Commentary By Ron Beasley
When Senator Governor Mark Sanford compared himself to King David we thought it was a bit strange. But was it? Jeff Sharlet says no. King David is a very important figure to the C-Street players - an example of someone who was "chosen" by God to be powerful. Sharlet gives us an excerpt from his book The Family to demonstrate.
�King David,� David Coe said. �That�s a good one. David. Hey. What would you say made King David a good guy?� He giggled, not from nervousness but from barely containable delight.
�Faith?� Beau said. �His faith was so strong?�
�Yeah.� David nodded as if he hadn�t heard that before. �Hey, you know what�s interesting about King David?� From the blank stares of the others, I could see that they did not. Many didn�t even carry a full Bible, preferring a slim volume of New Testament Gospels and Epistles and Old Testament Psalms, respected but seldom read. Others had the whole book, but the gold gilt on the pages of the first two-thirds remained undisturbed. �King David,� David Coe went on, �liked to do really, really bad things.� He chuckled. �Here�s this guy who slept with another man�s wife � Bathsheba, right? � and then basically murdered her husband. And this guy is one of our heroes.� David shook his head. �I mean, Jimminy Christmas, God likes this guy! What,� he said, �is that all about?�
�Is it because he tried?� asked Bengt. �He wanted to do the right thing?� Bengt knew the Bible, Old Testament and New, better than any of the others, but he offered his answer with a question mark on the end. Bengt was dutiful in checking his worst sin, his fierce pride, and he frequently turned his certainties into questions.
�That�s nice, Bengt,� David said. �But it isn�t the answer. Anyone else?�
�Because he was chosen,� I said. For the first time David looked my way.
They believe that leaders are chosen by God/Jesus and that King David is an example.
Well, this is the big appeal of Calvinism. God's choice of an "elect" is not based necessarily on how pious the individual might be, in fact he doesn't even have to be religious or moral at all. So then all we're left with is how God's favor might be indicated, and low and behold the accumulation of wealth and power becomes the best (& most obvious) sign of being blessed. It's a pretty good system, if you're an authority worshiper. Or if you're inclined to believe that magic really does work....for the rest of us, at our own expense.
ReplyDeleteUh, let's not use too wide a brush. Some of us were spoon-fed Calvinism in the cradle along with racism and the rest, but didn't grow up to be blind followers of authority. Along with its obvious flaws Calvinism also planted some very important seeds of self-reliance, endurance under pressure and an almost crippling dose of discipline. It's strong medicine and shouldn't be sold over the counter.
ReplyDeleteUm, just by way of correction, you are confusing adulterous Republicans. Mark Sanford is Governor of South Carolina. John Ensign is the Senator on C-Street.
ReplyDeleteThanks EL, fixed
ReplyDelete(a few hours later...)
ReplyDeleteI finished watching The Kite Flyer. No spoilers from me. Just see it. But be advised, I'm a sappy old sentimentalist. It's not exactly a chick flick, but get Kleenex ready.
This is a film about, among other themes, how hard it is to overcome prejudice. And what it means to find redemption.
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Kites are not just for kids. Or just Asians.
I remembered another link from my old blog:
http://hootsbuddy.blogspot.com/2007/02/ray-bethell-flying-kitesunbelievable.html
Find other links there about kites, but to enjoy the video, click on the screen and go watch the You Tube version at the You Tube site where you can use the full screen option (not available when I blogged this one).
I read the book and then saw the movie a couple of months ago and would recomend both.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't raised a Calvinist but come from an area with a strong Calvinist history - see Calvinists Incorporated. The area is, while not overtly Calvinist anymore, still very strongly religious and republican, while at the same time are some of the poorest counties in Ohio.
ReplyDelete