Fidel Castro

Rick Warren, in his 2003 letter announcing his Peace Plan, happily boasted that Fidel Castro had requested an autographed copy the “Purpose Driven Life” book. HE obviously believes this book changes peoples life for the better and he wants to be sure we all know who is reading it, you know all the great names and people who's lives are changed, so we will all want to be just like them...

Rick Warren wrote, “The influence of the book [Purpose Driven Life] keeps amazing me everyday as I get requests for autographed copies. In today's stack: I signed books for 1) All the Supreme Court Justices 2) One for Fidel Castro 3) One for the President of Peru, these last 2 were Spanish editions,(note, he wants to tell us the book is EVEN translated into Spanish), and I recently got a note saying that everyone on Air Force One was reading the book recently. But all this is not about us. God's intention is much bigger than the book.” (Quoted from what is known as the "Peace Plan Letter" by Rick Warren, a letter sent to his congregation, Saddleback Church in 2003.)


But who is Fidel Castro? I do not hear too much about him these days, not aas much as I did growing up, but for a long time he was quite a political figure.  Just so you know, he has had a reputation as a "bad guy," a notorious, communist, dictator of Cuba.

Coming to power in 1959, Castro and his Communist regime transformed the tiny island nation of Cuba into the first communist state in the west. He ruled as a dictator and tens of thousands of political opponents and dissidents have been reported killed by him and while it probably is not very much talked about these days... the reality is that for years the whole world knew this was the case and many people were outraged.  They denounced his state sponsored threats to life, the violence, and the political oppression that has taken place in Cuba under Castro’s leadership. 

There are few who dare to question Castro's absolute rule and wisdom, few who dare to think outside the box in which they are allowed to think or live. Few even know the outside world is any different... they are told the way things are and aren't told what to believe.   There are not many willing to overcome the fear of the death threats or harsh imprisonment in Cuban prisons that they will face if they dare to disagree.  Few stand up against such oppression, few ever have a voice of their own, and there are fewer still who try to flee from it that ever escape alive. 

From those who do escape, we hear their stories, stories of the fear, oppression and economic slavery that come from living under a totalitarian , communist regime. Research such things for yourself and see.  Life in a communist country is seldom sweet and rosy, there is no such things as freedom...nor individualism.... you simply must conform, or die.  Life there is often hard and oppressive.  People do not leave  Cuba, they escape.  They try to escape, something commonly known as communism.


Communism, (according to Frontline’s website China in the Red, a glossary for teachers 2006,) is defined as: “A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party, holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people." And make no mistake, Castro is that "authoritarian," Communist leader, or has been until lately as his ailing health as failed.  One thing you can be sure of,  Communism hates Capitalism... free enterprise, and individual freedom.

The central idea of communism is that private property is to be eliminated, followed by an equitable distribution of wealth to all the people. It seems like it would be ideal because theoretically you'd have no "middle class," as well as eliminate the extremely wealthy, best of all, no people who are poor.  But in practice this is not what communism is.

A commonly held principal of Communism is "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need" (This is a quote from famous Communist, Karl Marx.) It perhaps sounds a bit fair, that of giving to each benevolently what he deserves, and what he needs.  It's Utopian, and Communism’s imperialistic “conformity without question” is always required to make such a perfect system of community, with fairness and justice for all, work.

In Communism, non-conformity, even to the seemingly little things, is often punishable by death, as we have seen in communist societies of the past and present. Rules and regulations of the state are typically enforced by force, to the point that even thought must be controlled...  Every aspect of public and private behavior is suspect, every aspect of life is to be under complete and total state control, and for this to happen, the person... or group entity, or mob...who can evoke the most force, or fear, ultimately gains control.


Living in a totalitarian state means not having freedom to choose occupation, place of residence, or even express ideas that are contrary to the political climate, (or the leader) of the state. One must always be politically correct in everything they do. There is no such thing as a peaceful protest in a totalitarian communist government, because protesting is not an option, protestors are met with brutality and force, as was witnessed by the world at Tiananmen Square in 1989.  Few dare to stand up to the opposition, but some do. 

Totalitarian leaders demand total control of the people, they have no mercy, no respect for himan life and dignity... there is no freedom of religion, no freedom of speech, no freedom of the press, no freedom of words, and they who ascribe to controlling the "state" he creates for him and his subjects are not afraid to make anyone an example of what happens if one disobeys his personal rule of law.  The Italian dictator Mussolini described it like this: “All within the state, nothing outside the state, and nothing against the state.” That is totalitarian.

