Response To Roger Olson On Neoliberalism And Social Darwinism

I would like to respond to Roger Olson on Neoliberalism and Social Darwinism. In his Patheos blog post, Dr. Olson contends that these two ideologies — Neoliberalism and Social Darwinism — explain the upheaval Americans are witnessing in their nation’s captitol. In my assessment, the theological category of sin is much more illumitating than any ideology.

What are the symptoms of America’s current disease? Ideology or ubridled rapaciousness?

Progressive and evangelical Christians alike are confuzzled by Washington’s sassigassitous dismantling of governmental function and the nation’s loss of a moral compass. Shameless Republicans and spineless Democrats together have flushed America’s most tender and humane values into a political toilet, into a whirlpool that can lead only to a sewer of as yet unknown location.

How might a public theologian diagnose the disease? What might be the prescribed therapy?

One misdiagnosis, I think, is to blame America’s traumatic sickness on ideologies such as Neoliberalism and Social Darwinism.

Are Neoliberalism and Social Darwinism at fault?

Veteran Evangelical systematic theologian Roger Olson offers his diagnosis of the disease that has overtaken Washington. In his Patheos blog, Olson says we are suffering from two …isms that are anathema to Christian values: Neoliberalism and Social Darwinism. These two …isms propegate an ideology we know as the “survival of the fittest.” These idealogies favor the rich against the poor. They teach that a progressive society should leave behind the weak, the poor, and the marginalized.

Neoliberalism is a distinct ideology that believes and teaches that economic freedom and competition, unfettered by government controls, is better than any other way of life in a society. “Market fundamentalism.” And it has “eugenic-like effects” because it believes and teaches that government should not interfere in the free market to overcome inequalities of life. That is where Social Darwinism and neoliberalism join hands and become one; neoliberalism is the economic and social expression of Social Darwinism even if some neoliberals criticize Social Darwinism.

Now, I certainly agree with Dr. Olson that Neoliberalism and Social Darwinism crush compassion and threaten the social fabric with crass disregard for the common good. Nevertheless, I don’t believe Dr. Olson provides an accurate enough diagnosis of the current malady. Neoliberalism and Social Darwinism are sinister ideologies, to be sure. But they do not account for the symptoms we see.

It appears to me that White House leadership followed by pay-for-play sycophants in the MAGA-Moscow wing of the Republican Party are not inspired and guided by an ideology of any sort. Rather, they are motivated solely by unsullied greed. Without shame, like pigs at the feeding trough, Republicans are pillaging the national budget and even expanding the national debt so that — through tax breaks and government contracts — the wealthiest of the wealthy can loot their nation’s riches.

In this case, greed, avarice, and covetousness nakedly pursue their rampage without the cover of ideology.

Neoliberalism and Social Darwinism? Or, could it be sin?

Might a public systematic theologian retrieve the seldom used and often abused concept of sin? Might the locus of sin shine a light in the darkness?

One of the problems with employing the term, ‘sin’, is that we are daily disgusted by the perversion that is built right into it. Sinners commonly blame other sinners for their own sin, thereby, exonerating themselves. I call this ‘self-justification with scapegoating’. This cover-up makes sin impenetrable and risks increased confuzzlement.

Be that as it may, ‘sin’ is a good word for the public theologian to retrieve for this diagnosis. We are looking at sin in its classical and ungarnished form, namely, pursuing evil in the name of one or another good.

If sin is the diagnosis, what’s the cure?

In the New Testament, Jesus warns us against pointing out sin when we see it. “Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). Yet, the present crisis may warrant our taking the risk.

The prophetic public theologian should make transparent public sin by cutting through the lies — such as “eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse” — that justify egregious rapacity. By revealing the long range plot to plunder the national debt and turn over tax payer money to the 0.1% of America’s wealthy, Washington’s depraved looting of America’s hard earned treasure could be exposed, broadcast, and made known. Elsewhere, “The Politics of Sin in Washington,” I call this the divine law in its second use.

This prophecy should then be followed by judgment. “Thou shalt not covet.” Certainly, victimized Americans do not want their government to exploit them for such selfish and rapacious purposes. Such a judgment might lead to the key therapy, namely, return to the rule of law.