In your lifetime

[Emit]

Has the US ever planted its foot so firmly in the Middle East in the name of its leaders' religion?

I cannot recall a time that it has.

Does it concern you as much as it does me that many of the movers and shakers in our government right now, who drive our domestic and foreign policies, have made such decisions based on their religiosity? Or based on the influences of religious groups?

Every time I examine the interconnectedness of various Dispensationalist (or 'the Religious right', Christian Zionists, Reconstructionists, Dominionists, etc.) groups to persons in our government, persons of power and influence, lobbying agencies, funding groups, think tanks, etc., I literally cringe at how they've taken control of our once secular nation. While I believe, overall, that the majority of Americans would disagree with this religious fanaticism, and would shun the overt marrying of religion and politics, it is the positioning of these people and groups in the roles of power that has brought us to this current situation we now face.

This is devastating to our secular society -- to our democratic Republic -- from within and from without.

While many people write these people off as crazies, and we make fun of them about their 'end-time' beliefs, they have hijacked our country. With the current powers that be calling the shots, and radical groups cheering them on, they have the upper hand, I fear.

As many here on DU are fully aware, it is a very Machiavellian tactic to use religion to control the masses. The neoconservatives, the Military Industrial Complex, Warmongers, and War Profiteers, the Corporatists -- the people who hold positions of power -- they knew all too well what advantage they would have when the embers of fanatical religiosity was flamed, and when we stepped smack dab into the Middle East with leaders who claim we are a Christian nation.

America, I am truly sorry.

[zeemike]

1. The real movers and shakers are not religious.

They have their own motives for wanting to own the ME. But they are not above using the religious ones to get there way.
Look how easy it is to fool the fundies, all you have to do is pretend to be one of them and say that you have been saved and they will go along with anything you want to do.

[Emit]

3. Yes, I imagine the real ones are not

I am not convinced, however, that some of the representatives wandering the halls, introducing bills and voting on issues are not -- some of them got to where they are because the powers that be knew they could be manipulated easily by their religious beliefs.

[leftupnorth]

2. I saw it in all it's pornographic glory, the influence of that ideology

at my small town 4th of July celebration. Wooden crosses on the floats painted with stars and stripes. A sermon instead of a reading of the Declaration. They sang two patriotic songs and then broke into hymns and stuff. I'm not particularly opposed to expressing one's faith to others, but the 4th of July is supposed to be celebrating the act of throwing off tyrannical government, not Jesus.

Christian Nationalism. Scary stuff. Trouble is, I don't think most of them even know what they are participating in.

[Emit]

4. I, myself, had a recent encounter that I posted about

last week -- some stranger in a waiting room who told me all that was happening in the ME was prophesized in the Bible.

I've seen a few posts about other's recent encounters with these end time believers.