Steve Bannon is calling in the tide of religion to US foreign policy….is war far behind?
In 1857 Mathew Arnold wrote a beautiful poem which captured his sense of dismay at the loss of faith that had occurred during the 19th century in England. His chosen metaphor was the ‘ the eternal note of sadness’ created by the sea and its tides. Here is the penultimate verse:
The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furl’d.
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
Retreating, to the breath
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear
And naked shingles of the world.
As the orgiastic violence of the twentieth century tore up the world it also destroyed what was left of conventional religious faith. Messiaen wrote his ‘Quartet for the end of Time’ whilst incarcerated in a German concentration camp. It was inspired by a few words he exchanged with a fellow inmate as they watched their guards hang a man:
“Where is our God now” said Messiaen
“ He is up there, on that gibbet” replied his friend.
But this disillusion with religion did not seem to penetrate the United States to the same degree. Perhaps the relative distance of the country from the horror of both wars sheltered the faith of the people. The belief of American Presidents in the idea that God had assigned a special role to the United States has been well documented. If the cold war became hot God would be on the side of America and see her people safe. ( See Religion and American Foreign Policy, 1945–1960 by William Inboden ) More recently, George Bush was frank about his conviction that God was guiding his foreign policy. We all know what a disaster that delusion led to for America and those living below its smart bombing runs.
And now, we have Steve Bannon in the role of Rasputin to Donald Trump. Vladimir Putin has Alexander Dugin, another eschatalogist anticipating the last days. Mr Bannon subscribes to the idea that the Judeo-Christan world is locked in mortal combat with Islam for world supremacy. He also happens to think that war with China is inevitable, although this may not be part of his religious crusade.
This resurgence of Christian evangelism, reminiscent of The Crusdades, the church armed and militant against an infidel, is occurring as Europe and America have living in their midst millions of Muslims for whom their religion and daily life are not separate categories either. Faith is a daily reality and guide for those who follow the Islamic faith. But, despite the outrages of radical Islam, it is clear that the result of this fusion is a peaceful and respectful life when led in Europe or the USA.
But how much longer can the Muslim and their host populations remain in peace when the militant wing of evangelical Christianity is in The White House? The guiding spirit of the United States believes that America is locked into a life and death struggle with Islam. Yes, Islam, not ISIS. If it was just ISIS we and the muslim community would understand, but it’s not, and Steve Bannon is on the record.
It is difficult to believe that this will end well.
