Things I don't believe in

I have recently gotten several e-mails from the same person, and have over the years received many with the same disturbing messages.

Here is one thing that stumps me: since when do loving Jesus and the military have anything in common? I don't understand. No matter what your views on the military in general, how can you make a case for it being somehow religious? Nowhere in the Bible, and especially not in the New Testament, can you find some sort of implication that Christ's followers should be especially supportive of their local government's military or war in general. Now don't get me wrong: I am not like the Vietnam-era protesters who held the poor veterans responsible for the war. Those enlisted in the military are not responsible for today's war; they have no control over it, and I respect them for wanting to protect us. However, America is not God, and the military is not his warriors. The United States to the Christian is like Rome was to the Jews in Jesus's time, or like Babylon was to the Israelites of old. We are meant to live here, to love people and do God's work, but not to give our hearts or allegiance to the geographic or political terrain. We are meant to follow the laws and pay our taxes as long as that does not interfere with following the much more important laws of God.

Here's another thing: how can someone I see as loving, as being a "good person" completely demonize an entire group of people based on their religion? I have received e-mails comparing Muslims to the Nazis, and I end up feeling the senders are much more akin to that particular evil. Are there Muslim religious extremists, willing to kill themselves just to kill off other human beings for the sake of their religion? Yes. Is this true of Christianity as well? Yes (forgive us, Lord)! I wish it were not so, but there have been crazies throughout the ages of every race and religion who were willing to kill for what they believed in. That does not mean that your average-Joe Muslim in his place of worship is a Nazi. If you are going to be a bigot, you need to examine yourself and your heart. Obviously I do not think Islam is the "right" path; I follow Jesus with all my heart. I also don't think certain groups of people are envoys of Satan as much as that he tries to work in all of us. I am just as capable of intensely evil action as any terrorist may be, and if I fear that within me, I just may try to judge others and make it seem that there are specific groups of people who are evil--thus making me innocent if I am not one of them.

Anyway, forgive the rant, but my religious beliefs lead me to be a pacifist who loves all people equally. It seems to me that Jesus was just that, and if I aspire to be like him, I must follow his example. I may not be "patriotic"--should I want to be? I may be judged. I don't particularly care.