re: Pope Francis allies: Bannon use 'apocalyptic geopolitics' like islamic extremists

quote:

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The article in La Civiltà Cattolica, which is vetted by the Vatican before publication, lays out a scathing critique of “evangelical fundamentalism” in the US, arguing that, on issues ranging from climate change to “migrants and Muslims”, proponents of the ideology have adopted a twisted reading of scripture and the Old Testament that promotes conflict and war above all else.

It claims that fake religious arguments are being used to demonise segments of the population – particularly when it comes to migrants and Muslims – and to promote the US as a nation that is blessed by God, without ever taking into account the “bond between capital and profits and arms sales”.

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I don't always agree with this Pope, but he's definitely not wrong about this. I often take offense to how scripture is used in demonizing Muslims. It's completely unnecessary. Muslims are already their own worst enemy. The actions of their own community already makes them feared in the public eye. There's no reason to drag scripture into this.

Jesus taught us that if someone were to strike us, that we should turn the other cheek. That forgiveness, not of our sins by God but each and every one of us forgiving the sins of our fellow man, even those egregious sins against ourselves is the key to salvation. He taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves. He also taught us that we should divorce the concerns of the state from the concerns of faith, that faith is up to the individual.
We should render unto Caesar that which is Caesars and judge not lest ye be judged.

The biggest subject of Jesus's criticisms was never the oppressive Roman regime, but the corrupt and oppressive ecclesiastical one. He railed against people who used religion and apparent Godliness to improve their social standing and lambasted people for forming lynch mobs to enforce God's justice.

We should listen to Jesus. As individuals, we should love everyone, even those, especially those, who hate us and/or have wronged us. However, that should not prevent our government from exercising common sense.