Dead Enders

I saw a trio of media discussing one of the major causes of violence and war. The first was this well done piece about the Great Separation and the challenges it faces:

The Politics of God  By MARK LILLA  Published: August 19, 2007

After centuries of strife, the West has learned to separate religion and politics — to establish the legitimacy of its leaders without referring to divine command. There is little reason to expect that the rest of the world — the Islamic world in particular — will follow.

In comparison, USA Today ran this rather intolerant piece:

Secularists, what happened to the open mind?

Many of the leading voices among atheists and the ‘unreligious’ reveal a disdain for religion that can only damage today’s dialogue. Speaking with people of faith, instead of about them, would enrich both sides of this philosophical divide.

And then we will have Christiane Amanpour’s “God’s Warriors”

3 Nights, 3 Religions

Christiane Amanpour takes you to the frontlines of a volatile battle where religion and politics collide.