The God of Abraham, the patriarchal deity of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, militant factions of which are currently waging horrific war across the Middle East, each claiming to have his favor, is portrayed as being all-powerful and occasionally vengeful toward those not giving him due honor. To a degree, this explains the death and destruction raging in the region. We are fulfilling the wishes of our God. Christianity began as an alternative to old-world ethics. “Love thy neighbor, turn the other cheek, practice charity” were its directives, but with the weaker, darker elements of human nature, a thirst for power and wealth, and a strong tendency to larceny, these were cast aside in favor of militancy. Sadly, feeling powerful, in all its manifestations, has become “the human way of life”. All three religions do profess to have a gentler ethos. It simply has been buried.

– RP