I recently engaged in an on-line discussion with an individual who participates in another internet forum that I've been active in for the last few years. The gist of the discussion was about whether Islam or Christianity would have the most appeal to non-believers.
It's a completely irrelevant question to me. What's important right now when we give any thought to these two religions is not what's true but what threat or threats are posed to us by the most extreme adherents of these two faiths or religious practices.
The truly important issue for us in the US right now is about the propensity both religions have to try to assume power and compel everyone—whether they’re believers in the majority, ascendant religion, or believe anything at all—to follow their beliefs and religious doctrines or laws.
When the most extreme followers of Islam, Christianity or any religion are in control, ordinary people, regardless of belief or unbelief, are at risk of having their freedoms taken away and being forced to live under religious rule.
There is a movement afoot in the US right now to compel everyone—believers, people following other faiths and atheists alike—to “get on board”, to submit to their narrow ideas about how things ought to go. It’s the fulfillment of their Apocalyptic vision that “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”. (Philippians 2: 10–11)
Of course, not all Christians in America share the idea that the Church could or should be on an intentional, well-planned campaign to make this happen—regardless of what it might take to accomplish the mission, so to speak, but it’s happening, nevertheless, and the movement is gathering strength.
Although it’s true that the majority of American Christians are not on-board, it’s also true that the real hard-core and extreme adherents to any religion are usually the ones holding the power stick and therefore are able to carry out such a plan. Support from everyone who subscribes to the faith is not necessary.
And if you’re worried about what could happen to any of us in this Nation who might refuse to go along, or whether such a thing is even possible, let me point out that it’s happened many times in the history of Christianity and is a reality for millions of citizens and inhabitants of the six majority-Muslim Countries that are purposefully, authentically theocratic.
In a theocratic, authoritarian State, those in power can—and often do—force everyone, regardless of belief or unbelief, to submit to their authority, to their ideas about God’s will. They have the power to discredit, marginalize, excommunicate and—quite possibly—harm or kill those who don’t believe and/or don’t want to live in a theocracy.
The not-crazy believers would likely disapprove of the most extreme courses of action, but you’d still be discredited, jobless, slandered, ostracized, and—in a worst-case scenario that seems to be coming closer to reality with each passing day—dead.
We are only three or four short steps from having an authoritarian government in power with extreme religious leaders empowered as close partners, able to put in place their extreme ideas in ways that will impact all Americans, whether they’re believers or not.
Think Taliban or the mullahs and Imams of Afghanistan or Iran but with extreme Evangelical Christian leaders, whether clergy or lay, holding some office or not, calling the shots and compelling obedience.
Yes, what I’m describing is a worst-case scenario, and they may not be able to actually pull it off, but trump-loving Evangelicals and
Christian Dominionists are trying as hard as they can to bring it about. And now they have a President and an administration who are on-board 100%.
Project 2025 became an issue in last year's Presidential election and Trump denied he even knew what it was but that was another lie. He's known all about
Project 2025 and what Dominionists have been up to for a long time. And his Administration is now trying to implement as much of the plan's objectives as possible.
Keep your eye on what trump and his minions are doing. And trying to do. If they get their way, the Religious freedom we have enjoyed and treasured for generations in the USA will be rooted out. And God only know when--if ever--we'll get it back.
"Bulldog Ben" Basile
© 2025 Benjamin Lawrence Basile
