Secularism
I read a great quote today in Saturday’s Zenith newsletter from John Paul II in Centesimus Annus:
When people think they possess the secret of a perfect social organization which makes evil impossible, they also think that they can use any means, including violence and deceit, in order to bring that organization into being. Politics then becomes a ‘secular religion’ which operates under the illusion of creating paradise in this world.
One of the greatest lies that secularists propagate is that religion is responsible for most of the evils in the world, and that secularism is entirely beneficent. How beneficent we saw in the last century when the secularist philosophies of Fascism and Marxism managed to achieve body counts unimaginable even in the worst religiously inspired conflicts.
Here in Europe we have many signs of a new secularism arising that is becoming increasingly intolerant. One of the things that most distresses me about the European Union is the amount of deceit that seems to be built into its implementation. This appears to go far beyond the normal face-saving one expects from politicians, and to be a matter of deliberate and systematic deception. Not a good sign.
Si Fractus Fortis
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I agree about this danger of secularist statism -- I was a Russian major after all, and studied my Soviet history well. :-)
But here in the US, we're seeing a very similar kind of impulse from Christians, primarily on the right but increasingly on the left as well. A lot of Christians seem to believe that it's possible to construct a Christian state that will make evil impossible. And similarly, they're willing to use some frightening ends. Not violence thus far, but plenty of deceit and other sinful means. It's worrying. And it makes reading Joseph Ratzinger or Dorothee Soelle or others who write critically of the secular state in Europe rather strange -- because much of what they say applies to the Christian right and the nascent Christian left here in the US.
That's not to say I'm a libertarian -- the state has a place in bringing about the Kingdom. But we as Christians are just as tempted by the allure of bringing about the Kingdom through politics as secularists are. :-(
Incidentally, you might find this post with some quotes from Bonhoeffer interesting. He talks about a "stealth godlessness" along these same lines. There does seem to be a problem with taking human sinfulness seriously when it comes to government. We lose our heads and start thinking we can somehow overcome that with the right laws!
Fr Chris: We lose our heads and start thinking we can somehow overcome that with the right laws!
... or the right wars!
Fr. Chris:
In further response to both your postings, thanks for the Bonhoeffer quote. I think C.S. Lewis said something on the lines of its being always a mistake to pursue "Christianity and . . .", whether it be "Christianity and Social Justice" or "Christianity and the Environment" or "Christianity and Parental Discipline". We should always be pursuing Christianity pure and simple.
I've forgotten who it was who said that the task of the Church is to be faithful, not successful. I'm sure that applies here too.
And I've just come across this quote from today's Chiesa newsletter in an article entitled Divo Barsotti, a Prophet for Today's Church:
The two [Barsotti and Ratzinger] also share similar views on politics and history. Both are extremely opposed to the idea that in earthly history there is the progressive construction, almost by natural evolution, of a kingdom of peace and justice. Both are absolutely certain that the "eschaton," the ultimate and definitive act of salvation for man and for the world, is already present here and now, and is nothing other than the crucified and risen Jesus.