According to Elitist Liberal Robert Reich:“The great conflict of the 21st century will not be between the West and terrorism. Terrorism is a tactic, not a belief. The true battle will be between modern civilization and anti-modernists; between those who believe in the primacy of the individual and those who believe that human beings owe their allegiance and identity to a higher authority; between those who give priority to life in this world and those who believe that human life is mere preparation for an existence beyond life; between those who believe in science, reason, and logic and those who believe that truth is revealed through Scripture and religious dogma. Terrorism will disrupt and destroy lives. But terrorism itself is not the greatest danger we face." The American Prospect; July 2004; pg. 40
Notice how Reich sets up a false dichotomy between secularists and people of faith:
Modern civilization VS. anti-modernists
Primacy of the individual VS. Those who believe in a higher power.
Priority to life in this world VS. Preparation for an afterlife.
Science, reason and logic VS. Scripture and religious dogma.
Terrorism Bad VS. Faith Worse.
In Reich's black and white thinking, people of faith are "anti modern, superstitious, illogical and supremely dangerous." Reich's is the ultimate in anti-religious bigotry. I of course think that we would have none of our great universities were it not for the "anti-modernists" who founded most of the institutions of higher learning in the world. Isn't it those who believe in a higher power who actually fight for the primacy of the individual to live, to not be aborted nor to be euthanized. Who (such as a Mother Teresa, World Vision and countless other faith based organizations from skid row to Dafur) minister to life in this world. My scientist PHD fellow believers would be somewhat amazed that Reich has concluded they are on the "wrong side" of Reich's legal pad. And finally Reich concludes that persons of faith are worse than those who fly airliners into skyscrapers, walk onto school buses with bombs strapped around their waists. Reich proclaims that people of faith are the ultimate enemy to be defeated in this century. Reich unfortunately is a wee little man with a wee little mind whose shallow examination of faith doesn't hold water.
Psalms 2:1-6
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."
