the search for justice
TRANSCRIPT
The search for justice: Christian involvement in politics
Rob ParsonsJanuary 2017
Politics
Distribution of power and resources
Robust
Our discussion here is not about religion in politics – separation and secular power.
Rather it is about how to approach making decisions about political issues.
Justice
Retributive / distributive
Biblical justice e.g. Amos 5.24, Micah 6.8
Justice in common discourse a fractured concept
Private and public
Who is my neighbour?
Who is my neighbour?
a) scopeb) duties
duty of rescueduty of care
duty of prevention?Social liturgy?
(moral distance, proximity)(telescopic philanthropy)
Who is my neighbour?
Love thy neighbour as thyself
Do as you would be done by
Local and global
The powers that be would prefer us to be localBut our neighbours are global
Individual or system
The powers that be would prefer us to look at individuals, and to apply sticking plasters, rather than challenge the system. (Ref Good Samaritan)
Duty to inform ourselves
Whose side do we take?
Examples
Food banks
local and personal response to systemic problem
Publication “Feeding Britain” an example of how not to take sides.
https://foodpovertyinquiry.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/food-poverty-feeding-britain-final.pdf
Northern Ireland
Immensely complex Immensely painful Healing Never perfect
Housing
Neighbours?
The future
Automation Climate change Resources
What should Christians do?
I have no magic bullet that will enable us as Christians to make a difference.
But we will not make a difference if we do not get involved at the public level as well as the private.
As has been said by the feminist movement for some time – the personal is political.
Notes
This presentation, with notes, will be available on Slideshare, and there will be a blogpost with the link at:
http://acomfortableplace.blogspot.co.uk
All pictures used in this presentation are CC0 licensed.