HOW TO IDENTIFY THE ENEMY
In order to learn how stories about Israel’s warfare with its neighboring enemies train us for warfare, we must compare those ancient enemies with religious life and culture in our modern times. We begin by looking at how religion works:
Each religious entity (e.g. church, synagogue, denomination, independent ministry, etc.) functions as an independent nation that is authorized to conduct its business by Federal and State governments.
All religious organizations have administrative functions to govern their business functions and ceremonial/worship activities.
Religious kingdoms have buildings in which they conduct their administrative business and perform their various religious services.
All religious organizations create laws/rules/policies to govern the their administrative functions and other laws/doctrines/policies to govern ceremonial/worship activities.
Each religious entity has hierarchies of kings, queens and princes who govern the religious entity in both administrative and ceremonial/worship matters.
Authority to rule in the hierarchy of religious organizations is based on physical appearance, human talents, ability to teach about God and perceived godliness (i.e. how religious a person is).
People who rise to the highest positions of religious hierarchies are perceived to embody charismatic leadership qualities that convey to followers that they have a special relationship to God that empowers them with Godly authority, wisdom and understanding that can be verbally (i.e. spoken word or writing) imparted to people who put their trust in them. These people function as idols in the religious system.
Authority ascribed to religious leaders by their followers typically changes from one leader to another over time as leaders or followers move from one kingdom to another. This amounts to polytheism.
Religious leaders of each kingdom use their authority to create man-made rules that prescribe who is and who is not a member of their religious kingdom and what members must do, or not do, to remain members in good standing of the religious community. In effect they make and enforce written laws.
The citizens of each kingdom voluntarily subscribe to and submit to the terms of membership for that kingdom. In Biblical terms, they bow down to religious authorities when they listen to and submit to their teachings.
When a citizens of a religious kingdom no longer agrees with the terms of membership of their present kingdom or no longer trusts the present religious leader(s), they will either remove the present leader(s) or leave the present kingdom in favor of another religious kingdom that they find more agreeable. People who voluntarily leave a kingdom may experience rejection.
Each kingdom constantly works to maintain a viable kingdom by keeping its citizens/members in alignment with the rules of the kingdom and by recruiting new members.
Member/citizens who are found to grossly violate the rules of the kingdom will lose their citizenship and suffer rejection.
The stability and security of each kingdom depends on the finances member/citizens contribute to it through subtle coercion through guilt and fear disguised as Biblical truth.
Religious leaders are constantly vigilant to ensure that current members will not leave and will continue to financially support the kingdom.
Religious leaders and members all work to ensure the long-term survival of the kingdom by raising children and recruiting new members who will become members of the religious community.
All religious kingdoms are in competition with each other for the affections and financial support of current and potential members.
Religious kingdoms have observable beginnings and life-cycles (i.e. ups and downs) that vary with the quality of leadership and the strength of the economy.
Religious kingdoms brand themselves in ways that distinguish them from other kingdoms.
These are the characteristics that help us identify who is the enemy and who are our allies. The next thing we need to do to join God in the battle against religion are:
Obviously going to war is not this simple. Each of the above steps involves a lot of soul searching, counting the costs of making the transition, and making mistakes during a period of wandering in the wilderness where we try to forget our religious history in anticipation of a new life in a new land. It is the story of Abraham, it is the story of Israel, and it is our story.