February 18, 2011

Fischer worships "God" of racism

Radio Evangelist Preaches An Ugly Message

By Steven NewcombFischer’s argument of “moral disqualification” for American Indians is informed by the Old Testament story of the Chosen People and the Promised Land. In the story, “God” is depicted as being on the side of the Hebrews (and, in Fischer’s view, of the Christians) because “Yaweh” is said to have entered into a covenant with Abram, who was renamed Abraham, “a father of many nations.”

Unfortunately for Fischer, people throughout the world have achieved enough distance from that ancient narrative to realize that he and his allies are operating under a form of outmoded idolatry: He worships the idol of the false “God” of racism and race-purity that authorizes the annihilation of entire peoples because those “others” don’t measure up to the norms and standards of the Old Testament Hebrews and their supposed “Christian” successors. To justify the invasion of other peoples all kinds of false charges are made in an effort to demonize them.

In the background story for Mr. Fischer’s narrative, the deity of the Old Testament is depicted as “promising” the lands of other peoples to the Hebrews “as an everlasting possession” and “inheritance.” This is why those other peoples had to be dehumanized and demonized. That deity instructed the Hebrews to go to cities of the Canaanites, Amorites, and other peoples and engage in genocide against them. Why? Those other peoples were already living in the land before the deity had “promised” it to the Hebrews. The pattern is fully revealed in Deuteronomy 20: 10-18:

But of the cities of these people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: but thou shalt utterly destroy them, namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.
Comment:  I said similar things about America's cultural mindset in my posting titled Victor or Victim:  Our New National Anthem?

For more on Fischer's column, see Hatewatch Criticizes Fischer's Column and Fischer Defends Pro-Genocide Column. For similar views, see Beck:  God Ordered Indians Killed.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Yeah, God's deal with Abraham preceded the British deal over Palestine, promising it to the Jews, the Arabs, and the French, that is now causing problems. It also is the justification for clitoridectomy in North Africa; it's actually seen as letting women take part in Abraham's covenant.