Paradoxes of the Holy War
It was a striking scene as President Donald Trump held a prayer session in the White House to receive blessings for his war against Iran, attended by a group of pastors praying for his victory. Later, his spiritual advisor said, "To say no to President Trump would be saying no to God."
Some commentators on social media mentioned that this is a religious ritual in evangelical Protestantism that considers the rise of Greater Israel as a part of the Second Coming. Before that, reports stated that service members in the U.S. military filed complaints saying they were told that Trump is leading the battle of Armageddon.
The significance of this event — if the U.S. is truly employing the religious element — is that all three sides of the religious triangle would be involved in this war. Benjamin Netanyahu has long stated that he is performing a sacred duty in his wars to restore divine right for the Jews. Since the revolution, Iran has been raising the slogan of war against the "Great Satan" and "new crusaders." Now, the president of the largest secular nation, where mixing religion with politics is considered a major taboo, is masking his war against Iran with a religious veneer. Therefore, we are facing an unusual shift in the justifications for wars in the modern era, especially when it is used by the president of the strongest country in the world.
Data indicate that wars fought on religious grounds do not exceed 7% of all wars throughout history. Most modern conflicts involve a mix of politics, nationalism and economy. While the religious factor is sometimes employed indirectly without being explicitly declared, we now face a striking paradox in the third millennium, which is centuries removed from the last wars that were caused and fueled by religion.
However, despite this notable event, everyone knows that politics and worldly interests drive wars, and this current war is no exception. Iran has dealt with the "Great Satan" both secretly and publicly. If the U.S. could have gotten what it wants without war, it would have done so. Each party wants to achieve its goals according to its own conditions, though Israel is perhaps the party that most frequently employs myths to justify a claimed divine right.
Are we looking at a return to the darkness of the Old World, or does President Trump intend to spring yet another one of his endless surprises on us?
Some commentators on social media mentioned that this is a religious ritual in evangelical Protestantism that considers the rise of Greater Israel as a part of the Second Coming. Before that, reports stated that service members in the U.S. military filed complaints saying they were told that Trump is leading the battle of Armageddon.
The significance of this event — if the U.S. is truly employing the religious element — is that all three sides of the religious triangle would be involved in this war. Benjamin Netanyahu has long stated that he is performing a sacred duty in his wars to restore divine right for the Jews. Since the revolution, Iran has been raising the slogan of war against the "Great Satan" and "new crusaders." Now, the president of the largest secular nation, where mixing religion with politics is considered a major taboo, is masking his war against Iran with a religious veneer. Therefore, we are facing an unusual shift in the justifications for wars in the modern era, especially when it is used by the president of the strongest country in the world.
Data indicate that wars fought on religious grounds do not exceed 7% of all wars throughout history. Most modern conflicts involve a mix of politics, nationalism and economy. While the religious factor is sometimes employed indirectly without being explicitly declared, we now face a striking paradox in the third millennium, which is centuries removed from the last wars that were caused and fueled by religion.
However, despite this notable event, everyone knows that politics and worldly interests drive wars, and this current war is no exception. Iran has dealt with the "Great Satan" both secretly and publicly. If the U.S. could have gotten what it wants without war, it would have done so. Each party wants to achieve its goals according to its own conditions, though Israel is perhaps the party that most frequently employs myths to justify a claimed divine right.
Are we looking at a return to the darkness of the Old World, or does President Trump intend to spring yet another one of his endless surprises on us?
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