that leads to a more violent repetition, 9/11 gives way to invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Actions of instant gratification that may or may not play out in the favor of the United States, but have certainly created a swath of destruction and extremism, just as they attempt to stabilize and subdue. 9/11 was a decade in the making; actions since have been prevented by U.S. intelligence, but at least one other massive action was called off because it was not deemed suitable enough to follow up 9/11. The next action has to be at least as terrorizing; as big, or bigger - and the plan is going to be at least as thorough and complex.

And then what? Will it matter?

Conspiracy or not, the ideas crudely captured conceptually in the terms Zionism and Wahhabism are putting the Judeo-Christian world and the Islamic world at odds with each other. The people of the book, vs. the people of the sunnah; but we're not actually fighting. The culture clash isn't a war. There's pinches and pokes, quiet knivings in the dark over unrelated issues, at worst. The majorities are smiling uncomfortably for the cameras and denouncing terrorism while minorities in both groups are dismantling the possibility of hopeful, productive coexistence one terrorist act after widely publicized media event after another.

The marriage of the idea of a Jewish state (specifically one displacing and ill-treating of Muslims) to the idea of western secularism and excess is a natural goad to the puritanical Islamic ethic. Throw in the reality of the association between Palestinians and Islam, the troubling thought that Muslims are being oppressed enters the frame (and the fact that the U.S. is spearheading the invasion/occupation/rebuilding project of two Muslim majority countries) and you have an absolute recipe for conflict.

Inspiring strong feelings, the idea of returning to the purest form of faith; the idea of supporting the children of God; of being a true believer. Though Zionism doesn't seem to necessarily, or directly lead to radicalization, it is polarizing at the least. The radically puritan ideology and violent history of Wahhabism seems to correlate well with violent, terrorist jihad - though as any follower of the teachings of Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab will tell you, he didn't advocate violence either... And in that same breath, the Scofield Bible is up front about the lack of Biblical support for a doctrine of Zionism. But in the modern application of these interpretations, both are undeniable.

Ideas of Zionism and Wahhabism, at their core, redirect religious seekers with alternate means of religious satisfaction. The spiritual journey is co-opted and steered into the realm of global/national/identity politics. A connection between Christians and support for the Jewish controlled Israeli state stands in direct opposition to the border transcending ethics of solidarity and opposition to oppression that is found on all levels of Islam. The extremes of both sides are holding fast to violent views where people who don't believe as you believe are not just denied eternal paradise, but the opportunity to live the life of this world as well.

* * *

Wahhabism is denied as a doctrine by many, but it undeniably exists as a functioning label if not an accurate description of a violent and demanding interpretation of Islam. By El Fadl's account, puritanical Islam is alive and well in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Zionism is very real, so long as anyone is supporting the Israeli state as a Jewish national or religious state, they are acting as Zionists by definition. A Zionist conspiracy is easy to write off as hogwash, but it is a theory, and it does find acceptance. These shadows have hijacked the modern idea of what it means to be orthodox in an Ibrahimic faith.

So how do you fight shadows?

With proper lighting and contextual information.
If only the monster in the room was a chair... If the conspiracy theory is the monster, and the reality of tension between the teachings of some Judeo-Christians and some Muslims is the chair, then it follows that you don't have to worry about the monster, just about tripping over the chair.

Separating global politics from religious belief is different than ignoring the moral compass given to you by your faith. Information has been disseminated supporting viewpoints that were not considered mainstream in their respective faiths 300 years ago, viewpoints that assert the superiority of, and grant divine sanction to one group, while stressing the differences with others.

In Islam there is a created division between how Muslim should be defined (a problem of religion) and a decrease in the respect granted to the Christians and the Jews in the Qur'an (a problem of violence and politics that has been inserted into the religion).

In terms of Evangelical Christianity, support for a Jewish dominated Israeli state (a state which marginalizes the local indigenous Arab population) paints Islam into the corner of "other" and conjures up images of Crusaders liberating Jerusalem from the clutches of her Muslim occupiers.

I refuse to deny what I see as a horrible reality happening in the slice of land that's been Israel since 1948. Through colonization, military action and poor self management, the indigenous Arab population of what was Palestine have been pushed off the land, walled from water and utterly marginalized in terms of geography and humanity. All in the name of safety for a Jewish dominated Israeli state.

The United States support of Israel, means support of what was once thought of as the only legitimate democracy in a sea of tyranny, but it also means support of the oppression "legitimacy" requires to push the Arab majority to the geopolitical fringe. Every tax paying citizen in the U.S. is supporting Israel indirectly. Even the Muslims.

But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Keep your faith, discard its politics.
Unless you live in Israel or Palestine; unless you are an Israeli or a Palestinian, maybe it's not your problem. If you're a Muslim, or a Jew or a Christian, you might have an opinion influenced by interpretation of your religious texts, but unless you fall into the specific categories outside the religious context, it's nothing you can really understand. If Zionism is by definition political, it's got little to nothing to do with your faith, your إيمان [iman]; your personal connection with, and understanding of what it means to believe in, God.

In a hadith rated صحيح [Sahih]; the highest possible rating of authenticy, by Bukari and Muslim, it is related by Anas, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself."

Which can be twisted to support violent Jihad against the people of Israel and the United States, except that the violence sanctioned by the Qur'an is tempered with the equally Qur'anic injunction against killing innocents in surah 5, ayat 32, and in the traditions of the prophet (peace be upon him). One, considered صحيح [Sahih] in Bukhari and Muslim, as related by Umar reads: "Allah's apostle forbade the killing of women and children in war."

Aging imperial alliances brought the world to war in 1914, inspired aggression brought the world back to war between 1939 and 1941 and raged until the United States' 1945 atomic blasts. Blind religious support for unorthodox, politicized dogma is exacerbating problems the world over and drowning out the voices of the religious moderates. A majority guided by a moral compass who see oppression and false superiority as the problems to take sides against, as opposed to just picking a side based on politicized, or polarizing interpretations of holy text.

The real enemy isn't each other, but rather it is outlined in issues raised in each of the Ibrahimic holy texts. Two of the major players are greed (and the myriad of problems that come along with it) and self-righteousness coupled with a sense of religious superiority. Hubris. Entitlement.

The same arrogance that Jesus, عيسى عليه السلام [Isa alaikhee salam] (Jesus, upon him be peace) abhorred in the Pharisees, the greed scattered when he overturned the moneylenders tables. Hadith shows that Mohammad (peace be upon him) forbade the buying and selling of goods in the mosque, to prevent it from becoming like a market, and the concept of الكبر [al-kibr], or pride, declaring it the lowest form of apostasy. Arrogance and greed are repeatedly associated with the wicked throughout the Torah, and the remainder of the Bible's old testament.

These human weaknesses are what lead us astray from our ideals of faith and justice. They are, unfortunately, being compounded by the human influence of irritating geopolitics into religious dogma, dogma that at its very core refutes the ideas that it's being used to fuel.

Holy, revealed, treasured and revered, the timeless wisdom of Ibrahimic prophecy goes overlooked, and twisted by man out of desire simultaneously blind and selfish.

Meanwhile, الله اعلم; it's either the budding result of the cancerous aspects of human nature or it's all some ridiculously intricate and expansive conspiracy, in either case, can anything really be done to stop it...? Yes.

"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana.

Be aware. Seek truth. Try to understand, and withhold judgment until you do.

(the good in this is from God, whereas the mistakes rest solely on my own shoulders)

PS: the Holocaust happened and colonialism has led to incredible evil.