Expanding our view of moral values  By John W. Coleman, Jr. |
A cacophony of voices is being heard daily across the American landscape, exploring the intersection between religion, moral values and political life. In the media, in workplaces and living rooms, in church pulpits and pews, we are hearing and reading challenging opinions on the relationship between church, civic governance and beliefs that are considered essential to our society. Those opinions reached a pivotal point of expression recently at the ballot box on Election Day with the emergence of 'values voters' and their apparent influence on referendums and election of candidates. About a fourth of voters polled identified moral values as their primary electoral issue. Not jobs and the economy, not health care, not terrorism, not even the war in Iraq. Moral values. Imagine that. No, it wasn't a host of moral values, reportedly, just a few hot-button issues that captivated public attention during the Presidential campaign. Abortion rights, the legality of same-sex marriage and stem-cell research were the top three. Despite all the projection being done by politicians and pundits, it's unclear if these values voters ? between 22 and 27 percent in two polls ? represent real trends and a real mandate, a new 'moral majority,' among the general population. It's even uncertain to what degree they carried the election for President Bush, although four out of five said they voted for him. It may just be that throngs of morally conservative evangelical Christians ? white, black and Hispanic, Protestant and Catholic ? answered the call of their respective shepherds to flock to the polls. They were told to defend the tenets of their common faith and also reelect their standard bearer to another four years. Now many of those commonly called the Religious Right are ready to push their moral agenda, demanding that the candidates they helped elect and reelect carry that agenda forward like good soldiers. The list begins with appointing Cabinet members and nominating new Supreme Court justices to their liking and then facilitating executive, legislative and judicial decisions that will achieve their goals: to weaken or overturn abortion rights, to outlaw same-sex marriage and civil unions nationally, and to continue the ban on stem-cell research. There's more, of course, including legalizing school prayer and allowing congregations to endorse political candidates without endangering their tax-free status. Separation of church and state will become a cherished relic of constitutional history if many of their goals are realized. But if you've got an electoral majority and a perceived mandate, you might as well go for the whole enchilada. Maybe somewhere down their agenda list we will find other moral values like universal health care coverage for the millions who are uninsured, more funding for drug rehabilitation and public education, choosing protection of our fragile environment over business profits and insatiable consumerism. Oops, sorry, wrong agenda. How about a redistribution of wealth and tax burdens, or a living wage for minimum-wage earners? Nope. Prison reform? Wrong again.
The first question may be who defines moral values, and then, who defends them? Christian fundamentalists, or whatever their politically correct label is, have appropriated the term as vigorously and self-righteously as many liberals and moderates have avoided it. Both could lay claim to the 'culture of life,' but only the former trumpets that clarion call in the key of faith. God bless them. Is there a moral foundation to civil rights, racial and religious pluralism, economic opportunity, international cooperation and other ideals that purportedly make ours a great nation ? even separation of church and state? If so, then it's past time, in the words of a sermon my father once preached, to 'fix the prefix' and begin any discussion of these other values and virtues in the key of faith and morality. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that nearly six in ten, 58 percent, of Americans think the strength of American society is based on the religious faith of its people. Poverty and wealth, racism, sexism, health care, abortion, sexuality and marriage, stem-cell research, the death penalty, waging war and preserving peace ? these are just some of the concerns with which the church needs to be wrestling. Many individuals and congregations are, but many select only the ones that appeal to their limited sensibilities. What's your viewpoint? What moral, religious and social values do you believe should gbwc_superusere our society, and what role should The United Methodist Church play in helping to define, defend and disseminate those values? We must determine and convey clearly what we truly value in the fullness of our faith, and how we are called to uphold and share our values, and our faith, with the world in which we live. | 
Login/Register to leave comment