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Religion said Marx is the opiate of the people - at least I think he is the one who said it. I doubt if there is any American who would say that it is an opiate, but rather a weapon.
It is a hard thing to say, but religion can be a terrible thing, especially when it is turned into a weapon. The problem I think is not the zealots who turn their religion into causes, though causes create fanatics and fanatics play the most dangerous games with other people's lives, rather I think it is the religion.
Jesus warned us of these - there will be a time He said when religious people will kill you and think they do God a favor. Indeed, religion can be downright hazardous to one's health and well-being.
Now mind you there is a difference between faith and fanaticism, a very great difference. A fanatic is one who is willing to die for a lie and take you along with him. Faith is willing to live for the truth and lay his or her life on the line for your safety and well-being. Yes indeed, there is a great difference.
The Judeo/Christian environment of our culture, by and large, has conditioned us Americans. We don't have a slot for a god who hates and kills and promises you paradise if you murder and maim the innocent, the babies and helpless women. Yet, a vast mass of people on this earth does worship such a god, and in many cases will kill you if you do otherwise.
In Israel you hear the chant, "God is great, God is great," every time a Jew is killed or maimed by a suicide bomber. It is an obscene chant, yet was heard said again and again in Yankee stadium during the memorial service by a 'religious' leader. This I don't understand.
What kind of religion is it that would produce men, men who are considered heroes by the followers of this religion, who would make innocent people part of a flying missile to destroy thousands of others innocent people with the worst sort of death, all the while shouting, "God is great, God is great."
I guess though we shouldn't be surprised. It was religion in the hands of the religious that stained the sands of the Roman arenas with the blood of the early Christians. It was religion in the hands of the religious that burnt thousands on the stakes during the Inquisition. It was religion in the hands of the religious that fired up the Nazi ovens and murdered six million Jews.
Those I find who live out a vital faith, worship and serve a God of love and mercy - those I find who live by religion and by cause, seem to serve a God that reflects the evil of their own hearts.
But we of vital faith must never, ever do to these religionist what they would do to us - as good overcomes evil, so love swallows up hate.
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© 2001, Scope Ministries International, Inc.
Jim Craddock, Founder and President Emeritus 
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