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.