God as Denial of Responsibility

God as denial of responsibility

When God is on your team, the world can be dangerously simple. Arbitrary references to the Bible is a form of intellectual terrorism.

The United States has a talent for producing thought-simplifying politicians. Especially when they claim to represent God’s march on earth. Already 160 years ago Alexis de Tocqueville noticed the low level of American ecclesiasticy. At the same time he admired their civic commitment and ability to unite freedom and equality.

For the past eight years, secularised Europe has been watching with increasing astonishment a president who for the most part is guided by religion; who has had a very difficult relationship with the English language; who has systematically prioritised loyalty over competence, and who seems to be without any intellectual curiosity.

The United States has the world’s leading universities and scientific institutions. But as historian Richard Hofstadter ascertained in the 1950s: This country also has a tradition of anti-intellectualism at the very spine of its culture. One should not be overheard speaking French if one wants to be president – something John Kerry learned. The populism around political currents which are anti-centrist and anti-establishment are just below the surface in God’s land. There has always been tension between democracy and competence, and dictatorship is not an option. But sometimes this tension proves very painful. In some ways the United States are a pre modern society where religious backwaters are included in uncomfortable, symbiosis-like relationships with policy unthinkable in Europe.

The temptation of simplicity.

Take Sarah Palin. The Alaskan governor with great skills at carving up big game, McCain’s snapping hound with lipstick. With her American conservatism she has torn away its last shred of political civilization (read what she said about foreign policy at the convention). We are risking having a woman who sees God’s hands in all she does just a heartbeat away from the oval office. A unholy mixture of ignorance and vulgarity. We know this “Gott mit uns” – mentality all too well from European history. Save us from the Alaskan version!

We really should indulge ourselves in ridiculing such arrogant naivety. The dangerous psychological impact of toying with religion are all too rarely pointed out, especially the encouragement of fanaticism and denial of accountability that biblical quotations can lead to. It is easy to be confident when you can use simple rationalization because God is on your side. To say that you will do “what Jesus did” can be a simple excuse to avoid studying the issues at hand. Sarah Palin’s thin educational background – a few courses in journalism and political science at different colleges – will not help her against the temptations of simplicity.

Iraq – part of God’s plan.

God has given Sarah this opportunity to serve, says Palins pastor in her home town of Wasilla, Alaska. And Palin has said she will let herself be guided by God’s message. She prays for oil pipelines, and she has let it be known that she fears for her work has governor if the Alaskan people do not have their heart on Gods side. Iraq is part of Gods plan.

May God show mercy and make sure Palin stays by her hunting knife.