Signs....

The great thing about going on vacation, one tends to not be in touch with current events as much as one would be.. Obviously the tsunami in India and Thailand was a shock.. I haven't gauged Bush's response except that he's sorry that it happened and ordered our flags at half-mast.. I could be sarcastic, but it's still a tragedy.. Nothing changes the fact that over 100,000 people are dead or missing..

It raises a whole host of philosophical issues..

We started to watch a program about the Apocalypse - Armageddon - the end of the world on the History Channel last week.. I had no idea that it's the Christian religion that focuses so much on the end of life.. There's been a lot of discussion about this being a clear sign that the Rapture is coming.. Again, not sure if I have an opinion on it.. If it happens, it happens.. I can't really do or say anything to stop it.. It'll happen if it's destined to.. At most, all I can do is control that which is in front of me..

Still..

I recall that which I studied in college.. I started out an Astronomy major before settling in History.. Much to my mom's and Gram's chagrin - religion was something that was going to be difficult for me to venture towards.. Yes.. Having faith in Christianity - the Bible is a historical record of what happened, how people should live, and give a basic framework into what life is going to be like.. Now - not everyone is Christian and a lot of people do not subscribe to the Bible, its teachings or even the outlook as stated in Revelations..

Yet there are those that absorb themselves in Revelations as though it's the TV Guide for what's going to happen.. When history reflects the likes of Jim Jones, David Koresh, and others - I can't help but wonder exactly how healthy it is to immerse every fiber of your being into planning what may or may not happen tomorrow.. I recall (not that long ago) when the late night air waves had the likes of Dr. Jack Van Impe out that the end of the world was coming.... and coming..... (taps foot) ...... coming soon........ (sighs) ...... (long pause) ...... still coming........

You get the point..

But Van Impe is probably relishing a bit in this news.. Because when there's hardship - the book of Revelations says so.... Afterall, these are clear and visible signs that Christ is coming back.. I recall a number of years ago, about how some sort of terrorist act happened in the Middle East - is now understood as a "tell tale sign" that the rapture is coming.. (this was over 10 years ago....)

*sighs*

Okay - I'll go ahead and assume for just a moment that he's right.. I'll assume that the book of revelations is right.. What does Van Impe say one should do in preparation of the rapture: "millions need to be alerted to the fact that Jesus is coming soon-perhaps today!" I just went to his webpage and pulled up just a sampling of their writings.. Wow.. Interesting.. Even his question of the week was nothing short of bizarre: With so many increasing demonstrations against the war around the world, do you think Russia or China could use this as an excuse to attack America with nuclear bombs, on the pretense of stopping it? Either that, or get Korea to do their dirty work for them? Before that should happen, could the Rapture take place? Hope so!"

His response: "I think you heard enough today through what I said about Russia and China, to note the answer already. They might use any kind of excuse to get their hydrogen bombs moving across the globe, but will we be gone? Yes. The Bible teaches that the Rapture comes first. Revelation 4 verse 1, “Come up hither”, and the Tribulation only begins in chapter 6. We're gone. Two chapters ahead of that. So forget the fox holes. Trust Jesus. "

Whoa.. All I have to do is believe in Jesus and somehow I leave two chapters before the hydrogen bombs?? Then why didn't he send out a warning before the planes hit the towers?? Why wasn't there a siren that warned the 100,000 people in India of the impending danger that was about to happen?? Why don't we have the proper guidance according to the Bible as to what needs to happen in Iraq?? Moreover, if the rapture is going to happen soon, really soon, like .... today.. Then why aren't we making preparations?? Getting the family together so that we can all go together?? Why do we have to be alerted to the fact that Jesus is coming soon - instead of finalizing our affairs so that we're going to be ready for the big day??

Why is there an obsession that gays and lesbians aren't treated as humans, but are castaways who are damaged in some way?? That's very Hitler-esque if one thinks about it.. The Jews weren't particularly popular - even to the degree that they were the "cause" of the decline of German blood.. So what is the difference to what we're doing to gays and lesbians than what Hitler did to the Jews??

Well, Van Impe and others will say that all of these things are just signs to what is to come.. Okay.. I like the signs analogy.. I can run with this one.. But let's consider that maybe we're reading the sign wrong.. Perhaps this is God's way of saying "look, straighten up or I'm kicking everyone out of the pool.." Perhaps it's a sign that what we're doing in Iraq is wrong.. Perhaps it's a sign that we should be making the planet a calmer place to live instead of beating every hornets nest from here to the Middle East and beyond..

