Ancient Echoes

This year promises to be a continuation of the nightmare of political anger, disinformation (lies), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) [aka Cons and Manipulation or CM] in the political campaign carried out by the far right.  Don’t mix religion with politics is what the Constitution demands, but that requirement falls on many deaf ears attached to people insisting America must be white and ruled with an iron fist – dictatorship. 

Helping us understand the insanity of outlandish and dangerous right-wing politics we have the new book “Ancient Echoes: Refusing the Fear-Filled, Greed-Driven Toxicity of the Far Right,” by Walter Brueggemann, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.  Here is a brief commentary.

(begin) In Ancient Echoes, Walter Brueggemann -- one of our most influential biblical scholars -- responds to eight "truth claims" made by the radical right in US politics.

In his book Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History (Random House 2020), Kurt Andersen enunciates eight "truth claims" made by the political right that champion aggressive self-sufficiency and self-security at the expense of the community. In the process, any hint of "the common good" among neighbors disappears from the scene.

Brueggemann responds to each of these mistaken "truth claims" through the witness of scripture and an insistence upon a common good -- a neighborly practice of generosity, hospitality, forgiveness, justice, compassion, and mercy. The echoes of biblical faith reveal that these right wing "truth claims" contradict our long-running legacy of biblical faith. (end)

Yes, they do.  We will hear far more far-right claims and distortions of our faith.  Jesus would insist we refuse that which will be used as propaganda to swing our votes towards revenge and retaliation and a strong man inappropriately and falsely using the Bible as a self-promoting weapon against justice, his opponents, and the common good.  

By now readers of this blog must know where I stand.  Let your fully-formed Catholic conscience be your guide.  

Deacon David Pierce