Defining a Theology of Social Responsibility - Making an impact in the real world.
Tuesday morning June 17th.
Last evening, during our Theology Panel conference call, the five participants; Jim Ramelis, Rich Warden, Bill Peltz, Steve Rockwell and Bo McGruffy (sp?), discussed the topic of a Theology of Social Responsibility.
We developed a list of topics that might fit under that label. Included might be:
Economic Justice - Corporatism
Gay Rights - Same sex marriage
Immigration - Undocumented worker rights
Global Stewardship
Health care - universal coverage
War Veterans Care - rehabiliation
Added to that list might be, from prior postings:
Stem Cell Research
Separation of Church and State
We discussed areas were we might find common ground with Evangelicals, especially young folks.
From an June 1, 2008 article in the NY Times, by line - Neela Banerjee (www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/us/01 evangelicals.html) the following appear to be areas of commom ground:
Care for the poor
Environmental protection (i.e. creation care)
Immigrants
Persons w/ HIV/AIDS
Stem cell research
Failing Inner City Schools
Human Trafficking
Support for Senator Obama (informally)
2 areas where we may continue to disagree are Abortion and Homosexuality, which young Evangelicals still consider sins.
((From reading the article it seems that young Evangelicals see a broader agenda, are more liberal politically (60% of the Journey, a 2,000 member Evangelical church in St. Louis, MO led by the Rev. Darrin Patrick, identify themselves as Democratics, some of whom actively support the candidacy of Sen. Obama) and are even uncomfortable with being labelled Evangelicals.))
The relationship of CrossLeft and The IPC was again clarified. As Steve and Rich explained it, the relationship is simply that CL, an intended 501 c 4 not-for-profit org. via the CL website can explore whatever topics of interest participants desire. It can serve as an informal progressive Christian R & D group. Once a topic "gains a following", that topic and its advocates, can then move to The IPC, a 501 c 3 non-profit think tank org., form a specific issue task force, create a formal position paper and publish it under the The IPC banner.
Once this paper is published it can then be sent back to the CL for development of policy implementation programs and procedures, advocating actions such as lobbying for specific programs or legislation. CL would not formally endorse any candidate for public office, though individual bloggers might make their views known.
It was decided to present these lists to all of you CL bloggers, ask you to review the above lists and comment, and add any new topics. Down the road we may ask you to prioritized them and select a few to develop into formal IPC white papers.
So what topics are on your mind?
Rich Warden
Theology Panel convenor
- anElder's blog
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Ain't that the question?
Rich,
I wish I had an easy answer for you. As far as Christian terminology goes, the bible provides many:
Exodus 22:21, "You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt."
Leviticus 19:34 "The alien who resides among you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God."
Leviticus 25:35 "If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him-stranger or resident-so that he can live with you."
Matthew 25: 38, 40 "[Lord,] when did we see you a stranger and invite you in? ." The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Hebrews 13:2 "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:11-21 "you are no longer strangers and sojourners but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."
Speaking economically is a little more difficult for me, although I believe it is no less important.
Simply stated, the US wasbuilt on immigrant labor, and the vast majority of those most unwanted immigrants (at least in my area) are simply looking to work to support their families in a better fashion than they could in their country of origin. It's not exacly politically correct, but most of the Hispanic immigrants I come into contact with are performing and seeking jobs doing things that most white folks consider themselves above.
The most prevelant argument I hear is that "they are taking jobs away from Americans". I'm sorry. That argument just doesn't hold up. In my oexperience, when there is a lower-wage job listed, it is the immigrant or minority that applies, not your average white man.
The words of Booker T. Washington, from an address in Atlanta in 1895 ring as true today as they did then. "Cast down yur buckets where you are". http://www.crm-essentials.com/Atlanta_Compromise.pdf
Once again, or still we are faced with the quandry that Washington spoke of. Where do we find th resources needed to advance our society? Cast down your buckets where you are.
America proclaims to be the beacon of freedom and hope; the land of opportunity. Nice words. It's time to "put up or shut up".
Peace,
R+
So Roger and Bill---
Great!
Roger you've supplied the biblical support and Bill you've supplied some of the economics. So should we begin with a biblically based system of social responsibility?
I would add 1 Timothy 6: 9&10, which says, bascially that the LOVE of money it the root of all evil, etc. Money is only a medium of energy exchange. The love of it is based on an illusion of security. We all know how quickly moeny can be lost, eg on the stock market.
Rich
1 Timothy 6 and the love of money
One of my favorite nit-picks is to point out that the translation "the love of money is the root of all evils" is misleading. I gather from the New American Standard Bible that the correct translation is that it's "a root" of evils, or of "the evils".
That's logical, too. It's hard to make a case that the love of money is the root of Sloth, Lust, or Gluttony and the evils that result from them. I'd rather dwell on the love of money as idolatry -- that you can't serve both God and Mammon, God and Wealth.
