Monday, February 8, 2010

The Deceits Of Social Justice

Craig Carter, the author of The Politics of the Cross Resurrected blog has taken his time to analyze the notion of "social justice", comparing it against the traditional Conservative theology:
So the question is “Is social justice compatible with conservative theology?” First, some definitions are in order.

1. Conservative Theology: This is not controversial, really. It is what Pope Benedict XVI, C. S. Lewis, Billy Graham and John R. W. Stott have in common. It is the "Great Tradition" common to Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. There are Evangelical distinctive and Roman Catholic distinctives, but basically it is what we hold in common. It is enshrined in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds and is expressed in many systematic theology textbooks including those of Tom Oden, Herman Bavinck and Millard Erickson. It is grounded in the Augustinian-Thomist tradition of the first Christian millennium.

2. Social Justice: By social justice I mean the following interconnected set of beliefs:
  1. equality is the highest goal of society
  2. equality is best defined in terms of equal economic opportunity
  3. natural inequality must be overcome by human will
  4. individual freedom must be sacrificed in the pursuit of equality
  5. the rule of law must be sacrificed in the pursuit of equality
  6. the state is responsible to create equality
That alone, pretty much, explains it all. No wonder why so many "left-leaning" / Liberal clergymen, that are preoccupied with what they believe is social justice, end up getting caught supporting organizations that openly oppose Christian social values.

Check out this video report - and see for yourself how some of them use poverty as an excuse to bankroll groups that promote socially perverse values, including abortion and homosexuality. Bishop Fulton Sheen knew what he was talking about when he called Judas Iscariot a patron saint of "social justice" - where people are concerned with humanity, but ignore the truths of God.

And here's another thing we shouldn't forget: any kind of "social justice", as described in the passage I quoted, will unavoidably lead to a tyranny of those seeking to implement it.

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