Secularism Good: Religion Bad

Flag burning, rioting, hanging caricatures of diplomats and setting them ablaze is nothing new. It is a fresh reminder of religions hold on the politically efficacy of people throughout the world. Religions' dogma and rigid guidelines do not permit ‘naturally free’ humans to express their inner most thoughts and demands on a society for which they have a social contract. Thus, we have violence and destruction as a means of self-expression.

After the fall out of the Danish cartoons, we must pinpoint the violence and establish its origins. The religious-driven violence is found in countries which are coated with religious superiority and faith-based governments. From Indonesia to the Middle East, groups are performing violent acts in protest of this ‘cartoonist situation’. In these countries they lack a history of secularism and free thought which would enable them to have a clear discourse with any adversary. However, with religion's grip on their conscience they feel forced to erupt in violence. This violence stems from the suffocating religious regimes and now has a ‘proper outlet’ for relief. If you were to ask the average protester on the streets of Cairo or Jakarta you would find that their anger runs deeper than a simplistic cartoon of someone they have never seen before. Ironically, more such cartoons will appear after the fires turn to embers.

What is surprising and not revealed to the public, as a matter of societal comparison, is the lack of violent protest by American Muslims over this cartoon.* They are Muslims aren’t they? And any depiction of the prophet is blasphemy? So why then, are there not riots exploding throughout America? The answer is secularism and its logical effect on mystic religion and the faith for which it is based. The ‘Jeffersonian wall’ between church and state has tempered abject religious fervor. Americans are still deeply religious (95% believe in God) but the majority of Americans are moderate in their faith and have found that secularism is good for democracy and thus good for the people being represented.

Contrary to many pundits beliefs, secularism is good and religion in its political form is bad. The interjection of faith-based programs must end and a new post-modern mortar must now be applied to the ‘Jeffersonian wall’ before our streets become just another religious mixing ground of ignorance, intolerance and violence.

* (true that some protests have taken place in Europe, however those protesters are not as violent and are carried out by either first or second generation immigrants)