Remember: Hitler had the belief of God on his side when he believed he was the chosen one.. Napoleon believed that he was the chosen one to lead his country onto a dominant power.. Let's not forget that Bush himself believes he was selected to bid God's will.. But when we look at how the world powers have fared during history: we're in big time trouble because all of the biggest, most dominant nations in world history eventually fail and fall very hard.. This is recorded history; well documented, verifiable, and scary recent history.. Hell - take just the last 1000 years of which we can see where all of the other "successful" countries and how they fared..

Let's not forget that it was less than 70 years ago - just over a generation - when there was significant fear of Hitler and Hirohito of Japan.. When England was burning, we stuck to the Monroe Doctrine that kept everything in the western hemisphere.. It wasn't until Pearl Harbor that we finally got involved.. And back then - we were strong, but we weren't the strongest military.. It took 4 years to complete World War II after 1941.. So, let's be careful when we're saying we're the biggest, baddest, nation in the world and that everyone wants to be just like us.. September 11th proved that we are vulnerable and this administration continues to prove it..

We have a leader who is so focused on the theological reasoning of life - that it's leading us into a precarious position where our weaknesses are exploited.. Relying on faith didn't stop those planes from crashing into the towers.. Believing that we are doing in God's will won't stop the earthquakes, the next terrorist event, or the next plague.. Sometimes we have to rely on the tangible evidence and stop waiting for signs that are very likely not to come.. What if it was God's will that sent those planes into the towers?? What if He is really pissed at us and this is his way of showing us??

*sighs*

So.. What do folks like Van Impe do with the news of the tsunami disaster?? It boils down to an intricate, painfully distorted "Interpretation of Events..."

It's trying to apply today's news into passages from the Bible - as though there is a clear and present prophecy that is just about ready to happen today!! (um, yeah..) I did a quick google news search and found an interesting article from the Rabble which accurately portrays Van Impe for who he is: "an imbecile trying to shoehorn reasonably unpanicked headlines into the restrictive lunacy of the Book of Revelations. " Ouch, can't do better than that..

And that brings me to a larger question mark: exactly how can I trust that the separation of Church and State is facilitated so that we don't have someone like Van Impe trying to steal the launch codes so that he can fulfill his his interpretation of the prophecies on his own?? Not to mention what would happen if Benny Hinn or (god forbid) if Dr. Gene Scott was our Secretary of State..... *shudders* I've listened and watched all 3 and I get very afraid when I think that the highest office in this country, the leader of the free world may be influenced on an incomprehensible level as the three ministers I've listed here..

Not to mention, everyone can identify that Bush is not the smartest apple in the cart -- yet he was elected.. Are we comfortable with him because Jesus came to him and said he would be President?? Since when did God get interested in politics?? What would God gain from getting into politics?? He has the following of every Christian as it is ..... He has a number one best seller for the last thousand plus years...... He has a following which continues to grow and prosper....... What would God's need be with a President??

Okay..

I need to reiterate something..

Religion can be good.. The basis of religion to lay down a foundation of morality is a good thing.. We can't be running around in anarchy, can we?? I understand the need for faith and understand for some people - it's very important.. I'm not saying religion should be banned.. But I do have issues when it becomes a guiding principle in our policies and how it's going to evolve the world climate..

History demonstrates how wars usually are waged as a result of differing opinions about faith and religion.. Even our war on "terror" is rooted in a difference between Christianity and Islam.. Bin Laden has called for a Jihad - a holy war against us.. Look at the ongoing Palestinian/Israeli conflict -- rooted not just in land, but in theology.. Even the ongoing struggle for peace in Iraq is rooted in the fact that the country by and large has no desire to become a democracy -- because it's in direct conflict with their religion of Islam.. So instead of forcing the Iraqi people into something they do not want, there should be a more consistent, realistic approach to defining the world around us and to stop trying to build the Garden of Eden according to the book of Job.. The inconsistencies alone are enough to convince me that religion and the practicality in society is distinctly problematic..

We have to face the fact that we are hated not because they are jealous - but because we are a threat.. We represent a threat to their religion and when we turn that argument around the other way - we're afraid of Islam much the same way..

So does it make sense for us to perhaps root our faith in the realistic solutions to a problem instead of relying on faith as our guide?? Shouldn't we have a better balance of morality and reality?? I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't have a President who does not believe in God, but imposing one's will on another is much different than what previous administrations have done.. A quick success (if one can call it that) in Afghanistan should not automatically dictate that our will should be the will of every country in the world..

It's a precarious, dangerous, hazardous outlook for 2005 and beyond..

Is the tsunami some sort of sign as the religious pundits will explore?? Yeah, I think it could be..

But I don't think it's the sign everyone thinks it could be.. I just hope that I'm wrong..