The Beatitudes, Conservative Revised Version

There is a website for U.S. conservatives which has proposed a retranslation of the Bible to reflect their conservative values. Apparently the Bible as currently translated is too liberal. It makes Jesus sound too empathetic with the poor, too merciful and forgiving, too supportive of peace, and too critical of the rich. They want a strong, masculine translation of the Bible which emphasizes Hell, judgment, and free market capitalism.

For example, here is the flawed, apparently liberal, Catholic translation of The Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12):

* Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
* Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land. (Verse 4)
* Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
* Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
* Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
* Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
* Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
* Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)

Here is a translation of The Beatitudes which should be more acceptable to U. S. conservatives:

* Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall pay much for anti-depressants.
* Blessed are the meek, for they shall be good non-union labor.
* Blessed are they who do not mourn, for they have kept their masculinity intact.
* Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after wealth, for they shall have their fill.
* Blessed are the unmerciful, for they shall be given positions of power.
* Blessed are they that claim to be clean of heart, for they shall be permitted to judge others.
* Blessed are the war-makers, for they shall be spreading freedom and democracy.
* Blessed are they that suffer persecution because they kill in my name, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


I leave it to someone else to retranslate the Acts of the Apostles, wherein the Apostles shared all their earthly goods:

[2:44] All who believed were together, and had all things in common. [2:45] They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

That sounds pretty darn socialist as currently translated!

The Need for Political Philosophy: Hobhouse

"Great changes are not caused by ideas alone; but they are not effected without ideas. The passions of men must be aroused if the frost of custom is to be broken or the chains of authority burst; but passion of itself is blind and its world is chaotic. To be effective men must act together, and to act together they must have a common understanding and a common object.... They are, in fact, driven on by the requirements of their position to the elaboration of ideas, and in the end to some sort of social philosophy; and the philosophies that have driving force behind them are those which arise after this fashion out of the practical demands of human feeling. The philosophies that remain ineffectual and academic are those that are formed by abstract reflection without relation to the thirsty souls of human kind."

L. T. Hobhouse, "Liberalism", start of Chapter III

The Best Message: Universality of Benefits

President Obama's current message for health care reform -- security and stability for those who have health insurance, and provision of health insurance for those who don't -- is wise for the reason that it emphasizes the universality of the benefits to be derived from it. In this manner he overcomes the Republican/authoritarian message that this is a special benefit for a particular segment of the population.

I think this is an important principle for democratic governance: first, propose actions which do have benefits for all citizens, then explain and show to the citizens how this is so. If this can not be done, it must be asked whether the proposed action is proper.