Francis vs. Victor Davis Hanson

Last updated on: January 15, 2015 at 1:00 pm by Mark Shea

Francis vs. Victor Davis Hanson 2015-01-15T13:00:42-07:00 Mark Shea

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.

Over at National Review, Victor Davis Hanson, one of the avatars of conservatism’s epic anti-charism of discernment, noted for disastrous promotion of a disastrous war that two popes and all the world’s bishops warned would be a disaster, is now instructing us that the very survival of Western Civilization depends on the unfettered right to disseminate religious pornography without consequences.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis makes the observation that respect for religion should limit freedom of expression. Hair on fire and running in circles screaming ensues. Not only is he a damn librul, he is siding with the terrorists!

Yeah, cuz who would ever imagine that the Pope, of all people, would think blasphemy is wrong, or counsel, “Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.” (Col 4:5–6).

Note that the pope says nothing about legal speech codes, just common sense. In this, he imitates St. Paul, who likewise did not think that everything not forbidden should be compulsory.

The Corinthians, who seem to have had a relationship with Paul something like that of a surly teenager with a dad striving to be patient, wrote Paul and said “Everything is lawful for me”. They were misquoting Paul’s own words back to him in order to try to say that they could stay up all night, skip school, and take the T Bird out for a spin down to the porn palace, cuz the Holy Spirit was cool with Freedom ‘n stuff.

Paul’s reply was “Not everything is beneficial”. The freedom of Christ is freedom to pursue virtue, not freedom to make yourself a slave to sin. If you want to use your freedom stupidly you can. But in a world of consequences where grownups live, you don’t have the option to use your freedom stupidly forever. There will be consequences. Francis gets this. It is not altogether clear that Hanson does.

Me: I prefer common sense. Therefore, I reject the proposition that the survival of the West depends on blasphemy, just as I reject the proposition that the survival of the West depends on murder (which is, by the way, what unjust war, as well as terrorism, is). Am I calling for anti-blasphemy laws? No. There are some things which, if you have to legislate against them, you’ve already lost the battle. Rather, I am, like Francis, calling for a heart of virtue that knows, without having to be threatened with legal punishment, that civilized people do not behave toward God and neighbor this way. Or as Paul said:

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another take heed that you are not consumed by one another. (Ga 5:13–15).

Uncategorized

Pope Francis

Previous Post

January 15, 2015

Hey Western Washington, Mark Your Calendars!

Next Post

January 15, 2015 Prayer request

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month 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 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 September 2006 June 2006 July 2005 April 2005 May 2002 April 2002 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz