When Does Religion (or Any Ideological Movement) Become Evil?

Recognizing, Realizing, and Resisting Evil, Part 3

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I first heard the term “deconstruction” used in relation to religion more than a decade ago. It referenced critical reflection that caused someone to reassess their faith. When some people deconstructed, their faith grew beyond the bounds of what it once was. For others, they lost their faith entirely. 

Today, #deconstructingfaith or #deconstructingreligion are popular hashtags. You can listen to people on any social media platform tell their story of the harm they experienced inside the Christian religion. As you listen, you can hear their anger at the treatment they experienced.

And, the experiences I’m talking about aren’t the sexual abuse cases we hear about in the news. I'm primarily talking about the emotional and spiritual abuse that created the trauma they will have to carry with them for the rest of their lives. It's the same kind of abuse people experience in cults. Interestingly enough, the dominant source of this kind of religious abuse within Christianity seems to be right-wing evangelicalism. 

The abusive experience is so pervasive it has led many to consider the Christian religion (if not religion itself) to be evil. Many believe that the whole point of the Christian religion is to control people. As an institution of control, religion is considered the enemy of freedom, reason, and human flourishing. 

This brings us to the important question…

Given the widespread damage that right-wing evangelicalism has done to human beings, can we consider the religion itself to be evil? 

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Who gets to say whether a religion is evil?

As I've already pointed out, evil is relative. Your understanding of evil is largely informed by the culture in which you live. Your culture is informed by its religion and other ideologies. 

So, here's a quick thought experiment…

Let's assume momentarily that a religion can be evil, and that you are a part of an evil religion.

How would you know that it is evil?

After all, your religion is not going to portray itself as evil, and your religious narrative is part of the truth by which you measure evil. In fact, your religion is going to portray itself as the epitome of everything good in this world.

Remember, the religiously-motivated terrorists of 9/11 did what they did because they were fighting in a cosmic war against evil. 

In response, right-wing Evangelicals ignored the intentions of the terrorists and claimed the terrorist acts were proof that Islam was an evil religion. And that brings up another issue.

When dealing with multiple religions, one religion's evil might be another religion's good. So which religion gets to judge once and for all what is evil?

We clearly cannot just arbitrarily say that one religion gets to have a monopoly on defining evil for everyone. So, it seems to me that if you're going to say that there is the possibility for religion—or any other ideological movement—to become evil, you have to have set criteria by which you measure that happening. 

A recipe for religious evil

Last week, I offered criteria for identifying the factors that converge to bring general evil into this world. Today I want to look more specifically at religious (and other ideological) evil. Let me introduce you to another wonderful author 

In the aftermath of 9/11, Charles Kimball wrote When Religion Becomes Evil. An ordained Baptist, he does not believe that religion itself is inherently evil or is the cause of all evil. But, it can become evil. And here are the five warning signs that a religion is moving in that direction: 

1. Absolute truth claims: The religion claims to have unique and exclusive access to Divine truth. It is exclusivistic and sees the world as insiders versus outsiders.

2. Blind obedience: There is no room for loyal opposition. Believe as you are told. Do as you were told. No need to think for yourself. Just follow the party line. If you don't, you are not one of us. 

3. Establishing the “ideal time”: The time to impose the religious agenda on others is divinely appointed. And, the time to act is now.

4. The end justifies any means: Think big picture. You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. Do whatever is necessary to achieve the goal.

5. Declaring holy war: The truly faithful participate in the cosmic, violent war between light and darkness, Good and Evil. This is a war desired and ordained by nothing less than God.

Notice the progression. Each step is more corrupt than the previous step. Each step feeds into the next.

Also, notice how each step requires a willingness to be more fully radicalized.  Unsurprisingly, not everyone is willing to take “the next step”. 

For example, you may have a fundamentalist who believes that the Bible is the innerrant Word of God, but they don't believe that the church, leadership, or pastor is always completely right and blind obedience is off the table. Or, you may have someone who believes that the time to act is indeed now, but violence isn't the answer.

The more militant a movement becomes, the more the audience naturally shrinks. Most people aren't willing to charge into a violent holy war.

And yet… 

Don't don't forget what I said about egregores last week. Groupthink has its own power to convert. Those not normally inclined to take the next step can sometimes be persuaded to go beyond their normal boundaries because they are caught up in that team spirit.