Armageddon

In the Book of Revelation 16,16, it is written: Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. 

Last Tuesday evening Red Baron listened to a lecture by Professor Matthew Sutton from Washington State University titled:

The Antichrist and the Rise of the American Christian Right

Professor Sutton and his audience (©Carl-Schurz-Haus)

For me, religion is private, although most Christians belong to a congregation - For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them*. These congregations may be as influential as the Catholic Church.
*Matthew 18:20

In Germany, the influence of religion on politics is on the decline. Christian Churches fight rearguard battles against abortion and same-sex marriage in our pluralistic society, but no one will lament that the Lord no longer holds his hand over Germany. Red Baron learned that statements such as these were made on television in the States following the 9/11 attacks: Wake-up America. Turn back.

Infidelity, sensualism, wars, despising
of the government, apostasy, Bolshevism,
isms of all kinds (©Matthew Sutton)

Professor Sutton told his audience about Christian fundamentalists in America who, since the middle of the 19th century, believed that the last millennium would soon dawn. Women's right to vote, homosexuality, Biblical criticism, and evolution are evil, and the war against evil is on. Before the final "Rapture" comes, as many people as possible must be turned to the "right" faith to be saved.

The interpretation of the Bible, in particular the Book of Revelation, gave those fundamentalists their arguments. Signs of the times, like the rebirth of the state of Israel, pointed in the direction of Armageddon. Some fundamentalists even went so far as to consider Hitler God's tool for driving the Jews to Palestine.

Although cautious in their statements not to be taken for fundamentalists, American politicians quickly jump on the bandwagon of the Evangelicals when it serves their purposes. That was even true for presidents. However, at present, some fundamentalists question whether the Magic Negro in the White House indeed is a Christian or is he instead the Antichrist?

©Matthew Sutton

To get some structure to my writing: here are some key points from the announcement of the lecture organized by the Carl-Schurz-Haus in Freiburg:

Starting in the early 20th century, a colorful and charismatic group of radical Protestants, anticipating the end of the world, paradoxically transformed it. Perceiving the United States as besieged by Satanic forces - communism and secularism, family breakdown and government encroachment - Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, and many others took to the pulpit and airwaves to explain how Biblical end-times prophecy made sense of a world ravaged by global wars, genocide, and the threat of nuclear extinction. Rather than withdraw from their communities to wait for Armageddon, they used what little time was left to warn of the coming Antichrist, save souls, and prepare the United States for God's final judgment.

The world has seen this before. There have always been particular periods in history when Christians anticipated the final judgment. Already the primitive community lived in the imminent expectation of Christ's return: Jesus went on to say, "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." (John 16:16).

©Matthew Sutton

The magic year 1000 saw Christendom preparing for the world's end.

Disgusted by the Roman Church's abuses, Luther was convinced that the Antichrist had usurped St. Peter's Chair. The reformer believed in an imminent eschaton.

And a recent poll revealed that nearly 50% of Americans think Jesus will return by 2050. Why should one care about global warming? For now, the end is near, and humanity faces the final curtain.

It seems that the scourge of the 21st century is religiously motivated fundamentalism. The abuse of religion as an instrument of political power has been a common thread throughout history. While ISIS slaughters people of another faith in the name of Allah, Christian fundamentalist movements brainwash people and deprive their followers of their free will and ... their money.

What is wrong here? Did we not see the Enlightenment at the end of the 18th century? Why do we need religions at all? That will be the topic of another blog.
*