the search for justice
TRANSCRIPT
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The search for justice: Christian involvement in politics
Rob ParsonsJanuary 2017
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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.
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Justice
Retributive / distributive
Biblical justice e.g. Amos 5.24, Micah 6.8
Justice in common discourse a fractured concept
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Private and public
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Who is my neighbour?
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Who is my neighbour?
a) scopeb) duties
duty of rescueduty of care
duty of prevention?Social liturgy?
(moral distance, proximity)(telescopic philanthropy)
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Who is my neighbour?
Love thy neighbour as thyself
Do as you would be done by
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Local and global
The powers that be would prefer us to be localBut our neighbours are global
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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)
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Duty to inform ourselves
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Whose side do we take?
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Examples
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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
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Northern Ireland
Immensely complex Immensely painful Healing Never perfect
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Housing
Neighbours?
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The future
Automation Climate change Resources
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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.
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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.