Marriage and the End of Moral Outrage

Last updated on: May 6, 2016 at 12:54 pm by D. G. Hart

Marriage and the End of Moral Outrage 2016-05-06T12:54:35-04:00 D. G. Hart

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.

More news about Joe Paterno and his involvement in covering up Jerry Sandusky’s sexual molestation of children has forced me once again to challenge the easy moral outrage of our time. I have an annoying habit that increases my wife’s sanctification of live streaming (via HER Ipad) a Philadelphia morning sports talk radio show while I go through my daily ablutions. My excuse is that this allows me to follow Philadelphia sports without having to subscribe to cable. My wife’s complaint is that the talk-show host, Angelo Cataldi, is a loud mouth and a jackbleep. My response: it is what it is.

Anyway, today’s conversation starter was the news about Paterno and Angelo’s ongoing quest to understand how people can continue to like someone who is so patently evil. On one level, my immediate response is to point to the Bible where Old Testament saints seemed to have both Judah and David on fairly high pedestals even despite some pretty despicable behavior. If Americans viewed their heroes the way the Israelites did, then maybe we’d suffer through fewer news cycles of outrage porn.

On another level, I wonder what Angelo thinks about his wife. Has he not had to come to terms not simply with annoyances (like my audio choices) but also with basic differences of opinion on the right and wrong of people, relationships, political candidates, purchases? The phrase “picking your battles” had to have come from a spouse since at some point in a marriage you learn to let some matters go. How much more so do fans of iconic figures (with whom they don’t have to share a bathroom) overlook all sorts of foibles and misdeeds? This is basic human psychology.

This should not be read as an attempt to excuse Paterno or to make light of molesting children. I was a big fan of Paterno, admired so many parts of his work that seemed to separate him from the average college football coach, and so was inclined to grant him some rope for not being up to speed on what Sandusky did or how wicked those deeds were. I still think it possible for Paterno to have acted foolishly and if given another chance, and knowing what we now know, would act differently. I admit that I am biased.

But I don’t understand how a radio personality whose job includes interviewing dancers at gentlemen’s clubs or scheduling strippers for sporting events somehow forgets his Roman Catholic upbringing, says pornography is fine, but then gets on his soapbox and rules that merely knowing about a child molester is a sin worthy of eternal condemnation.

Image

Previous Post

May 4, 2016

Reverse Self-Righteousness

Next Post

May 11, 2016 America First

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2016 Presidential Election 2020 Presidential Election Apocalypse Bible in American Life Biblical authority Books and culture Calvinism Church Life Civil Religion Culture Wars Doctrine evangelicalism Gullibility Heaven and Hell Intellectual life Jesus Ministry modernity moralism Nationalism New Testament Old Testament Otherworldiness Otherworldliness Paul Peter Piety Popular culture Protestantism Psalms Puritans Race Roman Catholicism sacred/secular distinction Sex Shameless Self Promotion Sports Ten Commandments U.S. politics Uncategorized vulgarity worship

Select a Month January 2022 October 2021 August 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 January 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

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz