Categories: uncategorized
Date: 04 April 2012 13:31:24
David Cameron has sent out an Easter Message which is explicitly Christian and people seem uncomfortable - not because Jesus is being talked about, but rather because many Christians find the current governments policies to be anti-Christian in nature. Some think his equality proposals regarding "gay marriage" are against their faith whilst others find his attacks on the welfare state are far from reflecting "gospel values". Personally I am in the second camp and think that David Cameron's public espousal of faith is positive - but I think the ways his policies don't reflect his words need to be picked upon. I am worried that articles such as this one in the Guardian are actually diverting readers away from the real questions that DC's speech raises. Additionally, I think that the "Easter Message" needs to be seen alongside the "Passover Message" published today, which could be interpreted as Islamophobic in nature and is certainly offensive to those of us who do support peace in Israel, but also peace and justice in Palestine.
So how so I see it all? Well, I'm just going to comment on the "Easter Message" and outline what I think are the positive, negative and downright hypocritical aspects of it.
First paragraph, “Easter week is a very important moment in the Christian calendar, so I would like to extend my best wishes to everyone here in the United Kingdom, and across the world, at this special time of year." - No problem with this, although I personally don't like the term United Kingdom I think it is a fair and good message.
Second paragraph, "This is the time when, as Christians, we remember the life, sacrifice and living legacy of Christ. The New Testament tells us so much about the character of Jesus; a man of incomparable compassion, generosity, grace, humility and love. These are the values that Jesus embraced, and I believe these are values people of any faith, or no faith, can also share in, and admire."
First sentence, fine no problems with this. Second sentence I think this is true but it is focusing on the aspects of Jesus which are more fluffy. Jesus was also a passionate believer in justice who was a man of principle, passion and social justice. Third sentence implies that we can all agree on the "fluffy" aspects of Jesus, but in doing so seeks to turn/ domesticate Jesus into somebody who was a "nice man" rather than a "God". Just as with the people in the crowd on Palm Sunday Cameron seems to want to fit Jesus into a mold which he can't be fitted into.
Third paragraph, “It is values like these that make our country what it is – a place which is tolerant, generous and caring. A nation which has an established faith, that together is most content when we are defined by what we are for, rather than defined by what we are against. In the book of Luke, we are told that Jesus said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” – advice that when followed makes for a happier, and better society for everyone." - This is the paragraph which I have taken offence to.
First sentence - the view that the UK has been built on the values displayed in the paragraph preceding ("compassion, generosity, grace, humility and love"). The truth is that these values have been part of what the UK has been built upon, but it is not the full story. Many of our great cities were built on the wealth of slavery; the inequality in our society which has and still exists is to do with a lack of compassion and the exploitation which has occurred within the UK on the basis of a range of things including religion and social class. Generosity again has existed but so has the greed of self-interest. Grace and humility have often been lacking in our society - one look at the nature of the House of Commons illustrates this. Love is something which has - in all its forms - been shown lacking at times in our history. I also believe that a raft of legislation introduced and proposed by the current coalition, particularly relating to the dismantling of the welfare state does not display these values.
In terms of the second sentence of this paragraph, as a member of the free churches and "a dissenter" whose predecessors suffered as a result of the "established church" thinking I find this insulting to my heritage. Yes, as a nation when we are agreed and are working together on the basis of consensus things are generally better - but progress and the abolition of injustice only occurs through dissension.
The last paragraph in this sentence would be great and would be one I would loudly applaud if it were not spoken by a man who is currently heading a government which is seeking to introduce policies which are going to increase poverty and inequality within this country.
The paragraph “So as families and friends get together this week, I would like to send my best wishes to you all, and I hope and pray you have a very happy and peaceful Easter.” is one I fully agree with and I wish DC a happy and peaceful Easter too - sort of. Thing is for me Easter is not about just having a "happy and peaceful" time, it is a time when I believe the reality of the passion means we should be disturbed in our thinking. Thinking about a man who died a brutal death on a cross is not happy - it is challenging and disturbing. Understanding Easter (including the risen Lord) should challenge us in terms of working out what our response should be.