Rapture Irresponsibility

John Hagee (analyzed in a recent broadcast of Fresh Air) inhabits a world of Manichean duality. Christians must ensure the unity of Israel and defray attempts at peace (thus leaving the pot simmering for an eventual imaginary holocaust and Armageddon), or otherwise risk forestalling the Second Coming. Apparently fate needs its hand held (?). And Muslims – who Hagee condescendingly calls “Islamics” – are either terrorists, or dishonest followers of the Qu’ran. Compromise is unnecessary; thus, it needn’t be sought.  There is neither ground nor reason for peace, after all, if you believe that by dogmatic adherence to your position, you’ll be scooped off of the Earth relatively quickly.

Religious politics – and especially “rapture-based politics” – are the ultimate form of selfishness and irresponsibility. The most fundamental injunction of the politician and the statesman is that he (or she) act for the good of the country and the world. Although the latter may be subordinated to the former, it may not be forgotten.

Rapture-based geopolitics subvert the good of humanity, and the good of the country, for the good of the sect. Such a recently invented fairytale, which requires one to only look out for co-religionists – and the rest, quite literally, be damned – is not a religion that deserves respect, and it is not a religion that deserves any access to power. Hagee is dangerous, and his continued proximity to McCain speaks increasingly poorly for McCain’s judgment.