Byrnesys Blabberings

Out of Ur have featured The God Strategy a new book which speaks about the use of religious imagery and rhetoric for political capital. The subject has crossed my mind over the last few weeks as the US party nominations have dominated the news headlines so I am glad for Out of Ur to articulate some of the central points on the subject which I have used to stimulate my own thoughts on the subject. My only disclaimer to this, a post on the two most divise issues on earth, is that I am writing my thought process and not my conclusions regarding this and am very open to thoughtful, peaceful dialogue on the issues.

The Republican platform opposes abortion and defends family values. But the Democratic platform seems more sympathetic to the poor, orphans, and widows—as is God. As a result, until we vote on ballots that allow us to punch our position on issues, rather than select the name of a politician, I’m not sure whether to vote Republican or Democrat.

Ive often thought in relation to this traditional divide for Christians in the states that the latter democratic platform would not need to be a political swing issue if Republicans embraced social activism in their communities, but it would seem that all to often (from the humble onlooker in the UK) that the social and economic conservative mindset has left republican christians paralyzed against most social justice/poverty activism. This is due to what seems to be an underlying conservative suspicion that the poor have not taken enough initiative to secure wealth, in essence it seems a thinly veiled social darwinism sociology is at work and therefore a passionate will to be good news through social justice and poverty ministries is seriously diminished. I accept many would counter that this is a caricature, and I would accept that, and many would counter that there are many social and economic conservatives actively support poverty/social justice ministries, and again I would accept that. But what I feel like I have seen in these cases is a disengaging between two sides, the culturally (Christian) correct response to issues from compassion and the social, economic and political conservative mindset. When I have discussed these issues with these groups although I have found an immediate compassionate response, when further into the deeper issues the social darwinism aspect often comes out.

On the flipside of this, the moral points regarding abortion and family values leads me to wonder if there is a salvation of works approach to these issues. As someone who is not in favour of abortion in almost all circumstances, I also recognise that legislating society’s alignment with Christian values will not bring salvation to a nation, salvation is based in the heart and person and that form of salvation or conversion does not take place when a society is coerced to live a morally virtuous life in line with specifically Christian values.

UPDATE: Part two here

related: Jamie Arpin Ricci used a quote which I wanted to include as I think it is relveant to the mis-perception of the poor that I mentioned "Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity, nothing exceeds the criticisms made of the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed." -Herman Melvillee