Posts Tagged ‘theos’
God in politics
In the US, almost every polititian will make a reference to God when speaking in public. George Bush spoke of God in at least 94% of presidential addresses. Obama and Palin are also using God as a tool to win over the electorate. In the UK, a politician mentioning God, or using the bible as a political bargaining tool was unheard of, frowned upon. Now, it seems, politicians are finding it neccessary to invoke God in public addresses. The Times Online says this:
Leading politicians are increasingly using the God card to win over the electorate, a new report shows today.
Labour has made the most use of “God talk”, with Conservatives next and Liberal Democrats trailing far behind in their use of religion to make political capital.
The analysis of conference speeches by party leaders over the past decade shows Britain increasingly following the lead set by the US in exploiting the religious sentiment of political believers.
- Politicians pull out the God card – The Times Online
It’s a good article, although deliberately skirts around any opinion the author may have. However, this quote from Paul Woolley, director of Theos, annoys this piss out of me:
The increase in references to religious faith reflects an increased awareness of, and interest in, religious groups in our society.
- Paul Woollsey, director of Theos
I don’t think it does mean that at all, what I think it means is that politicians, once understanding that God and religion had no place in a democracy run by logic and reason, are now so desperate to get the voters believing in them they’ll resort to lying and outright weasel-ing, even if it means leaning on a tenet that they know isn’t relevant. I suppose it’s because it’s easier than actually finding out what your would-be supporters want to hear and growing a backbone by speaking of things relevant to your policitcal cause.
Paul Woolley did have this to say though:
Talking God is not the same as ‘doing God’. It is entirely right that politicians should draw on religion to shape and inspire their rhetoric, but that is no substitute for what the Christian tradition sees as good leadership – governing with justice and mercy.
- Paul Woollsey, director of Theos
I partly agree. Although I don’t think religion should be part of politics at all. The part of religion that Woollsey suggests to use to shape the politicians rhetoric is merely common sense, after all, I doubt anyone would suggest that the OT be used to guide a politician.
