So we support true social justice: a transcendent understanding that all human life is sacred, that our liberty is granted by God, and that happiness is ours to pursue.
-- Family Research Council (I couldn't find an author listed there. Can you?)
-- Family Research Council (I couldn't find an author listed there. Can you?)
A transcendent understanding that all human life is sacred: I completely agree with the first part (though I think the use of the word "transcendent" isn't really necessary. Either you believe human life is sacred or you don't. What's transcendence got to do with anything?) Sanctity of human life is definitely a social justice issue. Slavery, poverty, injury or death due to poor working conditions or toxic living/working environments, etc. all impinge upon human life.Our liberty is granted by God: I'm not sure where they're going with the liberty bit. What kind of liberty? Are we talking about freedom from sin? In that case, yeah, I can go with that. Only God can free us from our sin. And yes, I suppose this is a social justice issue when it comes to problems with addiction or quality of life issues (someone else's sin impinging upon your own life). But if they're talking about freedom from slavery or work or taxes or rule by a sovereign across the pond, it seems to me like there are others that can grant that sort of liberty as well. I don't see that as just a God thing. I would agree that freedom from slavery is a social justice issue. But I'm not sure that that's what they're talking about.
That happiness is ours to pursue: This one stops me up short. How in the world does this describe social justice? Sounds more like hedonism to me. Do they really believe that pursuing happiness is a social justice issue? Really?!
hmmm... it all seems rather fuzzy to me. they don't seem to explain clearly where they take these principles from, or how they get from these principles to the kinds of policies they support.
ReplyDeleteand here's another fuzzy bit: talking about what they call "the Religious Left" they say
Their argument goes like this: Since God wants Christians to show compassion to the poor, government should work to meet the needs of everyone.
but I don't think that's really the Christian argument in favour of stuff like government social welfare - I'd say the argument is based on God demanding justice and compassion towards the poor - he demands it from everyone, not just from Christians. sure, as a Christian I have a personal commitment to attempt to live life God's way, and if the government is made up of non-Christians then these people haven't personally made that commitment, so it's not surprising if they don't see things that way... but God's demands are on everyone. (sorry, end of long ramble)
Their use of "transcendental" seems meaningless, like a college or high school student trying to making a paper sound more intellectually thought out than it really is.
ReplyDeletethis is from the Declaration of Independence which saysWe hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.so they don't like the idea of the government working to meet the needs of her citizens, but they take as their guide-rule for social justice 3 phrases from a government document. i guess that means that government shouldn't do social justice, but it is the definer of social justice.
ReplyDeleteoh, the Declaration of Independence, of course... duh! I guess most Americans wouldn't be wondering where they get those principles from then. but to take those as a definition of true social justice... hmmm... not sure...
ReplyDelete