Interesting interview. I will readily admit that my Biblical scholarship is lacking, but I am skeptical of claims in regards to the Bible and economic justice. It is clear that people should act to help the needy, but the Bible does not specify a mechanism. Conservatives will say that forced donation (taxes) is not charity.
While I agree that the gov't is the best way to handle some of these issues, I think that is separate from the Bible and one that is not very clear (at least as far as I can tell).
I think she brings up some good points, but I wonder if she is headed down the same path as conservatives by saying how Christians should act.
I am more interested in the conflation between Christianity and capitalism. I think those two contradictory approaches have become almost indistinguishable in conservative Christian circles. And, as she notes, that was notalways the case.
I do believe the bible is pretty loud on social justice, and would further suggest that the distinction between private and public would be more convincing if there was any evidence that private charity could address the needs.
I agree, but the lack of charity does not mean there is a Biblical mandate for forced charity. I just think the Bible is silent on the issue of government (except that gov't is to be obeyed) and that there is a danger in saying God wants a certain law/policy/regulation. Conservatives are certainly guilty of this, and in many ways, are worse.
As for gov't being able or necessary in addressing certain issues, I agree 100%. I am just not sure it is a good thing to tie it up with religion.
I agree that it would be ideal if nobody tried to impose religion on politics. But given the demographics on the ground, it's nice to have a counterbalance to the isolationist stance adopted by many social conservatives. It's one thing to say "Churches and private charities are better, therefore that's where I put my efforts." But I think the balance of discourse leans more toward "Churches and private charities are better, so I do my best to make sure the government can't help."
There isn't a unified Biblical approach to government and social justice. The NT tends to be more separatist, probably because early Christians were persecuted. But many of the major and minor prophets in the OT are explicit that any society that doesn't make taking care of the poor, widows and orphans is subject to divine wrath--and they don't take the tack that synagogues ought to be handling it rather than the civil leaders. I especially remember Ezekiel 16:49:
Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.
Here is a description of Moreton's book that I found on the web. It looks like she is interested in how the Christian Right convinced people that the Invisible Hand of the Market and the Hand of God were the same thing:
7 comments:
Interesting interview. I will readily admit that my Biblical scholarship is lacking, but I am skeptical of claims in regards to the Bible and economic justice. It is clear that people should act to help the needy, but the Bible does not specify a mechanism. Conservatives will say that forced donation (taxes) is not charity.
While I agree that the gov't is the best way to handle some of these issues, I think that is separate from the Bible and one that is not very clear (at least as far as I can tell).
I think she brings up some good points, but I wonder if she is headed down the same path as conservatives by saying how Christians should act.
I am more interested in the conflation between Christianity and capitalism. I think those two contradictory approaches have become almost indistinguishable in conservative Christian circles. And, as she notes, that was notalways the case.
I do believe the bible is pretty loud on social justice, and would further suggest that the distinction between private and public would be more convincing if there was any evidence that private charity could address the needs.
I agree, but the lack of charity does not mean there is a Biblical mandate for forced charity. I just think the Bible is silent on the issue of government (except that gov't is to be obeyed) and that there is a danger in saying God wants a certain law/policy/regulation. Conservatives are certainly guilty of this, and in many ways, are worse.
As for gov't being able or necessary in addressing certain issues, I agree 100%. I am just not sure it is a good thing to tie it up with religion.
I agree that it would be ideal if nobody tried to impose religion on politics. But given the demographics on the ground, it's nice to have a counterbalance to the isolationist stance adopted by many social conservatives. It's one thing to say "Churches and private charities are better, therefore that's where I put my efforts." But I think the balance of discourse leans more toward "Churches and private charities are better, so I do my best to make sure the government can't help."
There isn't a unified Biblical approach to government and social justice. The NT tends to be more separatist, probably because early Christians were persecuted. But many of the major and minor prophets in the OT are explicit that any society that doesn't make taking care of the poor, widows and orphans is subject to divine wrath--and they don't take the tack that synagogues ought to be handling it rather than the civil leaders. I especially remember Ezekiel 16:49:
Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.
Funny, no mention of gay sex in there.
I agree that conservatives pay way too much attention to things like gays, abortion, and evolution.
"Churches and private charities are better, so I do my best to make sure the government can't help."
I tend to follow this. We would probably be better off as a society if more people did.
Why do people care what someone does in the privacy of their own home?
Here is a description of Moreton's book that I found on the web. It looks like she is interested in how the Christian Right convinced people that the Invisible Hand of the Market and the Hand of God were the same thing:
www.powells.com/blog/?author=635
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