Who said that ideology has had its day? Those intellectual pundits (sociologists and political scientists) need to revisit their theses especially after the demise of the struggle between fascism and communism. All over Latin America new governments, in spite of their re-invention, are unable to hide their ideological position. And who says that ordinary people are not interested in ideology or ideological concepts? Just try listening to conversations in the Indoor Market (Birmingham, UK) or a local barber shop on Sparkhill road.
Post 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq have made clear the evident polarisations in Western societies with the person in the street quite familiar with the liberal and conservative lingo – though I must concede very fed up with some of the hot-air hypocrisies. All the conversations, blogging and writing around religions will suggest that ideology is here in the ever-growing list of differences between groups of people. But this has not been only the result of the post 9/11 happenings. There is globalisation, global communication and more people on the move (some by choice, others by displacement) with the result that Timbuktu’s are now more familiar and less (though still) threatening – moving loads of people to the “left”. No wonder that Castro and Chavez may have more admirers in the West and around the world. They are cool guys standing up to the might of the neighbouring Goliath!
Yet core differences remain between “left” and “right”. Writing in The Times Higher Education Supplement (June 12, 2007), John T. Jost notes that: “These differences may themselves be rooted in more basic psychological needs for stability versus change, order versus complexity, familiarity versus novelty, conformity versus creativity, loyalty versus rebellion.” [p.12] Wondering where you are in terms of ideological positionality? Why not start by taking a closer look at your bedroom layout! Jost suggests the following: “The bedrooms of conservatives…are more likely to contain organisational supplies such as calendars, postage stamps and laundry baskets” while “the bedrooms of liberals art supplies, books, CD’s and maps.” [p.15] I wonder where I will be located with piles of reading. Also, I would not be surprised to find books in a conservative bedroom. What may be different is what people are reading! Then there is the issue of whether Jost had in mind the bedrooms of people of the majority world or even the working class in his context!
I can see the merit of Jost’s argument [author of The End of the End of Ideology] that because ideology satisfies many of our social and psychological needs it may probably be what makes us human and will always be present in some form or the other. Yet humans, in my estimation, need more than “left” and “right”.This is too limiting. Ideological positioning is more complex than left and right and even center. Besides the essentialising of these positions, there are in the in-between spaces with its ripe possibilities to break through polarisations, to transgress boundaries and to experience transcendence through creativity, curiosity, tolerance, diversity, and open-mindedness.
In the meantime applying this to theology, theologians and biblical hermeneuts (especially western male ones) would do well to at least recognise that their interpretations and writings cannot be neutral or “objective”. We are all shaped by some form ideology which will influence our Christian writings.
copyright jagessar
Post 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq have made clear the evident polarisations in Western societies with the person in the street quite familiar with the liberal and conservative lingo – though I must concede very fed up with some of the hot-air hypocrisies. All the conversations, blogging and writing around religions will suggest that ideology is here in the ever-growing list of differences between groups of people. But this has not been only the result of the post 9/11 happenings. There is globalisation, global communication and more people on the move (some by choice, others by displacement) with the result that Timbuktu’s are now more familiar and less (though still) threatening – moving loads of people to the “left”. No wonder that Castro and Chavez may have more admirers in the West and around the world. They are cool guys standing up to the might of the neighbouring Goliath!
Yet core differences remain between “left” and “right”. Writing in The Times Higher Education Supplement (June 12, 2007), John T. Jost notes that: “These differences may themselves be rooted in more basic psychological needs for stability versus change, order versus complexity, familiarity versus novelty, conformity versus creativity, loyalty versus rebellion.” [p.12] Wondering where you are in terms of ideological positionality? Why not start by taking a closer look at your bedroom layout! Jost suggests the following: “The bedrooms of conservatives…are more likely to contain organisational supplies such as calendars, postage stamps and laundry baskets” while “the bedrooms of liberals art supplies, books, CD’s and maps.” [p.15] I wonder where I will be located with piles of reading. Also, I would not be surprised to find books in a conservative bedroom. What may be different is what people are reading! Then there is the issue of whether Jost had in mind the bedrooms of people of the majority world or even the working class in his context!
I can see the merit of Jost’s argument [author of The End of the End of Ideology] that because ideology satisfies many of our social and psychological needs it may probably be what makes us human and will always be present in some form or the other. Yet humans, in my estimation, need more than “left” and “right”.This is too limiting. Ideological positioning is more complex than left and right and even center. Besides the essentialising of these positions, there are in the in-between spaces with its ripe possibilities to break through polarisations, to transgress boundaries and to experience transcendence through creativity, curiosity, tolerance, diversity, and open-mindedness.
In the meantime applying this to theology, theologians and biblical hermeneuts (especially western male ones) would do well to at least recognise that their interpretations and writings cannot be neutral or “objective”. We are all shaped by some form ideology which will influence our Christian writings.
copyright jagessar
Image Credit:Jean Hérard Celeur
http://www.atis-rezistans.com/celeur.html
http://www.atis-rezistans.com/celeur.html
