Glenn Beck ruffled some feathers when he told listeners to leave churches that preach social justice.  The New York Times picked up the story and suggested that Glenn Beck was going against the teachings of his own Mormon faith.   The articles cites two Mormon scholars, who claim that social justice is a fundamental part of the faith.

The problem is that the term social justice is often considered synonymous with caring for the poor.  Indeed, taking care of the needy is a fundamental part of Christianity.  But social justice isn’t the same thing.  Just as the word democracy conditions Americans to accept democratic socialism, social justice confuses people and connotes a sense of entitlement.

A Mormon leader whom I greatly admire, Ezra Taft Benson, describes the difference between redistribution schemes and true charity:

“…the socialist doctrine of equality…struck a sympathetic chord with most Americans because its initial goal was equality of rights. Today, however, the goal for the proponents of equality is to restructure our entire economic system, using the power of the federal government to enforce their grand design. They now advocate throughout our economy that we redistribute wealth and income, a good definition of socialism. Our present middle of the road policy is as Von Mises…suggested: socialism by the installment plan.

Americans have always been committed to taking care of the poor, aged, and unemployed. We’ve done this on the basis of Judaic Christian beliefs and humanitarian principles. It has been fundamental to our way of life that charity is to be voluntary if it is to be charity. Compulsory benevolence is not charity. Today’s egalitarians are using the federal government to redistribute wealth in our society, not as a matter of voluntary charity, but as a matter of right.” (From Freedom and Free Enterprise, 1965)

This is all basic stuff for right-of-center Americans.  But I think there is a lesson to be learned here for conservatives.

We need to get beyond the simple right-left paradigm and realize that each side espouses essential values.   The left values compassion and charity.  Americans with a more liberal orientation feel bothered when conservatives make statements that seem to belittle those values.

During these difficult economic times, we all need to step up and take on a more active role in caring for the poor.  Conservatives can add a lot of value by promoting voluntary charity and free market solutions.

In my first attempt at documentary filmmaking, I explored how morality is perceived across the political spectrum.  I suggested that there are two major components of morality which correspond to the two great commandments in the Judeo-Christian tradition: love God and love your neighbor.  I argued that conservatives tend to focus on the first commandment (obeying God’s word), while liberals emphasize the second commandment.

Here is a clip from my documentary (Quicktime required).   In this clip, I interview two Americans on opposite sides of the political spectrum (an evangelical pastor and an LGBT activist).  Their comments seem consistent with my theories.

I think I have gotten a little better at filmmaking and narration since then, but I believe this piece conveys some valuable insights.  We can’t be selectively moral; we need to revise our view of the political spectrum so that we accept all truth.

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