Posted on 09/04/2008 7:58:19 AM PDT by mathprof
I teach at a Catholic university. I study and write about evangelical Protestants. I have no religious convictions of my own. This bothers people who insist that if you are not yourself religious you cannot possibly "get" religion. I leave it to others to decide whether my lack of faith helps or hinders my capacity to understand the subject. But I do know one thing. Because of where I teach and who I study, I have come across some remarkable people I otherwise would never have met.
Familiar with the Catholic tradition, I cannot say I am surprised to meet learned Catholics with a deeply honed sense of social justice. But I have been taken aback by how many evangelicals to whom I have spoken who think deeply about the obligations we human beings have toward each other, take seriously a command to lead lives of good purpose, and resist having their faith corrupted by the temptations of money and power. Megachurches and Christian colleges and seminaries have more than their share of people who love God and want to make the world a better place.
Sarah Palin's speech last night was rapturously received by the delegates to the Republican convention, most of whom are conservative Christians. But just because most Republicans are conservative Christians does not mean that all conservative Christians are Republican. I have the feeling that Palin's speech will not wear well among many of the primarily younger evangelicals I have come to know.
To be sure, Palin's personal story will resonate with them, especially the story of Trig. (At one evangelical event in Atlanta I attended, I was bowled over by the parents of a quadriplegic child to whom they had clearly devoted their lives; I do not think I have the same level of devotion within me). But three aspects of Palin's speech are likely to bother them.
Evangelicals are becoming increasingly persuaded that Christians are under an injunction to preserve and protect the natural environment bequeathed to us by God. They will not be attracted to destroying the beauty of Alaska to fill our all-too- human urge to drive cars. Christians are from time to time called on to sacrifice for their beliefs, and if we have to cut back our energy consumption to protect God's gift, that is as worthy a sacrifice as there is. Palin rhetorically called for clean energy but her words lacked conviction, especially when compared to her calls to drill and drill some more. This will be noticed.
Palin's speech, secondly, was too partisan to be easily swallowed by younger, post-partisan, evangelicals. These are people who disagree with Barack Obama's position on abortion but respect him as a Christian. Palin's over-the-top sarcasm toward Obama will not play well with them, especially her implicit questioning of his patriotism. To the extent that these younger evangelicals are political, they look for a politics of elevation. The whole tone of last night's convention will prove to be a bit too sour. You do not call for change and adhere to the Rove-Schmitt style of attack.
Finally, and most importantly, Palin did not speak to the powerful sense emerging among evangelicals that all Christians, and not just Catholics, should do their best to insure social justice in this world. On the contrary, Palin mocked Obama's service as a community organizer, an odd thing to do given that so many community organizers are inspired by their religious convictions. Promising to cut taxes appeals to country-club Republicans. It is not nearly as resonant a theme to those who understand that the programs financed by taxes help the neediest and most dependent. If Palin said one word about how to make this world a fairer place or indicated at any point how to realize the common good, I did not hear it.
This is the moment for Sarah Palin to have her day. But great speeches are meant to be digested over long periods. This is not one that future generations of evangelicals will turn to for inspiration.
Alan Wolfe is a TNR contributing editor and director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College.
these are the same people who report one crackpot nun advocating abortion as a MASSIVE GIGANTIC RIFT.
these are the same idiots who believe that the abortion issue is not settled and the pope is still looking at the issue.
for these buffoons 100000000000000000 to 1 against the left wing is portrayed as a 50/50 split.
Happily, if such a man showed up seeking a job at my granddaughter's Church School, he would be interviewed and his resume set aside and he would not be called back for a second look.
The poor fool thinks his essay will persuad young people to turn away from Sarah Palin. I sure hope the clueless continue this abject stupidity for the next two and a half months because every time these dolts expose themselves, more bright young people see the stark contrast of dead soul walkin'. The democrat party is built of such deadness sauntering across America.
You keep using this word, “evangelical”. I do not think you know what it means.
“...not all conservative Christians are Republican.”
But NO conservative Christians are democrats.
How is this possible? Perhaps he is a devout atheist or agnostic but to have no conviction about such an important human question seem absurd.
all Christians, and not just Catholics, should do their best to insure social justice in this world.
Code words for collectivism. I have found that the poor are best served by a healthy and free economy. I have been to Burma and Laos and these are not good places in which to be poor. Singapore is likely the best and it an economy which is consistently rated one of the most free in the world. Even heavily socialized Sweden lags behind.
Therefore, he better understands people that do.
Riiiiiiight.
More from the dolts who think the cliche “social justice” equals religion.
“I study and write about evangelical Protestants. I have no religious convictions of my own.”
That is truely about as clueless AS IT GETS.
If you could find a Christian on the Boston College campus I’d be shocked.
Wolfe is a self-absorbed pagan. Wolfe has no clue as to Christianity, particularly Evangelicals.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai
Ah yes, "social justice". That's where the cat stopped reading. "Social justice". One of the favorite phrases cited often by Thomas Sowell. Here are two of his insights:
"Envy plus rhetoric equals “social justice.” "
"Lofty talk about “social justice” or “fairness” boils down to greatly expanded powers for politicians, since those pretty words have no concrete definition. They are a blank check for creating disparities in power that dwarf disparities in income — and are far more dangerous."
Why Conservatives Can't Govern By Alan Wolfe
the best that can be hoped for is that American voters will do for conservatives what they are unable to do themselves: to vote them out of office.
Stopped reading right there.
You have to serve somebody ~ Bob Dylan
"But "social justice"? No explanation needed. No definition. No facts. Everybody is for it. Do you want social injustice?"
What, are we freaks in a zoo?
He obviously does have religious convictions, anti-Christian ones.
“Finally, and most importantly, Palin did not speak to the powerful sense emerging among evangelicals that all Christians, and not just Catholics, should do their best to insure social justice in this world.”
I think the faux “evangelicals” of whom Alan writes are eventually going to find their numbers declining a la the mainline Protestant churches. When the Gospel and solid Biblical teaching are abandoned in the pursuit of a social “gospel,” people end up seeking the real thing elsewhere.
These are the people who are really not evangelical but who are active memebers of pop christianity. They are not sufficiently schooled in the faith to recognize that Obama is not a Christian.
You must be a neat lady to be compared to our Sarah Pelin.
Actually, she is much like many women, and 52% of us vote!
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