Where do being Christian and being 'political' coalesce?
Having been brought up in the reality that the Church of England was predominantly the Conservative party at prayer, I was often told that Christians and politics didn't mix. When I was involved in the trade union movement I found that almost all those who were active in the running of their branch were also to be found left of centre when it came to politics. They were, generally, socialists or communists and were also dyed in the wool atheists.
"Religion is the opiate of the masses," my colleagues (or as they would often have it, comrades or brothers) would say. Church is there to oppress the working classes and to keep them under the thumb of the Church, State and capitalists. Church is the tool of the ruling class as the oft quoted verse from 'All things B&B' clearly demonstrates that God puts people in their place and keeps them there:
The rich man in his castle, The poor man at his gate,
GOD made them, high or lowly,And ordered their estate.
Well, actually the Karl Marx quote is merely a snippet from his critique of Hegel's 'Philosophy of Right'. What he actually said was:
"Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions."
The purpose of religion is to provide comfort in this life by bringing forth an illusion of comfort and a hope of better things when this life ends. In the 'sigh' of the oppressed hope and solace are found in this 'illusion' but Marx wanted stark reality - this is all you get and you need to ensure that all get a fair deal from it - removing the peaks and troughs and leaving all to live in a happy average is the desire - not pie in the sky in the great by and by' (a sort of steak on the plate while you wait theology).
Another problem is that 'the man' control commerce, government and religion and so shapes the psyche and the contentment factor of the proletariat, that is the drones, of society such that they see their 'suffering' as part of the price of being.
So, can we be political and be Christian? Should Christians only be right-wing? Can we have a truly Christian party? Was jesus really nothing more than a Communist philosopher?
Now government is sorted (for now at least) I'm going to return to these questions - they are important and have many implications for us as individuals and as citizens of the places in which we find ourselves.
2 comments:
Vic,
I believe that Christians can also be involved in politics, matching Christian Beliefs with Political views can be difficult but not insurmountable.
When I was young, I was perhaps a labour supporter, having been brought up with the Daily Mirror and in a low income, broken home and having spent time in Care. Religion did not figure much in this equation, it appeared irrelevant to my life.
Later, on joining the Army, I perhaps became institutionalised and became an unreconstructed Conservative, as they appeared to look after the Armed Forces better.
While still serving, I changed my views back to Labour after the sleeze episodes of John Major's period in power and had voted Labour in 1997 and the next two elections.
Religion did not figure in any of these changes, perhaps consumer politics in what appeared best for me, let alone anyone else.
Now I find my self Green, which is I understand some distance to the left of Labour, although I find their policies on so much agree with my views and match some views formed from my relatively new, Christian Faith. I am not sure yet about the idea of legalising drugs, but can see the reasoning which lies behind it.
I am not sure that the journey is not similar to many others. But the things that Christianity has changed in me is a longer term perspective. One which is no longer self centred and takes account of the needs of others and the greater good.
I also have hope - and want to believe in the good in man, and his ability to transform himself with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit (whether he acknowledges it or not).
I don't see that we have a duty to be actively involved in politics, but we need to understand and consider comparing claims for our support and the policies proposed and to consider their impact on others and the world in the light of our Christian beliefs. If we fail to do so, and vote on the basis of personal selfishness, than perhaps we are also separating ourselves from God, whether it is our intention or not.
For me,
Cheer up, Rev. Vic. We Catholics are traditionally Labour voters (because of the influence of Catholic social teaching - we are all encouraged to take an interest in the "common good"). Not so easy since the invention of New Labour.... All we can do is to support politicians and parties which stand up for those least able to speak for themselves and who support religious freedom. But yes, Christians should be political. (Great blog, by the way).
Post a Comment