When the Arab Spring happened, fake religious organizations were exposed. The suffering of millions of people around the world were exposed as religious organizations pretending to be devout Muslim practitioners attempted to enslave other human beings. Today’s political debacle in the United States may finally offer proof that the Republican Party, which pretends to be a Christian organization, but is in reality a devil-worshipping body of self-serving ambitious men and women, is truly a cult which wants to force all of the American people to follow its beliefs, while making them wealthy.

The Republican Party is imploding, and for the American people, including long time GOP voters, this is a good thing. The politicians who call themselves ‘Republicans’ today, are in fact ambitious individuals who seek political office for fame and fortune.

Republican policies today are not intended to support our nation or its citizens. They vocalize the desires of special interests. The GOP is owned by the wealthy, the NRA, and the Christian religious right.

They preach the practice of austerity in government, which will allow the one-percent to experience an increase in profits, while the working class moves nearer to the poverty level.

Human life is of no concern to Republicans. The rights of gun manufacturers and gun sellers to secure record-breaking profits are their priority. The NRA gun lobby dictates policy to Republican politicians, while every day there is a mass shooting in the United States, and more than 33,000 Americans are killed yearly by the use of a gun; most are women and children.

Two personal situations, which have become ‘hot button’ political issues, should never have become a public concern. Abortion and homosexual lifestyles are personal, and should be private. Abortion is the most difficult decision a woman makes, and it must be her choice, not the responsibility of a group of Christians who want to control their bodies. Millions of Americans have been ostracized from the mainstream simply because they were born with a different and misunderstood sexual orientation. As with abortion, the Christian religious right demonizes these men and women without a single valid objection.

I grew up Catholic, although today I shun organized religion. I was taught that Christianity was a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Ours was a faith founded on peace and the love of one another. We were instructed to avoid being judgmental of others, and to respect the beliefs of everyone. Hate was a mortal sin.

An entire political party, supported by the Christian religious right, professes to be Christian, but does not fit the definition. They preach hatred for anyone who fails to blindly accept their doctrine; a doctrine which is diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Today I know few men and women who can honestly call themselves ‘Christians.’

It’s time for all American people to rise up and oppose these ‘Christians in name only.’ If they do not offer every man, woman, and child unconditional love, they are not Christian. If they judge others and offer hate instead of understanding, they are not Christians. If they use Christianity for their own political advancement, they should not be allowed to claim that they are followers of Christ.

If we choose to live in America, the Constitution is the only document which has any importance. The Bible and its teachings are a personal choice, which is protected by the Constitution, but forbidden inclusion within our political system.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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