On Friday evening’s ‘Real Time with Bill Maher,’ he had as a guest a Muslim woman who was an activist for women who are abused by extremists in her faith. He failed to include Christians who are just as violent and advocate the death of abortion doctors and nurses who perform abortions for an unwanted pregnancy. He once again displayed his hypocrisy and hatred for Muslims.

Religious extremism is not restricted to those who claim to be Muslims. ISIS and al-Qaeda are not composed of devout followers of the prophet Muhammad. They are ambitious men who want to rule the world and make women sex slaves. They violate the Quran as they use violence as the tool to accomplish their goals.

Christians cannot be excluded from this dialogue. The Christian religious right is actually a lobby which supports the right wing. If they did not exist, women would not be forced to fight for the right to decide what to do with their own bodies.

Politicians who support these religious fanatics claim to be Christian. However, just like ISIS and al Qaeda fail to follow the teachings of Muhammad, these men and women ignore the instructions of Jesus Christ.

Jesus was the ultimate Democrat. He believed in free thought and free choice, and that only His Father had the right to judge men and women when they faced Him at the end of their lives. He told men to love one another, and use their conscience as a guide for moral judgement.

I am a ‘cautious fan’ of Bill Maher; but that’s what being an Independent is all about. I agree with him much of the time, but when he began his attacks on all Muslims months ago, I severely questioned his stand on religious belief.

All religions and all governments are unhealthy for a free society. Allowing any individual or any group to control our daily lives limits free thought and free choice. Ministers and politicians share the pulpit. The truth is that far too many Americans seek guidance from another individual instead of seeking spirituality and looking inside themselves for the truth.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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