I’m sometimes asked if the mission of Political Theology Matters is geared specifically to Christians. No, it isn’t. PTM’s mission involves providing resources and encouragement for anyone with a faith tradition who wants to work for social justice. That’s why there are 6 symbols of the world’s faiths included in our logo. Each symbol represents significant populations of these faiths now present in the USA.
Part of what inspired me to include these symbols in our logo was this show of nonviolent force to protect local Muslims and to reject the destruction of another religious group’s sacred text (depicted above). This gathering of dedicated faith leaders demonstrates that hate and exclusion are immoral.
My teaching perspective
Having said that, I’m an Episcopal priest, so my teaching draws substantially from the Hebrew and Greek Testaments of the Bible. But I also look for commonalities between interfaith traditions, and it is not difficult to find them. Why do I do that? So that we can build advocacy programs as coalitions like the one shown above. We do this to include different cultural and religious perspectives. This also broadens our base in addressing citizens who are registered voters and who are concerned about various issues.
Coalitions like this can respond to an individual’s action/position, as in the case above with Pastor Terry Jones, who had planned to protest against “Shari’a and Jihad law” and had threatened to burn the holy text of Islam, the Quran. Or, coalitions can address the government to do something or refrain from doing something. Power rests in the numbers — numbers of dedicated individuals who assemble for justice.
Faith-based advocacy, or political theology = speaking your faith publicly for justice
Political theology, or faith-based advocacy, happens when people participate in the marketplace of ideas. The First Amendment encourages civil discourse and debate in democracy. So, we can think of political theology as:
- Explaining your faith teachings
- In the public square
- To achieve greater social justice through policy and law to as large an audience as possible
Let’s look at each of these components:
Explaining your faith teachings
The world’s religions all have teachings similar to the Golden Rule of Christianity, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” We can build on that one religious tenet to address social issues, such as working to eradicate hunger.
What is the “public square”?
The “public square” is any place to which the public expects to have access. The Supreme Court ruled that we have a reasonable expectation of privacy in a public telephone box. Law enforcement must have a warrant to tap our phones. But if we hear someone speak at a park; on radio, TV, or cable; in a newspaper; before a governmental committee; or on a podcast, these are examples of the public square.
Achieving greater social justice through policy and law
Using the previous example of coalition-building through the interfaith understanding of treating each other as we want to be treated, we can assemble and petition the government.
Faith-based advocacy involves explaining your faith perspective publicly and calling on legislators to enact laws that help the poor, not only avoid problems like hunger, but to create programs that help people thrive.
Obviously, the more broad our reach via the public square, the more influence we can achieve with our message. Sometimes our arena will be small, but whenever we can, we must strive to reach as many people as possible at one time.
This is not about establishing a superior religion!
I’m not looking to establish a superior religion of “progressive Christianity.” Anytime one religion is preferred over others, a climate of exclusion organically arises. The quest for power over the exclusive faith tradition ensues, and attempts are made to squelch all other traditions. Those not belonging to the faith-in-power endure discriminatory treatment and become relegated to living on the margins.
These power plays that we are witnesses to, like Georgia’s new voter suppression law, serve as a perfect example of the white Evangelical power base blatantly working to silence minority voices. This has been going on for centuries, but it has resurfaced more stridently because Trump has given such adherents permission to reverse social reckonings achieved since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Many social ills can be cured by working together ecumenically and via interfaith coalitions
Coalition-building and community organizing empower us to advocate in the public square for equality in voter access to election polls. This advocacy can be done by coalitions of religious and non-religious entities. Such coalitions don’t work to establish a certain supreme religion. Rather, they participate in open public debate so that, as a society, we can arrive at the policies and laws that best serve all members of our society. Ideally, a variety of viewpoints get expressed as we hash out the solutions.
We can accomplish greater good in a number of ways
I volunteer for a non faith-based community organizing entity because I love the work they do. We address issues that are very important to me because of my faith, but faith is not the key common denominator. What brings us together are the issues. Sometimes I speak as a priest to protest a deportation, and so my faith leadership becomes a factor. But other times I volunteer as an ordinary citizen, and my personal faith drives me to engage in the work. Either way, my faith expression occurs, directly or indirectly.
And, we all can even work for good with others regardless of whether their work has a faith-based motivation. Power comes in numbers of people who work for the greater good.
So, with whom will you work for the greater good?
Blessings on your Eastertide journey.+
