Pearls B4 the Swine

Religious Sectarian Conflicts

“Pearls B4 the Swine” from the album One Nite Alone (2002)

When we hear headlines about the sectarian violence in Syria, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries we are justifiably horrified with the level of violence exacted in those conflicts. We also attribute this type of religious violence to the time period of the Middle Ages. Although sectarian religious violence did occur during that time period it has happened before and after. The modern conflict between the Sunni and Shia Muslims mirrors the same conflict that existed between Catholic and Protestant Christians from the 1500's-1700's. While the Age of Reason and Scientific Discovery was sweeping the continent of Europe so was ISIS level of religious violence. This song Pearls B4 the Swine is Prince of Prince's thoughts on the conflict in the Middle East.

 When members of a religious group believe that spiritual salvation, social objectives and political aspirations can only be satisfied through adhering to a specific religious code that they adhere to and those who are seen as external threats to that religious code must be eliminated (Manning, 2004). The modern Middle East is not the only place on earth today where religious sectarian conflicts are murdering people and dragging regions into violence. The current Catholic/Protestant conflict in Northern Ireland and the Sunni/Shia conflict in Somalia are tragic reminders that this type of human behavior continues. We know that this behavior exists so how do we stop it?

Of course that is a difficult question to answer because if we had the answer we would've used it by now. Although sectarian conflicts are complicated and hard to resolve history has shown us some lessons we can apply to today to help us find peaceful options in our modern world. First off we have to remember that sectarian mindsets are born out of fanaticism. To learn more about that click here http://princeandpsychology.blogspot.com/2015/06/annie-christian.html. This is an ego driven way to view the world (Manning, 2004). If you are willing to commit murder over religious dogma than you definitely have an ego problem and more than likely a mental disorder. So what can we do to stop people like this?

King Ferdinand II of Bohemia

Let's look to 16^th century Germany for some insight. One of the most bloodiest sectarian conflicts was the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) which happened in Germany but succeeded into dragging just about every European nation into the conflict. During this time Germany was a lot like the Middle East, there was political instability, shifting boundaries and allegiances, entrenched religious division and outside influences from other nations for political reasons (Konnert, 2008). Most of the land was controlled by territorial Princes and each territory had their own local customs and beliefs the only thing that united them was a common ethnicity and language. Their were Catholic and Protestant territories all throughout Germany (Konnert, 2008). The Thirty Years' War is a profoundly complicated war to try to understand (just like the current situation in the Middle East) but I think a quick recap would be beneficial. It started when King Ferdinand II of Bohemia who was zealously Catholic decided that he wanted all the land in The Holy Roman Empire (which Germany was a part of) to be practicing Catholics (Konnert, 2008). He started by having meetings with Protestants to see if they would be kind enough to give up their heretic faith. “If I leave my front door open, Would you come and visit me? Just to slander my name hopin' That I would pack my bags and leave.” Indeed he just wanted them to leave and when slander and threats didn't work he chose violence and then the Protestants revolted.

Instead of dealing with the king themselves the Protestants in Bohemia reached out to other Protestant nations (Great Britain, the Dutch Republic and Denmark) for military help (Sturmberger). Ferdinand in turn reached out the Catholic nations of Spain and the Papal States (Italy) for help (Sturmberger). Beheading, rape, pillaging and other immoral acts followed from both sides in the name of God. Instead of seeking compromise both sides chose to believe that the other side were heretics, infidels and agents of Satan that must be purged from earth. We hear this same language today in sectarian conflicts. The first 10 years of this war was principally fought by the German states with foreign aid. In the mid 1620's this war became a power play for the major nations that had things to gain politically from this war, chiefly Sweden, France, Spain and Austria (Konnert, 2008). These nations poured countless resources into building armies to sent to the German states to fight for their political goals. Just like what is happening today in the Middle East, Western nations are pouring ridiculous amounts of resources to fight to achieve their political goals. A lot of the time it is for honorable reasons (to stop murder, invasions, etc.) but when you use violence against people who are willing to both murder and be murdered for religious reasons it's a bit like trying to hold sand in your hands. So why did this war end?

Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, head of ISIS

After awhile the loss of life, resources and the devastation no longer outweighed their adherence to their sectarian code. Both sides realized that neither was backing down and compromise now seem like a better option to continuing the war. Their were attempts at peace treaties and all types of political maneuvering to try to quell the violence and nothing worked (Konnert, 2008). This war started out because of religious reasons had Germany been left to it's own devices the carnage of war would have forced them to compromise a lot sooner. Unfortunately foreign resources and soldiers started pouring into their country which became the fuel that allowed this war to go on for so long. People with a mindset like this cannot be reasoned with, there is no political option that will resolve the current crisis in Syria. The narcissism that says, “Convert or die” is evil. The Western world seems committed to do what Sweden and Spain did 400 years ago, getting involved in a sectarian war for political reasons. History shows that political stance tends to exacerbate sectarian violence not roll it back. The question, Are we better off just fighting, You on your side, me on mine? has to be answered. When the answer is no, than the “enemy” can be seen as another creation of God that is worthy of grace not murder. “Can I offer you baklava, Or a bagel with cream cheese?, Will we say grace to our father, Holding hands down on our knees?” The willingness to break bread with each other must take hold in hearts for this type of violence to stop. During The Reformation Catholics and Protestants would murder each other now all across the world they accept the religious views of one another and pray together, eat other and wed each other because they realized the fighting is no longer worth it.

References

Konnert, M. W. (2008). Early modern Europe: The age of religious war, 1559-1715. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. 

Manning, S. T. (2004). Psychology, symbolism, and the sacred: Confronting religious dysfunction in a changing world. Ostego, Mi: PageFree.

Sturmberger, Hans."Ferdinand II (Holy Roman emperor) : Introduction - Britannica Online Encyclopedia.” Britannica.com. Retrieved 2015-08-03.