The Christian Conservative Revolution of America?
Theocracies are repressive by their nature. I am not an opponent nor proponent of theocracy, however, if there is to be this Christian Orthodox revolution by conservatives here in America, one has to have the foresight to see the consequences of such a revolution.
People must realize that living life to the mandates of ones chosen religion is repressive. Religions all have a blueprint for life and living for its followers and adhering to those mandates in an orthodox fashion restricts freedom. Thus, how can the Christian revolutionaries who are embarking on saving America do so without eroding the greatest virtue of this nation, which is individual freedom?
It seems very hypocritical to me that some of the main proponents of this Christian revolution are some of the loudest critics against the repression taking place in many Middle Eastern Theocracies. They attack these nations because they restrict freedoms of its citizens, but that freedom is restricted from the joining of Religion and State and the imposing of religious doctrine into laws of governance, which is essentially the only way that Christians can reengineer the moral decay in America.
The fundamental Juxtaposition or conflict will be between individualism and collectivism. Again, individual freedom is likely one of the greatest virtues of America. The people who immigrate here from other types of governance do so partly due to the promise of individual freedom. However, what the Christian conservatives are advocating is controlling the collective direction of America by somehow changing the behavior of individuals for the common good. This maybe a worthy goal, but the pleasures and immediate gratification of sin and immorality that manifest from individual freedom is not going to be given up without force of laws.
The consequence of freedom is that one is free to be moral or immoral. One cannot be free to only be moral. Freedom is the absence of barriers to actions and behaviors. It is obvious that our nation does not practice absolute freedom as such would represent anarchy. However, to the degree that we do practice freedom within the frame work of laws, individuals are free to be moral or immoral by religious definition. Thus, one cannot force a religiously defined morality upon the people unless one further restricts the freedoms by imposing more religious based laws.
Collective interests and the common good cannot be added to without subtracting from individual freedom and individual good. There are many things that are pleasurable, if not good, for individuals, but bad for the collective. As parents, we have a collective family interest. However, if one of the spouses decides to pursue the pleasures of infidelity, that individual act comes at the direct threat to the collective family unit. As a nation, individuals and corporation pursuing the profit or monetary or fleshly pleasures from activities can and do work to erode the collective moral direction of the nation in the same way.
If the Christian revolution were to manifest seriously, it would have to come in direct conflict and battle for dominance over the worship of money and materialism in this nation. The reason being is that one cannot have an economic system fueled by greed and gluttony, 2 of the 7 deadly sins, and truly be a follower of orthodox Christianity, which preaches against such sins. This, I guarantee you, is a battle that so called Christian Conservatives are not willing to fight….because they religion will lose and they will be forced to recognize that their true God is not in heaven, but printed as the federal reserve system.
Christian conservatives will follow doctrine up to the point where it threatens Americas economic well being and hence their status, then they will reinterpret the scripture so that it allows them to have their cake and eat it to. One can call them Keynesian Christians, after economist John Maynard Keynes, as opposed to orthodox Christians. The reason being is that these are people believe in hyper human competition, as opposed to mutual human economic cooperation. Competition always produces winners and losers, where cooperation restricts those economic extremes.
Well, that is all I have to say about that for now. I just find it interesting that the media could suggest a thought, moral values being a key in the election, and now all that I hear about is this Christian Conservative revolution to change America. All I can say is do not hold your breath unless you expect them to cut off their nose to spite their face.
posted by Noah TA @ 11/15/2004 09:28:00 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I completely agree with you, Noah, that the more restrictions you put upon human behavior - so-called "right" or "wrong" - the less free people are. I further agree that freedom is one of the hallmarks that contributes to what is great and good about our country.
IF the religious right wishes to persuade others that acting as they see fit will serve society and individuals best - that is, of course, their perogative. IF they think that they will restrict freedom in an effort to force others to follow their own moral structure - I predict that they will both meet with failure, and deservedly so.
This is not to say that I disagree with some of the moral teachings of the religious right, because I do agree with some.
Nevertheless, these teachings should be done in various venues - but not be forced upon the public through our laws.
Peg K
The religious right like all politicians has politicizes morality, something one would think could never be politicized. The proof of that is their fight for morality is limited to a few so-called moral issues, and those are the ones that can be used as political capital. The Hot Topic Moral issues are Abortion and Gay Marriage neither of which is rooted in capitalism thus fighting to end either of them does not put those who oppose these things in the line of fire of Companies and Industries that have lots of money and lobbying power. However if the religious right was to go after Hollywood, The Porn Industry, Illegal and Legal Gambling, things would change because these acts of immorality are linked to money making industries that will fight back plus the immorality linked to these industries do not have a stigma attached to them like Abortion and Gay marriage plus these are capitalist Entities. Many of the pontificators of morality on the right are in bed or have an addiction to these industries thus the immoralities the religious right rally against are those immoralities that can be used to divide the people and fuel the self righteous belief that one is better than someone else because their form of immoral behavior does not have a stigma attached to it.
Can you detail for me any American Christian movement to supress or persecute non-Christians in America and to deny their ability to practice their religion?
If anything it is the ACLU who has gone overboard to consider the reference such as "In God We Trust" to be the "establishment of a religion". They are waging an attack on the Boy Scouts of America because they are a Christian oriented group that just so happens to be a major force in the mentoring of young men. They talk about their "discrimination" against Gays as being scoutleaders but I am sure they would be no where to be found if one of these scout leaders were found to be molesting little boys al la the Catholic priests.
I find it interesting that you would target the so-call "Christian Revolution" while you are largely silent by the images and mindset that is the case on MTv, BET and "Girls Gone Wild". These all represent Neo-Liberal, non-judgement, do it if it feels good, PROGRESSIVE steps forward I guess.
Post a Comment
<< Home