The Problem with Fundamentalism
Fundamentalist Christians have been quoting the same phrase verbatim for almost a century; "our country has lost touch with God," and that is the basis for all immorality. Overlooking their gross display of ignorance, one can't help but reminisce about the days when the church dominated the earth. Specifically, the Middle Ages, the Spanish Inquisition, and the first few years of the Scientific Revolution.
Between the 6th and 11th Centuries CE, the standard of living and age expectancy struck record lows. Throngs of short-lived kings all bowed to God while plagues ran rampant in their castles. When a survivor was found, their God was praised; when a life was lost, the ruler's faith was brought into question by the clergy. Scientific advancement -- and the term "scientific advancement"-- held no meaning in this world as ignorance flourished. The Middle Ages were dominated by religion and the masses have scarcely suffered more in all of history.
Few can match the cruelty of the Spanish Inquisition, a period of time in which the very accusation of heresy (a term for thinking outside the book) was comparable to a death sentence. Men, women, and children were beaten, jailed, tortured, and subsequently executed for little to no reason at all. It is undeniable that the Christian God was in command and equally undeniable that rational people were not.
After all the bloodshed, things began to change-- drastically. In Italy (present-day home of the Vatican; heart of the Catholic Church), people began to ask all the questions the Bible couldn't answer. As a result, art and science flourished and spread as fast as the Bubonic Plague centuries prior. This "scientific revolution" was not without resistance from the church; bright men were intimidated into lying to the public as truth after scientific truth challenged the doctrines of faith. As religion began to wane, technology and the standard of living soared to new heights (as did the church's hostility).
As a result of the sacrifices of both blood and pride of the victims of religious atrocity, we live in a modern society with modern conveniences and modern responsibilities. One such responsibility is to perpetuate the cycle of innovation and scientific advancement. Health and enlightenment cannot be guaranteed by religion in the respective qualities and quantities that our science has proven to provide to our people. "Returning to the way of God" would be a retrogressive move that can only result in more bloodshed. If you love peace, embrace science; for science does not embrace martyrdom nor killing in the name of God.
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