The current crisis at News International and deep within the British establishment is much more than the presenting issue of phone hacking. I almost want to say that it’s become a theological issue in so far as it’s become a properly basic question about who gets to wield judgment within our society.
Last Friday the Times headline referred to Rupert Murdoch’s apology as constituting a Day of Atonement. But those who know the Jewish calendar will know that Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Judgment, comes before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. In other words, judgment comes first, then atonement. And so it is that those media titans who have wielded so much judgment in our society are now to present themselves to the scrutiny of the House of Commons later on today. Those who have judged others will now themselves be subject to judgment.
What, no Girardian analysis of scapegoating?
driver8, No, because the article itself is still “in process.”
I do not favor illegal phone tapping. However, I wonder, along with Bret Stephens in the Wall St. Journal today, why this tawdry tabloid scandal is considered more shocking than the illegal leaking of anti-terrorism measures which the NY Times and Washington Post had no qualms about publishing, or the illegally-acquired materials on Wikileaks. Both of those other scandals may have cost lives.
“The problem is that when a society comes to fear the power wielded by the press, truth itself easily retreats behind the barriers of spin and avoidance. Thus, ironically, the power of the media can end up making the truth more difficult to access.”
The man has a total lack of irony. The only reason anyone has heard of him is because he’s one of the BBC’s chosen few of luvvies who are constantly given airtime – not because he’s profound or a great speaker (he’s neither). This self-styled “Leveller Socialist” at the heart of the Establsihment (St Paul’s Cathedral) just fits in with the liberal-left agenda of the BBC. The great preachers and pastors of the UK never feature on the BBC.
“The reason I will take my chances with divine judgment is because I trust that I will be judged fairly and with compassion. With divine judgment my exposure will not be served up for the amusement of others.”
Again, a complete failure to proclaim the Gospel when given the golden opportunity to do so. I don’t want to be “judged fairly”, even “with compassion”. I want to be found in Christ, the Sin-bearer.
No mention of Christ by the founder of “Inclusive Church” – who incidentally opined on the BBC on Ash Wednesday that he didn’t seem to believe in life after death either.
No wonder Co-Mission is working ot re-establsih Gospel witness in Southwark, where Fraser held court.