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Sometimes this "death-instinct" is fostered by religion, as when faiths adhere to end-times scenarios that involve massive global destruction. Disturbing reports out of Iran reliably suggest that Ahmadinejad may in fact be motivated by an apocalyptic form of Islam that envisions such massive destruction as a prelude to the return of the Hidden Imam who will then guide all humanity.

Great. All we need is a nuclear-armed Iran led by a messianic president who hates Israel and believes that apocalyptic destruction is a precursor to global salvation. We must pray that cooler heads will prevail, and that our own government will undertake policies to help foster a reduction of tensions in the region, before it is too late.

David P. Gushee is a Christianity Todaycolumnist and the Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. He originally wrote this column, in an earlier version, for Religion News Service.

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July (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50