More than a months ago, I presented a paper in the Philosophical Association of the Philippines' midyear conference, with the theme "Religion and the Public Sphere." Using Paul Ricoeur's Political and Social Essays (which I believe one of the overlooked works since a lot of scholars today focus on Ricoeur's narrative identity and hermeneutics), I came up with a guide towards a Christian response to the condition of humanity today, and emphasized how one can participate in social action and decision-making starting from one's own belief. And perhaps in this time where believers are most needed to respond to the signs of the times, I have come up with a few things to think about, with regard to the importance of the intermingling of faith and social activism.
- Real Faith Is An Active Faith. A faith that does not work for change is as good as having no conviction at all. Faith, if it is to be genuine and related to hope and charity, should be directed to social reforms, the goal of which is the actualization of the Kingdom of God, wherein humanity is preserved and the society is in a state of peace and harmony. A real believer, therefore, is that which seeks to bring about social change, and is not merely a set of feel-good rituals and gatherings that brings one into a spiritual high. A true Christian is one who takes up the role of Christ as a social reformer, one who protects humanity and strives for everyone's unity.
- The Scriptures as Tradition and the Tradition of Scriptures. Paul Ricoeur highlighted the important role of the Scriptures, serving as the foundation for Christian social action. And perhaps it will be helpful for the Christian to go back to the very roots of Scriptures. However, he should interpret the Scripture as part of the Christian tradition, a piece of work that has been influenced and weaved by social contexts and events, as well as how it can help in social reform today, and thus the importance of an "analogizing transfer" from the word of the Scripture to a response in the society.
- Discontinuous Reflection. For Christian social action to be effective, the believer should learn to once in a while step back and reflect on his beliefs and actions. He should learn how to critically doubt and question his convictions in order to determine not only things need to be improved and revised, but also the things that need to be responded to in the best possible way. Perhaps this is what the Church, as an institution concerned with social justice and human rights should do every now and then, especially in times where She faces the danger (and the accusation) of becoming too dogmatic and not really concerned with the present condition that the world is facing and how it would achieve its goals.
- The Task of Unity. Ricoeur asserts that unity is achieved when everyone has been united under the drama of the Cross of Christ, in Him who taught about love, compassion, and mutual understanding. However, he still holds the importance of the differences that reside within every human being, community, group, or culture. And that should be the Church's goal as well, as a significant part of the realization of the Kingdom of God.
- The Role of Religion and the Secular Society. In the end, we can say that religion holds a significant place in the society, inasmuch as other voices hold a special place in the consensus building and dialogue. Religion presents an important viewpoint that should be considered in dialogue, as long as it asserts itself in a reasonable and rational way. Thus, the secular society should learn to open itself up to the voice and reason of religion and not approach it in a biased, negative manner. Likewise, religion should also listen to the voice and reason of the secular society, because, as those standing outside of it, they also have something valuable and important to say, provided that it be expressed in a rational and reasonable manner.
I hope that the following things raised here and in my paper would be helpful for those who are engaging in a meaningful dialogue with religion and believers, as well as in their endeavors to become active members of the society who also aspire for a better society.
Credits to Passionistjpc.org for the image.
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