by Sanford Aranoff

Created on: June 21, 2010

Many religious people, of various religions, believe in the coming of the Messiah. The Messiah will unite the entire world under a single code of law. Justice and peace will prevail forever. The first religion to express this belief is Judaism. The Messiah is a Jew who will unify Jews, bring them to Israel, and make Jerusalem, Israel the capital. The word comes from anointing. A man who became a king of Israel, starting a new lineage, was anointed by pouring oil on his head. The Messiah will be a king and be anointed. This belief is based upon various promises in the Hebrew Bible.

Christians developed this theme, saying that Jesus is the Messiah. For millennia, Christians believe that the Messiah will come again, and we must prepare for His coming. Christians are willing to die if necessary for this belief.

Muslims also believe in a messiah. This is the 12 Imam, who will unite the world in a new world order based upon Islamic law, Sharia law. Muslims, like Christians, are willing to die for this belief; however, they, unlike Christians, are willing to kill others who reject this belief.

Atheistic Americans also have this strong, deep, irrational belief in a Messianic age, an era with a single world government, with this government controlling and regulating the economy of nations so that there is justice, fair distribution of wealth and things people need, so that there would be no need for nations to go to war. The widespread acceptance of President Obama is due in large part to the American irrational belief in a Messiah.

As a baby develops and realizes the world is more than his immediate family, he longs for the security of the womb and early childhood. This may be the reason for the irrational messianic longing both religious people and atheists possess.

What is dangerous is that peace does not come about by longing and wishing for peace. Prosperity does not come about by believing what your parents and teachers told you about the future messianic era. The only way mankind can achieve peace and prosperity is by rational thinking, proper and free communication, and complete discussion of the various problems that humanity faces. 

We must never forget the British Prime Minister joyfully waving a treaty with A. Hitler, saying this is “peace in our time”. The irrational desire for peace, and not being fully rational and careful, brought the destruction of World War II. The analogy is crossing the street. Having full confidence and belief in the

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