Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Politics and Religion
PRS* XII Republicans Attacking Businesses And Religion

PRS* XII Republicans Attacking Businesses And Religion

Last updated on: August 7, 2024 at 2:33 am by Henry Karlson

0 Comments

PRS* XII Republicans Attacking Businesses And Religion 2024-08-07T02:33:40-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Microbiz Mag: Man Writing / Wikimedia Commons

While many had their attention diverted by the Olympics, and made-up outrage after made-up outrage concerning what was happening there, Jim Jordan and Thomas Massie, leading the House Judiciary Committee, were conducting an assault on businesses and faith-based groups which take environmental concerns seriously. They claimed that there is a “ESG Cartel” which needs to be stopped, a cartel which has as its goal a desire to protect the environment, and with it, the future of humanity. Why do they think this is so bad? Because, they claim, investors are losing money when businesses factor in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) concerns. They think businesses should be interested only in profit, and anything which gets in the way of profit should be stopped. How can they not see that if there is no humanity, no place for people to live and thrive, there will no longer be any profit? How can they not see that people want to invest in businesses interested in environmental (and social) concerns, as well as buy or conduct businesses with them, making such businesses profitable?

This desire to go after companies desiring to be good stewards of the Earth, telling them the only thing they could be concerned about is making profit, should tell us everything we need to know about Jordan, Massie, and the Republicans who support them. They are immoral, and their crusade against businesses dealing with ethical concerns demonstrates their utter concept for the common good. They put profit over people. Is it hard to see that they follow Mammon, and due to their idolatrous love for profit, they are willing to sacrifice the world for their own private gain? Their actions indicate that they do not think businesses, nor investors, should have the freedom to engage ethical concerns, that the only businesses for businesses is the making of profit. They will attack regulations which require businesses to meet ethical standards, saying such regulations undermine free enterprise, but then they will create their own regulation, one which shows that their concern for free enterprise is a charade.

I cannot understand how anyone of good will could support what the House Republicans are doing. For, it is clear, they want to control businesses, telling them what they can and cannot do. They believe the only concern businesses should have is how much profit they can make and that anything which gets in the way of such profit must be stopped. They show utter contempt to the Earth, and the future of humanity, by the way they are trying to portray environmental concerns as evil (by calling those working to promote ESG concern as a “cartel”). How can I not take this to indicate that the only thing they think is good is their own personal gain in the present moment, and the only thing they think of when thinking about personal gain, is money? How can I not see this as another proof that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil? How can any Christian, knowing that God has told humanity to take care of the Earth and protect it, knowing that Jesus said we cannot serve God and Mammon, ever take Republicans seriously when they try to portray themselves as faithful Christians? And how can anyone take their understanding of businesses seriously, when they fail to take into consideration that many businesses have shown an interest in environmental concerns because they believe it helps them financially?

I can only weep at what happened last week. While Christians were so focused on what they thought was an attack against them at the opening of the Olympics, forcing a narrative which was not definitive, not willing to admit that there were other interpretations, ones which the organizers claimed they intended, real attacks were happening against them in the United States by the House Judiciary Committee. Among those being criticized, investigated, and threatened by Jim Jordan and Thomas Massie were faith-based organizations which have been working with businesses to promote environmental concerns. This was a real attack on Christians for doing what Christians should be doing, being good stewards of the Earth, making sure businesses continue to invest in the future of humanity. To be sure, this was not the only kind of attack against Christians recently made by Republican officials; Christians who are promoting the common good, those who are following the expectations of social justice, constantly find themselves threatened by Republicans, as can be seen in the way Catholic Charities in Texas are being attacked by Ken Paxton, the Attorney General in Texas, because they are offering basic humanitarian aid to migrants. There are countless examples of Christians being attacked by Republicans for living out their faith, and yet, somehow Republicans try to present themselves as pro-Christianity, indeed, as representing Christianity, and many people believe them. But when Christians try to live out their faith, promoting social justice, promoting humanitarian aid to those in need, they find themselves attacked by Republicans as Republicans do not want Christians living out the faith in such a fashion. They want to use Christians in a culture war, but they do not want Christians to question or act against their own ideologies. And when Christians accept this, when they accept Republican ideologies as being Christian, Christianity is undermined from within, which should be a far greater concern than any perceived attacks from the outside. This is why, with the messaging of the Republicans, Christians must respond, so as not to allow themselves to be corrupted by that messaging (unlike the messaging of the Democrats which does not seek to corrupt Christianity by suggesting their policies are Christian, though they do suggest Christians should be able to find common ground with them and work with them to promote social justice).

Jim Jordan, Thomas Massie, Ken Paxton, and many others, represent a far greater threat to Christianity than whatever anyone thought they saw happen at the Olympics, yet, sadly, it was what happened at the Olympics, and not what is happening in the United States, which gets spread across social media. Republican leaders are having Christians support anti-Christian policies. They are having Christians bow down to Mammon. I cannot, for the life of me, understand how anyone of the Christian faith could and would support this. Christians need to discern when their way of life, the way Christ set up for them to live, is being under attack, and deal with those real threats instead of being diverted by petty concerns. They certainly should not let themselves get distracted by the way they perceive they are being insulted, when it is not obvious such an insult was ever intended, because many of the same people who want to distract them are the very ones who pose a real threat to their freedom to live out their faith as they see fit.

*Personal Reflections And Speculations

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!

N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

Progressive Christian

Politics and Religion

Business, Finance and Religion

Previous Post

August 6, 2024

The Transfiguration And The Eschaton

Next Post

August 9, 2024 Suffering Is Never A Good Unto Itself

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Gosh, did that hit the spot. I have been having great anxiety lately. And I ..."

Mark Wilson

Rejecting Doom: Christian Hope And Human ..."

"Justice and peace are two sides of the same coin. Where there is justice, there ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

"Thank you for your very, very powerful and very, very insightful analysis of the relationship ..."

alwayspuzzled

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

"Given the amount of lethal malevolence that has prevailed in human history for the past ..."

alwayspuzzled

We Must Value Our Health

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz