Submission Of Christian Morality In Politics example essay topic

As physical items such as fire, contain substances that determines how they will behave, so do people. A persons 'essence' or character will determine how they will react regarding their morals. In this time of violence, terrorism and corruption it is no wonder that the question of morality is raised. It is obvious in this day and age, that morality is a puzzle in comparative politics, and although, culture and ethnicity is a key factor in comparing governments, the role of morality seems to have been sidestepped. While an undefined source for policies, actions and people, morality is an issue seldom heard until a crisis. As Otto von Bismarck stated 'Politics is not an exact science', thus morality must in cumber politics in one way or another.

The notion of morality is rather ambiguous and subjective. There is no clear definition of morals, and obviously no universal standard. So, how do morals affect politics? George Lakoff uses morality as a metaphor, and describes the relationship between morals and politics as 'The Nation as a Family'.

Lakoff describes this metaphor as seeing the government as the parent and the states citizens as its children. Lakoff successfully describes this metaphor under a number of different categories... Regulation: Just as a nurturing parent must protect his children, a government must protect its citizens -- not only from external threats, but also from pollution, disease, unsafe products, workplace hazards, nuclear waste, and unscrupulous businessmen... Environmentalism: Communion with the environment is part of nurturance, part of the realization of one's potential as a human being. Empathy includes empathy with nature. Caring for children includes caring for future generations.

Protection includes protection from pollution. All of these considerations support environmentalism... Feminism and Gay Rights: Nurturing parents want all their children to fulfil their potential, and so it is the role of government to provide institutions to make that possible... Abortion: Women seeking abortion are either women who want to take control of their lives or teenage children needing help. Considerations of nurturance for both require providing access to safe, affordable abortions... Multiculturalism: Nurturing parents celebrate the differences among their children, and so governments should celebrate the differences among its citizens...

Affirmative Action: Since women and minorities are not treated fairly in society, it is up to the government to do what it can to make sure that they have a fair chance at self-fulfilment... Art and the Humanities: Knowledge, beauty, and self-knowledge are part of human fulfilment, and so the government must see to it that institutions promote such forms of human nurturance... Taxation: Just as in a nurturing family it is the duty of older and stronger children to help out those that are younger and weaker, so in a nation it is the duty of citizens who are better off to contribute more than those who are worse-off. Although the family metaphor is a valid conception of morality, the definition is still unknown.

The subjective nature of morality would imply that every action is right if the person agrees with the action or believes it is right. However, how can killing a person be right? This is where culture plays a large part in politics and morality. If you lived in India your morality would have you believe it is right for wives to be burned alive with their deceased husbands. In Syria, you would believe it is morally permissible to have more than one wife. If you grew up in Sudan, your morals would say it is permissible to have young woman's clitorises surgically removed.

However, if you held an American morale, you would probably disagree, finding none of these practices are morally permissible. So, if morality can be so diverse as to be categorised ('Christian' morality, 'Nazi' morality), then this must have a major effect on how different regimes will view issues and act upon them, whether it be economy, women's rights or the current War on Iraq. When using Lakoff's 'Nation as a Family' model it is obvious to see the reasoning behind World leaders support of War against Iraq- just, as a nurturing parent must protect his / her child, a government must protect its citizens. However, this does not justify the War on Iraq, when looked at through a Christian morale.

Fr. Joseph, O.F. M, argues against the separation of church and state, and highlights the submission of Christian morality in politics today. The state has been given to us by God to look out for the temporal welfare of its people. This means its main purpose is to work for the common good. If those who hold a public office in any way do not work for this purpose, they have usurped their position.

It is also important to note that in working for the common good of the people, a morality is necessarily implied, for one cannot be morally neutral, and yet work for an objective good. This is the contradiction of the political scene today. Everyone wants something (what is supposed to be a "common good" but rarely is anymore), yet it is (from their point of view) supposed to be devoid of any moral basis, especially a Christian one. This statement highlights that morality whether it is from a Christian or Nazi background will be found in politics.

No decision is neutral and action taken against or for an issue is without morality. Otto Von Bismarck (1815-1898), Prussian statesman. Speech, December 18, 1863, to Prussian legislature. web G. Lakoff, 'Metaphor, Morality and Politics or Why Conservatives have Left Liberals in the Dust' (1995, volume 62, no. 2) Social Research web Theodore Schick, Jr. 'Is Morality a Matter of Taste, Why Professional Ethicist's Think that Morality is Not Purely 'Subjective' (1998) 18 Free Inquiry Magazine 4 web 2 G. Lakoff, 'Metaphor, Morality and Politics or Why Conservatives have Left Liberals in the Dust' (1995, volume 62, no. 2) Social Research web Fr. Joseph, O.M. F, 'The Morality of Politics' web.