What is the fundamental mental dysfunction that spawns hate, rage and violence within the minds of many American people today? Why is there no common ground?

It is a readily-verifiable fact that most Americans fancy themselves as highly informed, intelligent and sophisticated for a number of very specious reasons.  Are we really?  Certainly, our ability to operate advanced technology computing and communications devices would be used by many to validate the claim.  However, even nomadic Arabs in the deserts of northern Africa and the Middle-East can operate cell-phones and computers.  In fact, some of them clearly understand the functional operation of the technology better than most Americans, since cell-phones have been used by as remote detonation triggers for many roadside bombs that have been used to kill and maim thousands of American and Iraqi soldiers. 

The fact that the percentage of college-educated adults in the United States has reached an historic high level might be presented as evidence to justify a belief of higher intelligence, but the fact that we are failing against other western nations belies that illusion.  It’s fair to say that most college graduates today would be unable to pass a high school exam from just one hundred years ago.  Neither of these metrics is objective or an accurate measure of intelligence, nor are they realistic.  The current state of American culture testifies to a sad reality. 

It’s striking, for example, to realize how little the average American citizen knows what is true about the foremost religion of the world, and the foundational religion of the United States--Christianity.  Oh, sure, people have their opinions, and many of them are fiercely defended even though they are utterly wrong.  Even worse, few of us have any idea what Islam actually teaches, nevertheless some among us staunchly profess that Islam is a peace-loving religion, despite the fact that they have never read the Qur’an or the Bible and probably, never will. 

Likewise, we have several generations of “citizens” who have been taught to despise their heritage, their history, their nation, their race and the honorable sacrifices made by their predecessors.  In short, they are obscenely arrogant as well as woefully ignorant.  This deadly combination of ignorance and arrogance leads directly to contempt--for themselves, their nation and everyone around them.  Moreover, they isolate themselves into enclaves with those who are just like them, separated from truth, reality and from the solution to the source of their common misery. 

Conflicts arise because we now have millions of adult-children who have been given every benefit and indulgence that America’s free culture has to offer, and who have earned nothing for themselves.  Grateful for nothing, they have been given a toxic overdose of self-esteem and have been cheated out of any real sense of accomplishment.  It has ruined them.  They consider themselves entitled, and yet, deep down in the depths of their souls, they know that they are empty, unworthy and ignoble.  The daily ration of vile and malicious insanity that takes place in our society is the bloom of these deadly roots. 

As one wise philosopher once noted, “Sin causes guilt; guilt causes shame.”  For those who are not incapable of honesty, shame leads to brokenness, and the ensuing pain is intended to lead to repentance.  But since sin has been virtually abolished from public discourse and guilt and shame are rejected, those in bondage within their own souls can never find relief.  Feeling discomfort and emptiness, they seek dead works in a futile effort to fill the void in their own hearts.  For some, these efforts may take the form of feeding America, battling climate change, protecting the animals, political advocacy or any number of other causes.  When these fail to provide relief, hate, rage, obscene protests and violence emerge, in a tragic effort to give purpose to petty, self-absorbed lives. 

What is the fundamental “seed” of all this hostility and wickedness?  Why, it’s fear, of course.  Scripture tells us “Fear not,” over three hundred times because God knows that fear is the spark that sets man’s emotions ablaze.  And if all hatred and violence are merely explosions of internal fear, then identifying and dissolving the source of fear will cause the symptoms of hate, rage, violence and perversity to whither and die from malnutrition. 

What is the fear that creates the malice of anti-Trump protesters, LGBT militants, cop-killers, socialists and spiteful political vigilantes?  Is it not fear of loss?  Some may claim it’s fear of losing one’s “free health care coverage,” fear of being denied a “free college education,” as socialist, Bernie Sanders, deceitfully promised.  Perhaps it‘s simply the fear of being proved wrong.  Certainly these are worth considering, but beyond these trivial fears, the root terror in the heart of every person, must certainly be the fear of living an empty and meaningless life. 

The radical liberal shift in America’s education system pushed Darwin’s deadly curse upon America’s children.  Darwin’s hostile fallacy ushered-in sex without condition or restraint, but brought with it, life without purpose.  Abortion stole man’s dignity and worth, and for that, we are paying an unacceptable and unsustainable price.  The moment that God was forced out, other gods took His place in the hearts and minds of children who are now adults.  These other gods--the earth, the environment, the animal kingdom, science, knowledge, tolerance of evil, sexual gratification and many others--demand strict obedience to their articles of faith and leave the worshipper empty and lost. 

Ignorance and arrogance are rampant in American culture today.  Violence boils over in Washington, in our streets, on softball fields and in our own hearts.  Fear is the prime mover in acts of hate, rage, violence and clamoring. 

The Westminster Confession states that the purpose of man is “to love God and enjoy Him forever.”  Every life that refuses to embrace this fundamental truth constitutes an epic failure.  Therefore, to know God, to love Him, and to enjoy Him are the keys to eradicating all other fears.