Holy Wars and Blasphemy Law. Two deadly weapons wielded time
and again by devious minds to settle political scores. Who can blame them? What
better fuel to ignite the minds of the faithful than the love for their God?
What better reason for them to take arms than to defend their Lord?
From Jesus Christ to Joan of Arc to Asia Bibi, the
casualties of the blasphemy law are long and never ending. The Holy Wars are
not far behind either. Whether it is a crusade or a jihad or one with any other
fancy name, the story is same. Brain washed innocents end up killing more
innocents on the commands of God’s real enemies.
In fact, what the so called fanatics, who shamelessly cry
for the blood of non-believers, seem to miss is that there is no greater
blasphemy than a holy war. War, for one, is never holy. Let alone a war in the
name of defending one’s God. Does the Almighty require mortal arms to save Him
from worldly threats? Is He that weak? Do they have no faith in His strength?
If so, it would be worthwhile to ponder who the non-believer is.
The episode of Gethsemane sends out a clear message to all
who seek to defend their Lord. For when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, Peter drew
his sword to defend the Lord. Jesus replies, “Put your sword back into its
place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I
cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve
legions of angels?”
Rather than faith, it is the lack of it that spurs men to
violent ways. As the wise Gamaliel once remarked about the Apostles who were
spreading a new religion among the Israelites, “So in the present case, I tell
you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this
undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not
be able to overthrow them – in that case you may even be found fighting against
God!”
A narrow mind is a sign of a shallow faith. All religions
speak of tolerance and love. The best way to defend your faith is by being a
living saint than a dead stain.
