"American Secular Ignorance About Religion is Partly to Blame for the Present Nightmare in the Middle East"

Fr. Longenecker rarely delves into political commentary but because there's an ignored religious connotation, he's making an exception:

I don’t often comment on politics because, quite frankly, I’m both uninterested and ignorant. My opinions of the president himself I will keep to myself because they are only opinions.

However I can comment on the religious implications of what is happening however, and it seems to me that the American secular ignorance about religion is partly to blame for the present nightmare in the Middle East.

Secularists simply do not understand the religious person’s mindset. Religious people really do believe in the afterlife. They really do believe their religion is from God and that they must spread that religion at all costs. They really do believe that the future of the world and the eternal future of souls is at stake.

While there are tribal and historic, economic and political dimensions to the conflict, the religious dimension is the main motivator. Without understanding the religious motivation there is no real understanding of the reasons for such fanaticism. The religious dimension means that the Muslim extremists will not compromise, will not negotiate, will not engage in diplomacy of any kind.

He's not quite done.  Do finish with him as he has to say that which is most unpopular but necessary.

I continue to struggle with whether Obama's foreign policy decisions are willful and strategic or merely one blunderous and incompetent mistake after another.  Fr. Longenecker, it seems, thinks the latter. I have my doubts.

What I do know is that we live in dangerous times and they are getting more dangerous, particularly for Christians in those regions reeling under the impact of the Obama administration's choices.

Pray for them.  The Christians... and those involved in making these decisions.