24 June—Even Donald Trump can be right. Before leaving this morning for a two-day get-together—a so-called summit conference—in The Hague with other NATO heads of state and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy (whose country has been frozen out of the defense pact lest NATO piss off Russia’s Vladimir Putrid—as opposed to Vladimir Putrid’s Russia), Trump told reporters at the White House, with reference to Israel’s and Iran’s brand-new but iffy cease-fire, “We basically, we have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”

Right on, Donald!

But why limit it to Israel and Iran? That’s really just a proxy conflict, after all. Or to Jews versus Muslims? Or to Christians versus Jews and Muslims? Or to sects within religions versus one another? Why not extend it to any and all inter-religious and intra-religious animosity and bellicosity?

The belief in and worship of whatever imaginary deity of convenience it may be—and all deities are imaginary, having been created by mere albeit clever mortals—actually provide an excuse—call it a rationale or justification or whatever suits your fancy—for people to control other people for better or worse. And that’s all there is to it. Psychological exploitation pure and simple.

If believers in the Muslim iteration of the Jewish god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob really give a damn about or even understand theological and doctrinal differences, for instance (God forbid!), it’s only because they’ve been influenced—brainwashed—by what amounts to clever advertising and propaganda. And the Jews are equally gullible and just as eagerly receptive.

But how many true religions can there be? And whose business is it if somebody doesn’t believe in or practice the one true religion? If he, she, it, or they don’t see the light, isn’t it his, her, its, or their problem?

Mullahs and rabbis and other influencers and enforcers may talk about and even believe in gods and prophets, heaven and hell, believers and infidels, but the real bottom line, whether they realize it or not, is rather less spiritual, more worldly and practical: Just as in politics and business—because that’s essentially what religion is—it’s control of people and resources—invariably for the benefit of those in control.

When it comes to the Holy Land—essentially Israel and the surrounding real estate—think Land rather than Holy. The Jews have it and the Muslims want it.

And never forget that everybody hates the Jews anyway . . .