For those old enough to have lived through the first quarter of the 20th Century or for those who are grounded in History, they may remember the philosophical experimentation that characterized that time. Some may even remember the name Benito Mussolini, a teacher and founder of Italian Fascism. His claim to fame was that his totalitarian methodology made the notorious railway system run on time. He also made war and tried expansionism into Africa. Mussolini was a Fascist and a fanatic. He was not particularly faith-based for his nation surrounded the Vatican, a tiny faith-based city-state, that tried to be invisible for many years including the holocaust of World War II.
Terrorists throughout time have been fanatics. If they prevailed, they wrote the history of their period. They rarely became democratic but chose the totalitarian system, usually a form of fanaticism led by a dictator. Such dictators often aspired to royalty and founded dynasties. Fanatics have faith in what they believe and often believe that they rule by divine right and decide questions of life and liberty. Some political parties begin with fanatic opposition to the status quo. They are considered extreme and dangerous by the establishment. Sometimes they become recognized parties of the opposition. Sometimes they are driven to operate underground. But either those in power or those in opposition may be fanatics. Our Colonial Forefathers were considered fanatics by the British and a considerable number of the Colonists.
Faith-based programs visualized by our current administration began to be familiar at the end of the first four years of the Bush Presidency. One of his core constituencies is the Right Wing of organized Christianity centered in the middle of Middle America. They are the driving force in programs pushed by the Bush Administration to prevent Gay and Lesbian unions recognized as marriage. They back the Bush Administration opposition to abortions of any kind and oppose allowing women the right to choose for themselves. They also wholeheartedly support Mr. Bush’s war in the Middle East and distrust global organizations to regulate peace. Insularity and homophobia are the hallmarks of faith-based organizations. They proclaim exclusivity of the truth about God and the authenticity and supremacy of the New Testament story of the life and death of Jesus, Jew of Nazareth, two thousand years ago. They want this taught in schools and rely on home instruction indoctrinating these “truths” to children who could better benefit from exposure to “others” in public schools.
In this fourth year of the 21st Century faith and faith-based programs will battle (continuing the cultural war over the control of this country) to impose its will and practices on the whole nation. It is frightening for the losers of close races.