Redemption in Politics
As I watched the inauguration the other day, I felt what I called a redemptive moment. Many articles in very secular, i.e., non-religious, non-theological, publications also spoke of redemption of democracy or of the soul of the country.
I do not like the concept of “redemption.” It connotes a pay-off to bad guys like a ransom paid to terrorists, pirates, and kidnappers. In religious context even worse. It connotes a bribe to a god for a favor. Like Agamemnon sacrificing his daughter to get favorable winds to get to Troy to avenge the taking of Helen by Paris thus starting the tragedy of the Oresteia (and maybe more realistically for the Greeks to destroy to take the fort to rule the trade routes of the Dardanelles to the East). Many religions, including the Hebrews, would supplicate the gods by burnt offerings.
The bishops developing Christian orthodoxy explained who Jesus was by calling him the Son of God who, because He was almighty and infinite, required an almighty and infinite pay-back to humanity’s (Adam) transgression of disobeying God’s rule. So, His Son offered to be sacrificed on the cross thus redeeming all mankind who would attach themselves to this sacrifice (“sacrifice” means to make holy).
Even in my study of Catholic theology, I never like this interpretation of Jesus who like other prophets in other traditions taught that God was not a vindictive monarch needing vengeance. He would use more paternal or maternal metaphors to describe the Holy One. He made the key rule of divine behavior to which he called his hearers that of love. “Love God with your whole heart and soul and love your neighbor as yourself.” They are the same. In my theology God means the Spirit of Love, the foundation of all that is, the relational aspect of every particle and wave of reality. Not a superman or supreme judge.
In democratic politics, We the People are the higher power not only seeking but also creating greater unity. Because we confirm the universal right of the freedom of and from religion, we confine cultural or traditional religions, creeds, “persuasions” (the founders called them) to the private sector. There is a public religion to which private sector persuasions and creeds contribute but which transcends and thus frees them all to the extent they do not violate the rights of any towards life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (which in reality is defined as we go) as they are contained in the consent of the governed.
The inauguration was a peaceful transit of power from one government to another to represent all the people. And yet that peaceful transition was begun in violence by a large mass, at the agitation of the defeated president, broke into the capitol to stop the votes already certified by the states. Like barbarians invading Rome they broke historical treasures and forced people to run for their lives — five died and over fifty injured until order was restored by law officers. The inauguration, protected by police and the national guard from those who would impede it, was a call to unity which was also a recognition of the deep disunity in the nation.
In my public theology, We the People, on the way to achieve the Beloved Community, is where Divine Love exists. I can translate this in my traditional Catholic theology as I am sure those in other religious traditions can do as well. But I realize that we in our personal or public religion have miles to go before we sleep. Just so we are on the way.