Symbiosis: Religion and the State - International Social/Political

China recently hosted the international Buddhist forum, a communist government openly courting religion! The Church of England, not to be outdone by a bunch of commos, publicly denounced Capitalism and attributed the huge disparity in social circumstances to that ideology of inequity and avarice. No one can claim that the Church of England doesn’t get a point, even if it takes a few hundred years! [Regardless of the vocal gesture or feign, action never follows the odd theological comment against the State].

It would be easy to miss the underlying connection between Church and State in both these seemingly disconnected events. China is fully aware that theology offers the most cost-effective method of social control – doctrinal inculcation and the subsequent internalisation of regulatory behavioural codes reduces the need for militaristic policing and other external forms of COSTLY social regulation.

Furthermore, theology induces passivity to authority – there is no better method of creating compliance than theology. Who else would quietly accept injustice, deprivation and huge disparities in the distribution of wealth than subjects that imagine it is the result of demerit, sin or the will of 'God?' Many extremely intelligent and capable people become observably handicapped when the subject of religion rears its illogical, paralysing and fear-inducing head. Never doubt the power that is borne of theological indoctrination (child abuse) and the resultant fear/incapacitation that it engenders (usually for life).

It seems the pragmatic communist government of China has finally realised that a national religion would assist in reducing social discontent and protest activity, recently expressed in the form of pitch battles against government forces.

However, the national introduction of religion would come at a price, which the Chinese authorities are not ready or willing to pay. The Chinese ruling elite desires the benefits of religion without the power sharing liability. Their present strategy is to manipulate via sympathetic or corrupt religious leaders.

The Vatican recently rejected two Chinese appointed ‘Catholic’ Bishops (for obvious reasons). The Tibetan Panchen Lama’s traditional role of selecting a future Dalai Lama (theocratic leader of the Tibetan people) has prompted the Chinese to introduce their own ‘Panchen Lama’. Old habits die hard, for thousands of years Chinese society has known only centralist rulers, warlords and emperors. Power sharing does not enter the minds of Chinese ruling elites; however, pragmatism and expediency does.

The antics of the Chinese government are obvious and would be humorous except for instances of brutal oppression. They overtly oppress any religious sect or organisation that directly opposes their rule or incorporates anti-government sentiments in their theology. The Falun Gong cult is perhaps the most well known example of a quasi-theological sect with blatant political agendas. The Chinese have learnt that State and religion live in either symbiotic relationship or conflict; there is no middle ground.

The western model offers an excellent example of religion relinquishing its theological integrity for the benefits of wealth and mutual power sharing arrangements. Theological integrity is lost immediately a bargain is struck with the State. The essential political aspect of religion, universal conversion (one God, one people, and ONE GOVERNMENT) is at the heart of all major Western religions. China would do well to realise that Church leaders are thoroughly corruptible. If the State allows organised religion to proselytise and attract funds for their own coffers, organised religion, as history verifies, is happy to enter into mutually beneficial power-sharing arrangements with the State.

In Europe during the Second World War, the Catholic Church actively supported Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. More recently the Evangelicals (who number in the tens of millions) rallied behind George Bush and overtly supported him in two election campaigns, notwithstanding the appalling human rights record of the Bush regime, including pre-emptive illegal wars of aggression and plunder (Iraq).

In both instances the church actively involved itself in the sordid political affairs of State to the extent, in Bush's case, that he would not have gained the Presidency without the support of religionists.

When Church and State work in each others' interests the losers are always the common people – regardless of whether they subscribe to any religious ideology or not!

It should not be forgotten that the ‘sacred’ texts of Christianity are the direct result of political intervention. The Roman Emperor Constantine, under the direction of his sociopathic but politically savvy mother, established an editorial committee -- The Council of Nicea -- to formulate the new State religion of Christianity. If the reader is in any doubt as to the very temporal origins of today’s Christianity, I offer the following Nicean editorial insertions/quotes – all designed to subject populations to their rulers. The claim that rulers are of God and should not be resisted is patently absurd – Christ himself vigorously opposed the corrupt State and decadent ruling elites

Romans 13:
1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

Titus 3:1
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

Mark 12:17
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. [Jesus/Constantine affirms the relationship between church and State]

1 Peter 2:
13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

Christianity would certainly qualify as the perfect religion for any totalitarian State (China/America) George W Bush is green with envy at the central control of the Chinese State and is pursuing that method of rule as fast as the religiously passive population will tolerate – and they tolerate much!

Dear reader, if you have arrived at the conclusion that this paper is designed to sell you to oppressive ruling elites, you would be right. However, brave minorities are in no doubt as to the actual identity of the fearless character and fighter that lies behind the mythology that surrounds Jesus Christ. The Son of 'Man' fought bravely (often unsupported) against the corrupt rule of the theocratic leaders of his day.

The above biblical quotes are CLEARLY the result of political intervention. Politicians/the State produced the Canon that is held in such high regard today.

Endnote:
China has proven itself adept at manipulating the avaricious beast of Western Capitalism. A very minor shift in perspective would allow the incorporation of theological methods of social control. It is an unfortunate fact that the masses love to be herded and treated like children; so why not accommodate them!

As for the FREE people of the WORLD – We are ONE.

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