I thought I’d just split this out into it’s own thread, and maybe Alan D can comment now he has made the jump (thanks Alan! :).
It has been fascinating watching the whole American electoral cycle this time ‘round when people are really hankering for, and have got, political change.
It has also been fascinating seeing the quasi-religious language the candidates used prior to the election (the most striking of which to me was McCain describing what seemed like a conversion experience, where he lived no longer for himself, but for his country), and similar language being used around throughout by Obama and his ‘sermon’ on Wednesday, and seeing how intertwined faith is with American politics and mythology (the prayers etc).
Christians are pretty quick to point the finger and say “Idolatry! You need Jesus, not a politician!” which there is obviously a lot of truth too.
However, for me, it has been pretty inspiring to see the US march, however haphazardly, towards equality, progress and at least aiming to be a force for good in the world (and I’m the first to point out how disastrous the last eight years have been).
I have to admit being influenced by Alan D particularly on Syd Ang about this, and forced to reconsider how I see the US vis a vis their founding ideology. Of course, it’s easier to be more favourable when the political winds are blowing in your preferred direction, but still.. :)
I wonder if in Australia this seems particularly foreign to us given we were founded on the lofty ideals of being a convict colony, and, I think it’s fair to say, don’t share the same sense of nationalism.
I mean, is it really so bad that American ideology aspires to individual liberty and a greater good? Isn’t that largely what Western ideology is about?
Should our first reaction not be “Idolatry!” but, in a very humble, tempered way, something more positive, like it’s good we’re slowly moving forward as a civilisation?
I think sometimes we’re so keen to make the point that we’re still sinful, fallen people in a sinful, fallen world that needs a saviour, that we throw out the baby with the bathwater when progress, however slow and haphazard, does happen.