Confusing Morality and Politics
Nov 12th, 2007 by Micah Tillman | 2 Comments |
(The Taliban did it. The Iranian leadership does it. Chavez does it. The founders of Communist Russia and China did it. Americans do it.)
An idea developed in the modern period (between 1600 and 1900, say) that religion (i.e., morality) and politics can be kept separate. As I’ve discussed before (here and here, for instance), what this means in practice is that some issues are declared political, and the rest are designated moral.
Now the Left wants us to start calling some political issues “moral” again (Jim Wallis thinks the Federal budget is a “moral document.” Al Gore thinks global warming is a political and moral issue. Childrens’ issues are always moral).
It’s a smart power move (because if you oppose them, you’re being immoral). I take a strange amusement from seeing people use words to gain power. (Not that that makes it wrong! It just makes it interesting.)
Progressive American Christians who are sick of the immoral things “we” have done in Iraq have decided that it’s time their (progressive) faith started influencing their (read: “our”) politics more. (Hence, Jim Wallis’ God’s Politics, which I mentioned before).
The solution to the Right’s (purported) use of God to justify “their” policies is for the Left to use God to justify “their” policies.
They’re definitely onto something. It’s true that we are holistic beings, and that to compartmentalize ourselves into “business,” “home,” “church,” “voting booth,” etc. parts is ontologically bizarre.
But one thing has to be kept clear: the morality that applies to politics is the one that says what the people with the biggest guns should use their guns for. Our moralities should have something to say about that.
But what my morality tells me to do and what my morality says the people with the biggest guns should use their guns to do are usually going to be two different things.
(I, for instance, should be teaching my classes and writing my dissertation. They should be using their guns to stop criminals who are trying to hurt people, and therefore won’t have time to be teaching my classes and writing my dissertation.)
*laughs*
“Oh, Micah!”
I think we miss you.
:)
Oh, I’m reading this book that your post reminded me of: The Stillborn God: Religion, Politics, and the Modern West by Mark Lilla. I don’t really agree with Lilla’s premises, but I’m finding it interesting looking at my religion and what it has done and is doing through the eyes of a (I suppose) non-believer.
:-) We miss y’all too!
Hmmm . . . I look forward to reading your review of said book when you finish it!
It’s often helpful to get an outsider’s point of view on things. Though being outside something often means you miss important things about it.
Hmmm . . .