End of the World Politics

Dear Mr Bill,

In fact in most of the cases world wide, politics and religion play hand in glove. Leaders exploit religious sentiments of people to grab votes and create vote bank. This  is more predominant in certain societies where  religion is dominant. For example in Islamic societies religion is the trump card and  political governing is completely  enclosed in Shariat and Islamic laws and practices. Examples are numerous. Probably Turkey has  mostly escaped this while many are desperately trying to destroy its system. In India   which is democratic and secular, religion plays  big role in the  country's politics. Political parties are framed  based on religions and explot people. For manytop apponitments religion also becomes the consideration to keep all sections happy.  Many times it was  manipulated  such that  the post of Indian President was  given to  some  Muslim  personality  such as  Dr Zakir Husein ( Ex  Vice hancellor of Aligarh Muslim University)  and there is no doubt he was distinguished.   Some other time an average  politician like  Mr Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, a Congress loyalist  was  made the president. When a Muslm  becomes a president, invariably they ensure that  a Hindu becomes the vice president. Some times the roles change too.  Now Mr Ansari is the  vice President while  Mrs Pratibha Patil is the  Hon president of the country.   Thus in society like India politics and religion  can not be separated. Coming to American society,  it stands  as role model for  democracy and freedom and liberty to the entire world.  All world nations look up to USA in admiration.  American society too has  great denominations such as Catholics, Protestants, other Christian sects apart from Muslims, some Buddhists and Hindus too. Basically America is a Christian nation stands for equality for all although it by virtue of the   strength of various   religions. But American peopel are more matured and demonstrated their  ability in selecting the President free from any religious leanings eversince it became  free from UK. Although after 9/11 there was great indignation against Muslm terrorist actions there was no backlash in the country. People were mature and nation remained  stable and calm. In any other country there would have been a holocaust.   In all probabilities Americans  shall select a President free from  religious leanings. Best of luck for all of you soon.

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

Reido wrote: Now, if one could get to the place where the connection can be seen, one might look into why this is how man behaves.

Reido,

I agree. The connection seems quite the opposite of what I find in the sources quoted by prophets of doom. That is, these doom sayers mercilessly call down fire from heaven upon those that they consider merciless, without a smidgen of realization as to the hollowness of their claims to righteousness. Maybe they read different scriptures.

The best that I can figure out from my own failures (along with supporting scripture and Blues lyrics :) ), is that Mercy and Judgment are necessary for healthy humanity. Without Mercy, there is no rebirth. Without Judgment, there is no death to the old. Both are necessary for upward progress. Could this be the original basis of eschatology—death to the old, rebirth to the new? Could it apply both to individuals, and to societies and civilizations?

Yet it seems that the most religious of us, are the most adamant about denying rebirth. Divorce, bankruptcy, clemency—even a path to citizenship for illegal aliens—are sometimes necessary for rebirth. But Judgment and Repentance are also necessary to complete the old cycle, and allow the Rebirth to begin.

I'm beginning to think that some Christians don't really believe in Rebirth. They seem to doubt the power of Mercy. Not only do some refuse to forgive, but they forever blame others for their own failure to rise from the ashes of past upsets. Many seem stuck on OT apocrypha. Or they want mercy for themselves, and judgment for their enemies.

Glad I'm perfect