Unity, the essence of
Sacralism
Sadly, Britain has not abandoned the Sacral model, instead
largely substituting a Secular Sacralism...oh yes, it's quite possible. Secular
Sacralism is nothing more than the seeking of a secular unity, a secular
utopia. Sacralism casts society in theological terms. With secularism it's a
closed universe rejecting the idea of revelation, so it's not theology in a
proper sense. But even secularism must account for metaphysical issues like
ethics.
It has a creation narrative, an eschatology (the goal) and a
soteriology (how to get there)... secularism is perfectly able to shape its own
ideas in this regard. The key is all Sacralisms are committed to forging a
social unity. There can be diversity within the Unity, but everyone MUST
embrace certain values and goals.
As Christians, we don't want any type
of Sacral society, apart from the Church itself.
Much of Europe though secular, toned this way down after
the World Wars. It was still there, but most of society was pretty disgusted with
all the Unity-schools, worldviews that present a comprehensive social agenda...Fascism,
Communism, even some forms of Capitalism and Imperialism. Nationalism often the main vehicle, the main
unifier allowing Sacralism to work even fell somewhat into disfavour.
No small irony....Europe itself sort of became the new
vision, though now put to the test....no one is quite sure what Europe really
means and politically the European Union (the EU) is in danger of collapse.
Germany more or less sits on the fiscal throne and is in a position (through
the Euro) to dominate the politics of the EU, especially the states that are
struggling. Everyone's head is spinning and they must now face a real
existential crisis. If the EU was created to make sure the World Wars could not
happen again...and to undo the type of harm wrought by Germany....how is it
that 67 years later, Germany is poised to claim the position of ascendancy?
They're asking themselves, were all the post-war plans and machinations,
decades of diplomacy and planning, for this? A German victory? Admittedly not
the Third Reich, but who would have signed on to a project that decades later
would give Germany power over other European nations?
The demographic and social changes in Europe are driving
some (the Right) to re-embrace and enhance the Sacral vision. Today's Right in
Europe means immigrants MUST accept things like homosexual rights, religious
pluralism and so forth. It's a mix of good and bad, but it turns very ugly in
places like Germany where the Unity-doctrine (though not identified in this way,
that's what's happening) has reached the point where they are cracking down on
people like home schoolers. They don't want social nonconformity, a sub-class
rejecting the Unified vision of their Secular Sacralism. They're afraid of
Islamists and now after the shooting in Norway, all governments are afraid of
violent extremism from the Right.
Christians in the United States decry this, but again as
I've written elsewhere...if they had control I don't believe they would allow
anti-Christian and anti-Constantinian groups to home school or private school
their children. Suddenly they would see the threat to the Unity very clearly
and take similar action.
Even with the collapse of European Sacralism in 1945, Europe
is still searching for the Unity, something early America was not conscious of
and interestingly was despised by European observers for its disjointed and
disunited society. At the time the Disunity was embraced by the Church. Even
Sacralist institutions like the Presbyterian Church actually changed their
Confessions to recognize the new reality. An uncomfortable reality for both
Sacralist historians and strict subscriptionists. The words changed, but once
political power and the vision of Empire caught on...the ideas took root once
more.
Multiculturalism a
threat to Sacralism, a friend to Two Kingdom theology
Can Multiculturalism be the basis for a new Sacralism? Yes
and no. It depends what is meant by this. Generally speaking for obvious
reasons multi-culturalism is anti-unity...and thus anti-sacral. But for some
Secular Sacralists (trying to build a Brave New Utopia) they use
multiculturalism as a tool (a tactic) to deconstruct competing Sacralisms. They
might appeal to Muslims and Hindus present in the culture as a way of softening
Christian Sacralism, but in the end they will also war against the Muslims and
Hindus. It's all a matter of timing. Given the chance they will work at
deconstructing the traditional values those cultures still hold, that's their
overall goal. If asked they plainly would overturn the patriarchal structures
and traditional values of all religion dominated cultures. But they're not
going to do it in the face of unrest, or if there is the possibility that their
actions might be perceived as being in concord with the agenda of Christian
Sacralism. The camps are in competition, they don't want to help another
system.
This back and forth is probably a bit more pertinent in the
United States where there is a real struggle. In Britain, secularism has been
in the ascendancy for some time. Cameron may wish to turn back the clock. He
might see the present crisis as a point of entry for a new social agenda, or he
may be testing the waters, or even trying to stir the pot a bit...to see if others
will start to speak and get the ball rolling as it were.
Some on the political Right would blame the immigrants for
the fall of Christian Sacralism, especially in a society like Britain. True,
Christian Sacralism has been dulled. Why? For the reasons mentioned above in
some cases, but often, its pragmatism, an attempt to assuage a growing threat
of social unrest.
The immigrants themselves cannot be blamed for either
secularization or the collapse of morality in society. More often than not they
represent a more conservative social morality than most Westerners. Hooligans,
drunkenness, and anti-social behaviour cannot be attributed to hijab wearing
Muslims and Shiva loving Brahmins. That is it can't be attributed to their
culture. If Muslim youth have turned to anti-social behaviour, either
hooliganism or even extremism, it's not because they're emulating Muslim
values, it's because they've been disenfranchised, disengaged from society.
Rejected, they (practically speaking) embrace a criminal ethic. Law has no
meaning. From their perspective it doesn't aid or protect them, it only
persecutes them...for some breaking the law is as much about defiance and
non-conformity as it is about theft or vandalism. Though living in English
neighbourhoods they feel like they're Out-laws. Not necessarily criminals, but
not invested in the society, part of its structure, it's law...its
administration.
For those like the Florida Family Association that believe
all Islam is violent and extremist don't know their history or geography very
well. Using similar arguments it could be said Christianity is violent,
extremist and certainly guilty of a multitude of wars. If the Islamic world has
become more radicalized in the recent generation...we would be fools to not ask
why? Why is Salafism gaining ground in Sufi societies? To draw a Christian
parallel...it's like Quakers and Mennonites turning into Timothy McVeigh's, and
Jerry Boykin's. This happens for a reason. It's a reaction to something. It
needs to be investigated and discussed honestly...something Christian Sacralism
is ideologically opposed to.
Secular Sacralism is trying to invest these socially
conservative immigrants into society, and then later eradicate all aspects of
their religion which clash with secular values. Christian Sacralism antagonizes
them and wants to keep them outside of the social framework. The only way they
can become invested is to abandon their Islam or Hinduism and take their place
as model minorities.
Admittedly, forming a true composite multicultural society by necessity changes a culture. It's understandable that
Nationalists balk at this. It's understandable that lost people are distraught
at the thought. But why would Christians be bothered? What drives the anxiety?
Should it really matter to us? Has the Church misunderstood its place and
relation to society? Has the Church made an idol out of culture?