Mussolini, Hitler, Castro... these men are totalitarian

Castro was taught in Roman Catholic (specifically Jesuit) schools, but according to Wikipedia, he is an atheist, not Catholic.  In fact he was excommunicated in 1962 by the Pope, (leader of the Roman Catholic Church)  for being a Communist. In return of that favor, Castro has never allowed anyone with catholic ties to be members of his Communist Party. 

Recently however, Castro has had a change of heart... and if what Rick Warren says is true, Castro is not only reading Warren's Purpose Driven life, but now surprisingly allows church-going Catholics to join the Cuban Communist Party.  Word on the street is that he even tolerates Christmas parties, something the excommunicated, communist, atheist man has never done before.

Change is taking place... and Castro has been through some changes.

For example, in 1988 he  “allowed” the Pope to visit him on Cuban soil. That was a "first." 

Then when Pope John Paul II died, Castro was seen attending Catholic mass at Havana’s cathedral, this he did simply to honor him.  Now, as reported by Rick Warren, Castro has even asked for an autographed copy of the Purpose Driven Life book! Imagine that! THe totalitaiand man is finally going to learn how to be, "Purpose Driven!"

Maybe Castro isn’t the hard-line Communist, ruthless person he used to be.
(That would be a praise!)

These ties with religion, this softness of heart...  is for many, much the way the early Christians felt about Paul... and his conversion to Christianity.  It s little suspicious. Unlike Paul however, there has not really been any official words or actions that would demonstrate to the world that Castro converted to Christianity, that the man believes in God, believes in Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior, or has admitted any guilt regarding any murders or crimes against humanity.... but many people in the press are all ears.

On August 13, 2005, (two years after asking Rick Warren for an autographed copy of his book) the Christian Post reported that the World Council of Churches made a public announcement about Cuba. Apparently, after a four-day visit and meeting with Castro in Cuba by their secretary general, they were happy to announce that “Cuban President Fidel Castro will provide facilities to help Evangelical Churches build new churches and develop their pastoral mission.”

Maybe he is a Christian?This would be a change for sure, because men like Amondo Valladares who spent 22 years in Cuban prison because he refused to put a slogan supporting Castro and communism on his desk at work, tells the world, "During those years, (in prison) with the purpose of forcing us to abandon our religious beliefs and to demoralize us."

Valladares also reports that during those years,  "...the Cuban Communist indoctrinators repeatedly used the statements made by some representatives of the American Christian churches. Every time a pamphlet was published in U.S., every time a clergyman would write an article in support of Cuba’s dictatorship, a translation would be given to us, and that was far worse for the Christian political prisoners than the beatings or the hunger. Incomprehensible to us, while we waited for the embrace of solidarity from our brothers in Christ, those who were embraced were our tormentors.” Today's Cuba, with Fidel's ailing health, is being lead by Fidel's brother, Raul, who, since "Fidel had grown in respect for religion and appreciation for the Church, " now shakes hands and rubs elbows with religious dignitaries.

Who knows, maybe things in Cuba are improving?  This, despite the Crackdown in Cuba (PBS, 2003) on people who disagree with the Communist regime.

It kinda makes one wonder how it feels to be a Christian in Cuban Prison, as the Vatican delegates  embrace the Castro brothers and Rick Warren boasts that Fidel Castro, is requesting signed copies of his Best Selling Christian book.  The world looks on and smiles, meanwhile men and women are doing time in prison, for believing in God, for refusing to support with a placard on a desk, the only possible candidate for office, and who, according to Valladares will stand before firing squads saying, "Long live Christ the King, Down with Communism!" 

But hey, the Lord can change hardened hearts, he has been known to change a few people, and Fidel Castro is vulnerable to change, like everyone else.  Besides , the Bible has many examples of converts including Saul who became Paul the apostle.  He too, a much of a law-keeper as he was, repented of his sin against Almighty God, and God forgave him, then He used him to spread the gospel of God's love and mercy to the world.  If you remember from the bible, he used to murder Christians.

But are the Castro brothers, Raul and Fidel now, after all these years, changing their ways of doing things in their communist country?  Have they had a change of heart, confessed their sin, and turned to God?  Are they Christian?

This is something that as of yet, remains to be seen,

Even Paul had a reputation to combat, and he did so for many years after he finally came face to face with the reality of his sin and his faith in God.