Consequentialism is the Machiavellian philosophy that maintains it is acceptable, even noble, to do wrong in order to correct a perceived greater wrong, i.e. the ends justify the means, or in other words, two wrongs do indeed make a right. Generally, it is understood that the sum of that equation = wrong. It is also recognized that consequentialism rises to the level of evil when it inflicts harm, pain, and suffering on others; when it is intentional; when it terrorizes people; when it deprives people of their humanity; and when it is done with malice or in retribution. It is the very thing we teach our children not to do. Two wrongs, we tell them, never make a right. But, that is being challenged by the resurrection of an old heterodoxy.
Christian nationalism is a consequentialist ideology. It is an oxymoron. As incompatible as consequentialism is with christianity, it is, nonetheless, deeply ingrained in the psyche of many Americans. They are religious, but bitterly angry, even apoplectic. They vindicate cruelty. They repress speech they find disagreeable. They disavow responsibility for the suffering of others, save their own. Armed with lethal weaponry, they justify the use of violence, especially in furtherance of their aims. They eviscerate the rule of law, being a law unto themselves. They intimidate, threaten, and torment the noncompliant. They nonchalantly ignore the endemic greed, corruption, profiteering and profligacy of their own virtue vigilantes They enthusiastically welcome the demolishing of entire societies. But, why? Why do they want to hurt people?
Because of their beliefs. They are consequentialists. They must destroy to rebuild.
They have, they believe, a divine mandate to save, or at least control, America and subsequently the world. As grandiose as that sounds, they are convinced of their chosen status and mission. Therefore their unquenchable thirst for power and the ruthlessness of their tactics are justified because, they insist, with their newly amassed secular authority they will create a more righteous, meritorious, and holy society modeled after…their leader? (Well, no, really no.) A kingdom made in their own image? (Well, we aspire to be loving, not livid. So, no, we do not subscribe to that.) A nation and government that is ruled by them? (Well, we Catholics have been there, done that. So, no, pass.)
After destroying multiple nations, and millions of lives in the Inquisitions and the Doctrine of Discovery, owing to our Divine charge, and because we smugly thought the ends justified the means, we Catholics have, at least partially, learned our lesson. I wonder if Christian Nationalists will learn theirs before it is too late for multiple nations and millions of lives?
Brigid's Blog 