Being an early morning Radio 4 addict, it's hard not to feel sucked into a downward spiral of pessimism about the state of the world's finances. Daily conversations with leading commentators about whether it is now safer to put all your money under a mattress get you thinking just a tad about what we have done to get into this sorry state. It's intriguing that some Muslims are beginning to point out the wisdom of their stance on usury and it suggests a hole at the heart of modern western liberalism. The thing is, they have more than a point don't they?
I was at a seminar on Wednesday at Heythrop College, tracing the evolution of political theologies in the church. Now you can come up with a million definitions of "political theology" but whichever way you slice the cake, it's the discipline that gives flesh to the tension of when the church should work with secular (ie non church) leaders and when it should confront and challenge that leadership. The recent growth in this discipline revolves around the fundamental failure of the church's political theology in Germany during the Nazi regime: in essence, why did so few Christians stand up and challenge the horrors perpetrated by the state? (As one theologian Dorothy Soelle put it, "did no one smell the gas?").
I'm prompted to pose a similar question: "did no one see the red on the balance sheet?" Alarmingly, though, for many of us in western culture, the question ought to be aimed within. For all I'd like to see some accountability among the banking high-flyers and city whizz-kids with their bonuses, we are all reaping what we have sown. How on earth do we say something/do something as a church with authenticity and credibility in this situation? And let's face it, few of us in the church are equipped to design complex financial instruments that keep markets afloat.
The seminar, lead by Michael Kirwan SJ, gave a helpful summary of the two alternatives that the church has deafulted to over the centuries: "Leviathan" or "Covenant". Leviathan (an image from the secular philosopher Thomas Hobbes) suggests that we're all one step away from chaos and anarchy and we just need some centralised authority to reign things again, knock us all on the heads and keep the barbarians at bay. It's the kind of approach I see from some Christians concerned that Islam is about to overtake Europe and that we'll be witnessing beheadings in British cities before too long.
Covenant is an alternative trajectory in the church in its relation to the state, and one that I think is authentic to our model of Jesus: an approach that binds us in relationship and commitment across difference. There's no room for smug self-righteousness (or hypocrisy!) when it comes to covenant. It's all about building bridges, being alternative model communities, and speaking truth where that's needed.
I don't think Western Civilisation is going down the pan; just watch some BBC comedies from the 1970's to be reminded of the racism and sexism that was normative not so long ago. But there's a whole lot wrong with British society too; it's getting better and worse, I suspect.
So, let's wrestle with these issues, pray for business and political leaders, live personally more responsibly and name greed for what it is, conscious that we too are guilty as charged.
As one in the financial services sector - where everything is totally mad in meeting the challenges - thought your comments are brilliant. Was praying the other night for the guys who run the company or my part of it - not that we be a success but that they would somehow know peace in a mad world. I am challenged too about resurrecting the prayer group at work to pray for the business world. Also am speaking with church leaders about some sort of response . Keep praying for us - we are not all on inflated salaries with big bonuses as you well know - and we try and be salt and light in very dark times.
Posted by: Steve Hilsden | October 10, 2008 at 08:27 PM