Secular theology

Around the time of Katrina I mentioned how interesting it is that, when presented with a challenge of natural science, so many presumably secular rationalists go straight for theology. Modern liberalism — environmentalism is a denomination — is nothing if not an apocalyptic faith.

Want God? Certainly. He can be found in the book of global warming, where sin (prosperity) incurs the wrath of a vengeful God (Mother Nature). It must be true, but because we deserve it.

The devil? Bush! Republicans. The “right-wingers”. And all those damn racists: much like the devil, you can’t see them, but you know they are there. How else can you explain all the bad things in the world?

Worship? Sure, check out any protest to see the congregation in action. Or the cults of personality that surround those who speak the Truth, or at least truth-to-power.

(Oh, and what is Truth if not God? Whether you’re describing Al Gore’s new movie, an anti-smoking campaign, or even a lefty mailing list, claims to Truth — capital T — have precedents only in religion and sophistry.)

Sin? Oy. Too numerous. Questioning one’s beliefs. Smoking. Liking one’s self. Driving. Claims of happiness. Plastic bags.

Ritual? Well, when defined as habits that make us feel better, but which have no tangible importance, how about recycling?

Sacrament? Organic food.

Tithe? Well, a tithe is a compulsory payment to the moral authorities, to help them protect our souls. I believe this is what liberals imagine “taxes” to be.

I’ve found that committed, activist progressives are much less approving of differences than any committed, evangelical Christian I’ve known. And I’ve known a few Flanders types in my life. But I digress.

My point is that everyone, ultimately, is looking for God. We all want faith. It’s just a question of where you choose to place it...

Comments

[Daniel Dreymann]

Spot on! Global Warming is the liberals' version of "We sinned and God's wrath is upon us" :-)

[Jeremiah]

Very perceptive. It could be a series of glib one-liners, but you're really touching something deeper. Must have been the Passover, Easter convergence.

[Matt S]

Environmentalism, as a "faith", has many of the same motives of traditional theology. It's the same part of the brain if you will.

Traditional religions, however, a) honestly call themselves a faith and explore it as such and b) have a richness and history and humanity that is often lacking among their secular couterparts.

My post was a bit glib, I'll admit. It's not about religion per se, it's more about self-described secularism and its hypocrisies.

[Jeremiah]

Matt, the key word in your last comment is "honesty". It makes all the difference in the world.

[Gibson Polk]

Everyone is not "looking for God," as you suggest. Religious people (like yourself, I presume) confuse scientific understanding with "faith", as if both are simply systems of belief - revealing a stunning lack of reason. Good science always welcomes a challenge, based on evidence - faith does not. Most of the evidence suggests that the human species is despoiling the planet, at an increasingly rapid rate. Republicans have generally been on the wrong side of this one.