David Brooks recently wrote, “Donald Trump believes in one thing. He believes might makes right.” That provides a good wrap-up for this series. I come away thinking most Americans seem to believe only one thing. Might makes right. Over 40 years ago, in his classic After Virtue, Alastair MacIntyre foresaw this could happen. He argued […]
Power is simply the ability to do something. I decided to examine it to better understand our society’s acceptance of an abusive form. Public figures profess absolute power, enabling them to do whatever they want, even to define what is right or true. Private individuals think freedom gives them the power to say or do […]
Most of the Bible is addressed to people who lived under bad government. With very few exceptions, the kings and emperors who had power used it to take advantage of them. In response, biblical ethics offered practical advice about coping with evil rulers who abuse their subjects. For example, if you read the Sermon on […]
One of the first things that MAGA did was establish a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). That sounds like a good thing. We want to use power with little or no waste. However, my ears go up whenever I hear the word. I think of Jacques Ellul and Ivan Illich observing everything in a technological […]
Recently, I again heard politicians using “America First” to express their positions. At first, I assumed it referred to buying American goods to support American businesses. We should be willing to pay more so our friends have jobs. However, eventually I realized MAGA was using the slogan to express restoring US world dominance. “America First” […]
The nation is reeling after just three weeks of the Trump administration brandishing naked power. Many citizens are trying to figure out how we got to this place as if knowing might contribute to overcoming the violence. When I ask about this, I remember a visit to the South several years ago. All the conversation […]
”Love your neighbor” could be rephrased “Masters, act as servants.” If we have power over others, we are to use it to care for them, not to take advantage of them. Thinking about this brought to mind two ethical observations that rang true 25 years ago and still do today. Both were propositions about changes […]
Let’s take a preliminary look at what the Bible says about unconditional power being a human problem that could destroy the world. It’s an idea found from beginning to end in the scriptures. Hopefully, we can find some guidance for handling the present threat. The danger is usually personified. Way back in Genesis 4, Lamech, […]
I had decided to do a series on the Christian concept and use of power. People say they no longer feel safe, and their fear seems to explain a lot happening all around us. For instance, I think the slogan that has headed Donald Trump’s home page for years best explains his election. It reads, […]
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