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The actions of one fundamental religious group – Christians – are an appalling testament to the direction America is headed.

Merely two days after the horrific terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, television evangelists Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson began a string of irrational hate-based comments that seemed intended to alienate and isolate large groups of people. On Robertson’s show “700 Club,” aired on the Christian Broadcasting Network, both Falwell and Robertson concurred “the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians … the ACLU (and the) People for the American Way” were to blame for the terrorist attacks that killed thousands.

In a time when unity is needed more than ever among people of differing faiths and ideas, comments such as these provoke rightfully strong-worded responses from those under attack. This sort of negative dialogue between sides is not helpful in securing a cohesive America, especially when initiated by a man whose purpose as a reverend should be to promote a harmonious existence of differing viewpoints.

In an interview with CBS just days ago, Falwell made the following statement about Islam’s founder: “I think Muhammad was a terrorist. I read enough … by both Muslims and non-Muslims (to decide) that he was a violent man, a man of war ... Jesus set the example for love, as did Moses. I think Muhammad set an opposite example.”

Falwell was given the opportunity to apologize or retract his comments in a subsequent phone interview and declined to do so. His most recent comments have provoked outrage by Muslim activist groups. They prompted deadly protests in the disputed region of Kashmir, almost half a world away. The comments also prompted accusatory and hurtful reaction from Muslim groups, insinuating that all Christians are terrorists and are waging a “war against humanity.”

These comments generalized Falwell as someone who represents all Christian views (which he thankfully does not). But it also demonstrates the degree to which comments such as these quickly denigrate the discourse, causing a step backward in an already slow-moving process. UCLA law professor Khaled Abou El Fadl, a preeminent source for Islamic interpretation, feels strongly that “if humanity thinks of Islam’s symbols in terms of violence and hate, then Muslims in the world have failed.” Falwell has greatly contributed to this perception, which only aggravates an already warped Western concept of Islam.

The religious right has always considered itself superior, possessing knowledge and wisdom that somehow has managed to escape the rest of the country. It acts as though it has all the right answers and that any person or group that disagrees with it in any facet, whether religious, political or otherwise, is not only immoral but also unworthy of respect.

Respect, however, is the main issue here. People are entitled to believe whatever they want. Granted, if Robertson, Falwell and the rest of their fundamentalist followers want to believe some of the things they have said, that is up to them. The problem arises when they attempt to force those viewpoints on other people, especially when the comments spiral down to the current level. The evangelists need to recognize (unfortunately) their prominent position in society and think before they speak, because their statements affect events and can negatively alter the fragile ties between groups that allow this country to function as well as it does.

These eroding ties among disparate religious and political entities are partially their fault; they should work to promote unity and positivism in our society.