Fundamentalism in America

Writes Mr Naeem ul Haque

Although Islamic fundamentalism is blamed by many in the West for being responsible for all the chaos prevailing in the world today, a close look at Christian fundamentalism in America leads one to conclude that this powerful movement has become a very serious threat to world peace. In recent years, as a society, America has become more and more religious and started looking at political issues more from a theological perspective than ever before. This has enabled the Christian fundamentalists to define and influence a political agenda for America that raises new questions about America’s real intentions to dominate the world.

The influence of these fundamentalists on the American foreign policy has never been greater than now. Also known as the religious right, this powerful movement, dominated by Evangelists, has made the security and territorial integrity of Israel its main objective in seeking to influence the American foreign policy, and in pursuing this course, identifying Islam as its main adversary. This is a dangerous and unfortunate development which puts an ugly — and unnecessary — emphasis on the schisms between the two great religions of the world, Islam and Christianity.

One important reason for this is the Christian belief in the doctrine of pre-millennial dispensationalism. The doctrine says that mankind is now in the next-to-last dispensation, the church age, which will be followed by the millennium. The trigger for the millennium will be the second coming of Christ who will establish a worldwide kingdom centered in Jerusalem. First, however, Christ’s return will be marked by the Rapture in which the dead whom God wishes to redeem are resurrected and the living who are selected for salvation are swept from earth to heaven.

Those left behind will undergo the horrors of a seven-year tribulation which will culminate in the battle of Armageddon in Israel and the annihilation of the Antichrist. Christ will return amid the slaughter and establish his thousand-year rule. The re-establishment of the Jewish Temple on the site where the Al-Aqsa mosque is situated is also a pre-condition for the return of Christ under this doctrine. Hence, the religious significance of a Jewish state with sovereignty over Jerusalem.

In expressing their worldview, the leaders of the religious right in America have found an ideal partner in the neo-conservative politicians and thinkers who have dominated the two Bush administrations. Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Doug Feith and Bernard Lewis have led the shaping of the Bush administration’s dangerous and disastrous approach to tackling the perceived threat to American interests and domination of the world.

Under the combined influence of the religious right and the neo-conservatives the Bush administration has pursued the imperialistic notion of using military threat and action to pressurize and bring changes in the countries which oppose its policies.

The emergence of an independent Palestine with Israel withdrawing to pre-1967 borders remains unacceptable to the powerful Jewish-Christian fundamentalist-neo-conservative axis in America. As a result, President Bush has refused to commit himself to a timetable for Palestinian independence and has put aside steps to start talks on the roadmap to peace in the Middle East. This is highly irresponsible and regrettable.

In the aftermath of 9/11, the demonization of Islam by Christian fundamentalists has continued unabated in America. Well-known preachers like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Franklin Graham have routinely been critical of and insulting to Islam and the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

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