Bill
For the love of money IS the root of all evil--
Bill,
Here we have a difference of biblical versions. I use "The Holy Bible From The Ancient Eastern Text. George Lamsa's Translation From The Aramaic Of The Peshitta." I use it soley because Dr. Lamsa was a native Aramaic speaker, one who spent 35 years of his life translating the Bible directly from Jesus' native tongue, Aramaic, into English. Translating Aramaic into Greek, then Latin, then English as has been done over the past 2,000 years, has, in his well informed opinion, lost some of the original meanings.
Thus, having said that I find that Dr. Lamsa translated 1 Timothy 6: 9&10 as follows.
9 For those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and snares, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in degeneration and destruction.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil; and there are some men who have coveted it and have thereby erred from the faith, and have brought to themelves many sorrows.
Does this not describe Enron, WorldCom, HealthSouth, Jack Abramof, Tom DeLay, Randy Cunningham, etc., and thus describe the immorality of the Bush administrations domestic and foreign policies?
So according to Dr. Lamsa's interpretation money is the root of all evil, not "a" root of "evils", THE root of all EVIL, no exceptions.
So - my nit for your nat :-)!
Rich
Roots of evils
Ah, but there's more than one translation of the Aramaic of the Peshitta.
The Murdock translation puts it this way:
9 But they who desire to become rich, fall into temptations, and into snares, and into many lusts which are foolish and hurtful, and which drown men in destruction and perdition:
10 for the love of money is the root of all these evils....
"All these evils", not "all evils".
Translation is always problematic -- idioms and ambiguity abide. A couple of thousand years of change makes it hard for even a contemporary native speaker to discern how something might have been understood by its original readers.
One commentator on the Peshitta made the point that "love of money" is a compound word that might better have been translated as "covetousness". That would have a broader scope than simple "love of money". It would include the items from the tenth commandment plus covetousness of one's neighbor's power, which is probably the most pertinent covetousness in today's world or in any imperial state, far outranking the simple love of money in its pernicious effects.
"Covetousness" can easily be applied to Lust and Gluttony, though I wonder about Sloth. Maybe that can be translated into coveting the life of ease that's enjoyed by the heir to a great fortune.
My intention is never ever to reduce or deflect condemnations of the likes of Enron, WorldCom, HealthSouth, Jack Abramoff, Tom DeLay, Randy Cunningham, etc, or of the immorality of the Bush administration's domestic and foreign policies. Or for that matter, the Clinton administration's policies.
Thus, my concern about the logic of the phrase "root of all evil" is in a way an argument against my own ideological or analytical anti-corporatist interests. If that translation is accurate, then I have to conclude that it's illogical, despite my liking for its sweeping condemnation of all forms of serving Mammon. I continue to maintain that Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth aren't readily explainable as being derived from Avarice. So if that translation is accurate, the illogicality that I perceive in it would be, for me, another example of the human errors contained in Scripture.
More nits, more natter...
Bill
Excellent nits from a Master Natter
Thank you Bill. It adds much to my knowledge. I always appreciate informed insights. "All these evils" makes good sense, considering the context of verse 9. I like where you took it. Good sound reasoning. Thank you.
The bottom line is that the energy source we call money projects an illusion, one of short term safety and long term security. When a person gets caught up in the illusion that security comes from money, in any form, they always lose, if not money, their peace of mind, always worrying who's trying to steal their fortune.
Moreover they violate the sanctity of the human spirit, not just their own but those they exploit in the process of gaining their fiscal wealth.
I'll add one more related quote here. This is from Thomas Jefferson, who in a letter reply to one Horatio G. Spafford, dated March 17, 1814 said, "Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their sums". In modern language this means that all these tax breaks for the wealthy, wiil always be invested where they can get the best return, not neccesarily the US but more than likely China, India, Brazil, Ireland or wherever. Here the Democrats need to wake up and ask where these funds have actually being invested.
Are these tax break funds being used to create jobs in the US or China, India, or elsewhere?
making an impact in the real world & electoral politics
Rich et. al, I mentioned this in a separate blog post, but I am curious to see if we can put together a questionnaire (related to these topics) that we can then send out to candidates. My thoughts are we can post the response to the questionnaires on the site and have the readers decide if said candidates' policies truly represent their values. Thoughts?
Candidate questionnaire? Hmmm-- good idea!
OK Kety, based on these categories, how would we word such a questionnaire and to whom would we send it, besides the presidential candidates?, senatorial, congressional?, any local ones?
Rich
More thoughts on the questionnaire
Hey there Rich, I'm going to be sending a few links with further information about questionnaires to help us get started on this then, but in short, my suggestion would be that we send it to: 1.) the two presidential candidates; 2.) Senatorial & Congressional candidates; 3.) Any local races where we think the Christian vote could make a difference (any which one of us here @ CrossLeft.org is particularly interested in following up with- thinking about capacity here...)
more topics
Christian perspectives on:
Peace/War/violence
Empire
Capitalism
Nationalism/patriotism
relation to the state (re Romans 13)
under economic justice/corporatism:
labor rights/unions
industrial civilization/globalization/consumerism
Racism/institutional racism (white privilege)/multiculturalism/cultural ecumenism
There are lots of overlaps.
