March 2, 2026

Israel, Iran, and the United States. Leaders with, we are told, three different faiths, but all share the idea that they are religious as they crack down on peaceful protests, kill children, and spew hate. How can they be both cruel and religious?

In his latest book, Salman Rushdie includes a quote by Bertrand Russell to help explain this apparent contradiction: "Cruel men believe in a cruel god, and use their belief to excuse their cruelty". Don't ever let people convince you that religion creates kindness. Those who are kind would be so regardless of any religious belief, and those who want to be cruel will use religion as a shield to justify their actions.