Let me begin by first stating, “I adore Bill Maher ….” He is liberal, and as such a purist in his dialogue and satire. He will never be accused of riding the fence on any given topic or even being diplomatic in his delivery. He calls it like he sees it, and more often than not exposes the true motivation behind all the endless political posturing and machinations for what it is …. blind ambition and callous greed cleverly cloaked in a coat of self-righteousness designed to lure taxpayes into a false sense of security by having them believe their elected officials actually give a damn about anyone besides themselves. One-by-one he calls them out – both Republicans and Democrats, Conservatives and Liberals – who have forgotten what it is they were elected to do …. govern and represent the people.

However, in a recent tweet dated August 19 Maher blasted liberals by claiming they – in this case the NY Times – pretend all religions are alike. But I have to ask, “Which generalization is more dangerous ….” the one that suggest all do-gooder liberals wish to label all religions the same? Or the implication that the extremist group known as Isis, who is currently making headlines by way of having committed such brutal acts of atrocity as the beheading of American journalist, James Foley, and then subsequently placing that video online, is an Islamic religion at all?

Isis, under its former name Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, was formed in April of 2013, having grown out of al-Qaeda in Iraq(AQI). Since that time, it has actually been disavowed by al-Qaeda but has still managed to become one of the main jihadist groups fighting government forces in Syria and Iraq. Clearly both groups are terrorists whose insurgency into mainstream news has been fueled by countless acts of barbarism, which cannot help but stunt the development of all humanity in the process.

What they have done in their own country is no less than despicable, but to think they would commit such a disgusting act against an American citizen angers and sickens all of us who value concepts like freedom and democracy and treasure the ability to live life without feeling as if you’re under constant threat from outsiders who value nothing in a traditional sense aside from making war and committing genocidal acts against fellow Iraqis whose belief systems differ from their own. When you consider their countless acts of rape, pillaging, blackmail and murder carried out on a daily basis, it’s difficult – if not impossible – to consider this group of insurgents freedom fighters at all …. much less followers of Islam. I too have been deeply disturbed by Mr. Foley’s murder followed by the additional threats against westerners still being held hostage, but I am not ready to lump all people of Middle Eastern descent into one common Islamic basket.

According to Wikipedia, the Nation of Islam (NOI) is a syncretic new religious movement originally founded out of Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammed on July 4, 1930, and its stated goals were to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African Americans in the United States and all of humanity. Its detractors accused it of being black supremacists and anti-Semitic. While being a Muslim on the other hand is an adherent of Islam. It is a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran. Thus Muslims consider the Quran to be the verbatim word of God as revealed through the prophet, Muhammad, and Muslim is a term meaning one who submits to God.

Muslims believe that God is eternal, transcendent and absolutely one. They also believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith as revealed through the prophets …. including Abraham, Moses, Ishmael and Jesus. However, they also believe that message has been corrupted over time, thus in their eyes the Qur’an is the Final Testament. Their religious practices are enumerated in the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’ which consists of daily prayers, periodic fasting, almsgiving and at least one pilgrimage to Mecca over one’s lifetime, but speaking on a personal note, the few Muslims I have become acquainted with over the years are good, decent people …. extremely kind and considerate, well-educated, non-judgmental and generous by nature. They love their families and respect humanity, but mostly they adhere to peaceful living.

The wars and rumors of war that have given birth to religious extremism centered in and around the Middle East should not be considered Muslim or even followers of Islam for that matter. They are of no more political or social importance in their respective societies than the drug dealer or gang members are in ours, and their offensive claims against Western civilization do not lend credence to cowardly, vicious acts of violence perpetrated against American prisoners like James Foley, fellow Iraqis or any other citizen of the world. They parade innocents before cameras for the purpose of orchestrated public executions while cloaking their own identity for fear of being held personally accountable for their misdeeds. Tell me, where is the pride in that?

But to equate them with other Muslims who loyally practice their faith is as ridiculous and unfair as equating all Catholics with the corrupt, maniacal popes in Rome – Pope Innocent III to be exact – who originally set out to destroy the Cathars, a dissident sect who held alternative views about Jesus and claimed to be in possession of a secret Book of Love purported to be the gospel according to Jesus.

During the Dark Ages, the powers in Rome gave its papal blessing on mass executions – primarily through burning alive – large groups of the devoted as a means to cleanse the church. By the end of a twenty year military campaign, it is estimated one million people died during the crusades. As a practicing Roman Catholic who loves the church, this history – which I’ve read and studied at length – is disturbing to say the very least. After all, how can a man – any man – who professes to love God and worship the word of Christ be the root cause of so much pain, suffering and misery carried out in an effort to further his own agenda, thereby maximizing his authority over what was Western Europe at that time? Obviously it’s because he wasn’t so much a man of the cloth as a dangerously ambitious politician who managed to exert his will without consideration for common human decency. Thus he is an unfortunate part of the church’s history, but not a part of the actual fabric of the church itself. It is this ability to separate the two that enables me to still love Catholicism and worship the essence of what it has always stood for …. in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

In conclusion, whether speaking of radical groups like Isis or more organized factions like those who once lead The Inquisition while successfully hiding behind priestly robes, the comparisons are virtually the same …. these are nothing more than lustful, power-hungry individuals who lost sight of the true meaning of worship as they continue to quench their thirst for human suffering with the blood of their victims. Some may rise to a prominent place of power while others will remain anonymous or be forgotten long before the names of the martyrs they themselves created. In terms of the big picture, though they may indeed be feared, they are unimportant, as their movement will have little to do with how we Americans continue to lead our lives and worship. As a general rule they may alter the course of history during their time, but they cannot change what continues to live on in a good man or woman’s heart.

I pray for James Foley’s family as they are forced to come to terms with such a grim reality. However, I am deeply touched by the eloquence they exemplified during a statement to the press where the same courage, grace and dignity they managed to instill in their son was so richly demonstrated. In his mother’s words, “Jim would never want us to hate or be bitter. We’re praying for the strength to love like he did.” And that’s what’s at the heart of any true religion – whether Christian, Muslim or Jew – the ability to love even in the face of unspeakable tragedy. May God bless you all.