Bill
Good suggestions Bill
Thanx Bill. We can always count on you to add to the wisdom.
Rich
Immigration statement
The AL Faith Council recently published the following statement on Immigration that could be of some use: (with permission)
There is ample evidence that the United States immigration system needs to be reformed. The presence of millions of undocumented immigrants; the exploitation of immigrant workers; divided families; deaths in the desert southwest and on the open seas; people obtaining fraudulent government documents; criminal smugglers and human trafficking; and public frustration are all an indication that the system we have in place does not best serve our economy, our national security, and our local communities. The system we have now also does not reflect our religious traditions and the tradition of hospitality which has defined the United States of America. Any reform of our immigration system must be implemented in a way that is fair, just, and respectful of the dignity and worth of all human beings, balancing the needs and well-being of native born Americans, legal immigrants, and those who are working here but are in our country illegally. Any reform of our immigration system must also address the root causes of the migration of human beings.
WHEREAS:
• The current system, which creates millions of undocumented immigrants living in the shadows of our society, is a threat to our national security, expending countless dollars and human resources tracking down and removing honest workers from our economy—resources that could be spent on true security measures, such as stopping criminals and terrorists from entering the country.1
• Enforcement-only immigration solutions have been tried and have proven counter-productive, increasing rather than decreasing the number of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.2 Real solutions to our broken immigration system will require comprehensive immigration reform that allows willing workers to come and fill labor needs, reunites immigrant families, and brings the approximately 12 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows by providing them a path to earned legalization, lawful permanent residency, and eventual citizenship.3
• The U.S. is a nation of immigrants and has been continually reshaped by new groups of people bringing diverse cultures, perspectives, and resources. The overwhelming majority of our people are either immigrants or descended from immigrants. Like most of our ancestors, most immigrants today migrate either due to economic necessity 4 or to flee persecution.5
• Aspects of the U.S. economy depends on the hard work of immigrant families.6 They contribute greatly to the economic well-being of our communities. Immigrants pay taxes but often have inadequate access to public services.7
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OUR FAITH TRADITIONS SHARE IN COMMON:
• All human beings have value and are part of God’s good creation. (Genesis 1:26-31/ Psalm 8/ John 3:16/ II Corinthians 5:16-21/ Galatians 3:28/ Surah 24 An-Nur: 42-45/ Surah 25 Al-Furqan:54)
• All our faith traditions acknowledge the command of God to welcome and show hospitality to the stranger sojourning among us. (Exodus 22:21; 23:9/ Leviticus 19:33-34/ Deuteronomy 10:19/ Matthew 25:35 and context/ Romans 12:13/ Hebrews 13:2/ Surah 17 Al-Isra: 26/ Surah 30 Ar-Rum: 38)
WE RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
• To apply the principles of our faith traditions to this important and timely issue.
• To educate ourselves and our communities about the realities of immigrants and immigration, seeking to dispel myths and stereotypes about people who are here as legal immigrants and as undocumented workers.
• To work within our faith communities to improve our own attitudes and actions toward immigrants, offering them a place of welcome and hospitality rather than hostility.
• To speak out against injustices, exploitation, and hostility directed toward immigrants, documented or undocumented.
• To support and work for a comprehensive reform of immigration laws and procedures, rather than partial immigration solutions that do not fully address the problem.
Strangers amongst us.
So Rev. Roger, how do we speak to the Nativists, show them the "errors of their ways" so to speak? In Christian termology, economic reality? what?
Rich
Speaking to the "nativists"
One thing we can do is to make clear how our trade policies have added to the numbers of unauthorized immigrants. Agricultural subsidies to US farmers for commodity crops --like corn, wheat, rice, soy, cotton -- disproportionately go to large farms and corporate farms, and allow US exports to undercut the prices that Mexican farmers can get. NAFTA and other unbalanced trade treaties have damaged Latin American agriculture and have displaced a lot of people.
Once our domestic "Nativists" understand that, perhaps their ire will turn more in the direction of the corporate interests that helped create these policies. They might then address those economic and institutional realities in order to reduce the numbers of unauthorized immigrants at the source rather than at the borders. It's at least conceivable that "Fairness for Mexican Farmers" could even become part of their program rather than only enforcement and deportation.
For example, Lou Dobbs' right-wing populism is vehemently anti-corporate as well as anti-immigrant. But he seems to miss the fact that US agricultural subsidies connect the two issues. (I've listened to him some, but haven't yet done any thorough research on him, so I'm not absolutely sure he's never made the connection.) If we can get our facts thoroughly documented and accurately analyzed, even Dobbs might become a saner and more humane voice.
Our goal would be to promote the idea that the USA has done much to create the conditions that have led to the kind of immigration that the "Nativists" are complaining about. Recognition that "we" are part of the problem might help bring some antagonists around to the idea that a Theology of Social Responsibility is relevant here. They might then be more inclined to listen to the Biblical quotes about resident aliens, strangers, and sojourners.
Bill
Name
It's McGuffee, btw. Almost like the reader, but not quite. :)