I was discussing the seven deadly sins with some friends the other day. For those of you who don’t remember them, here they are in no particular order:
- Greed
- Envy
- Lust
- Gluttony
- Pride
- Wrath
- Sloth
Now having listed those, let me sling something into your consciousness: most right-wing parties in Europe and the Americas tend to be Christian parties.
Surely if right-wing parties are more often the home of Christians in politics, the policies of right-wing parties must suit those people’s morals? But doesn’t the ‘Loads-a-money’ caricature of 80s Conservativism stinks rather of gluttony, pride and envy?
In fact post-Thatcher Britain has been struck by all of these ’sins’. Aside from those with eating disorders, I would have thought that everyone has sinned with greed (and those with eating disorders, religion tells us with no hint of sympathy, have sinned with pride). Anyone who enters the lottery and does not intend on giving away all but what they ‘need’ has sinned with envy and would sin with gluttony. Everyone who has watched a football match and willed their own team on is verging on wrath.
I know of no man who has not noticed in an inappropriate way (for the sin of lust) an attractive woman (or man — although homosexuality and religion really don’t like being in the same sentence). And those of us with a mirror in their bathroom have at least a little pride.
In fact, of the ’sins’ on that list, wrath is best avoided (but is a character trait for some) and envy is truly unpleasant. Aside from those two, I would proudly admit to having committed them all!
Maybe Conservatives and Christians are similar in not thinking about some aspects of life in any detail: How many of us can name, for instance, a deeply religious (Christian) person who has not read the bible? How many of us can name a strongly Conservative person who would secretly admit to believing homosexuality is unnatural? I would suggest that both these positions are illogical and so fit well together in the same person.
New Testament Christians, if they agreed with Jesus tipping the tables in the synagogue, if they agreed that gluttony, greed and pride are sins, if they believe there’s something metaphysically bigger, really should be socialists or libertarians.
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#1 by Cleanthes on May 12th, 2009 - 8:41 am
Gavin,
Well, yes and no. The whole point of the Christian message is that this is how you ought to live your life. If someone else forces you to live this pure life, you can’t or shouldn’t take the credit for it.
We thus separate political life – how society organises itself – from individual morals.
This shows up the fundamental mistake of leftism: leftists believe that if society is organised along these lines, everyone will be moral. If fact, the opposite is true – reasonable people outsource their morality to the state and stop trying themselves (fail 1) and unreasonable people abuse a system that assumes they’re going to be moral (major fail 2).
#2 by jameshigham on May 15th, 2009 - 1:18 pm
Christian in name only. Like Adolph called his party democratic.
#3 by Bertie Humbug on May 17th, 2009 - 10:21 pm
Which would you prefer, more Christian influence, or more Islamic influence.
I would suggest Islamification should be a pretty big worry!
Check http://www.jihadwatch.org/
#4 by Gav on May 23rd, 2009 - 10:58 am
Bertie,
Isn’t it interesting that there’s a word for Islamification but not for Religiousification. I am not more concerned about Islam than about Christianity because it is the culture that happens to surround Islamic countries that is the cause, not the religion itself.
All religions have no place in politics, but I know less about Islam than I do about Christianity.