Schadenfreude, all the time

Submitted by Jim Aune on June 24, 2009 - 2:56pm

Turns out Sen. Ensign and Gov. Sanford belonged to the same bible study group. If I may make a theological point, not much understood after the right-wing evangelical domination of public life: People who make a big show about being saved and about how other people aren't, and especially those who do so in public: a) Are violating the Second Commandment far more than those who cuss occasionally, b) Should read the Bible: "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:1-6 RSV) c) Remember the Reformation principle of sola fides or Luther's wise insight that we are "simul justis et peccator" (simultaneously justified and sinners, roughly). The more you take credit for your "faith" in public the more you tempt the Almighty, who again reveals his fracking-hilarious sense of humor.

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In Evangelical subculture

Submitted by jonathan-jones on June 25, 2009 - 4:25pm.

there is a strong strain of individualism and liberal, rights-based autonomy. Thus it is hard to make a case, fundamentally, that marriage is a deeply spiritual bond beyond the self. "Faith" can only hold things together so much as times get rough, which they will for every couple. Most make it through, I think, but those that don't tend to fall into the same justifications as anyone else - "I deserve to be happy" and so on.

Patrick Deenan hit on this point very well in this essay:
http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=3636

Marriage for the community and as a part of a larger set of cultural conditions, would, I expect, have different outcomes. Sometimes I think the parents and grandparents of India have a heck of a lot more wisdom on this question than we ever will.

And too bad about Sanford. I really liked the guy, and you can tell he was broken up about it in a bad way. All the blame to him, though - what a dumb move.

good point

Submitted by Jim Aune on June 25, 2009 - 4:44pm.

Here's more evidence from Sanford's press conference, I think (Jews and Catholics would presumably see a much more communal dimension to the Law): " But I’m here because if you were to look at God’s laws, in every instance it is designed to protect people from themselves. I think that that is the bottom line of God’s law. It is not a moral, rigid list of do’s and don’ts just for the heck of do’s and don’ts, it is indeed to protect us from ourselves. And the biggest self of self is indeed self. If sin is in fact grounded in this notion of what is it that I want, as opposed to somebody else." As John Holbo over at Crooked Timber points out today, "the biggest self of self is indeed self" could have been written by Hegel.