A Christian republican perspective

Submitted by LJ Holden on 7 March, 2010 - 11:20
Symon Hill writes at Ekklesia on why he supports a republic, as a Christian:
As a Christian, I am alarmed by the number of Christians who are happy to defend monarchy. To me, monarchy, aristocracy and privilege seem to be the very opposite of the message of freedom that is at the heart of the Gospel. I mock the image of God in myself and others if I grovel before someone who God has created as my equal. I cannot acknowledge God in Christ as my Lord and King if I accept that there is any other Lord or King.

Perhaps the most ridiculous argument in favour of monarchy is the claim that the monarch is “above politics”. This gives the impression that politics is something dirty and that being above it is the best option. But politics is about more than politicians and elections. Politics is about people, about us, about our everyday concerns and how we – or someone else – use power to address those concerns.

Comments

WestmiNZter Monarchist's picture
Submitted by WestmiNZter Monarchist on 7 March, 2010 - 22:40.
It reminds me, when I lived in the UK I seemed to meet deeply commited methodists and quakers who were republicans and Catholics who were monarchists!
LJ Holden's picture
Submitted by LJ Holden on 9 March, 2010 - 12:32.
Indeed - generalisations generally aren't helpful. The usual claim against republicans in New Zealand is that we're all Irish Catholics. As far as I know not one of the RM's chairs has been Catholic so far, so someone will probably claim we're all Protestants...
Chair, Republican Movement - contact me online or call on +64 27 699 1350
Craig Young's picture
Submitted by Craig Young on 14 March, 2010 - 13:40.
It's actually far more pertient to Australian republican debates, I suspect, but certainly not our own. I imagine that facet of political history tends to provide an historical dimension to Australian republicanism, given Irish political history, which is much less significant here. In the case of New Zealand, it tends to be more focused on the questions of concrete constitutional reform than it is in Australia
WestmiNZter Monarchist's picture
Submitted by WestmiNZter Monarchist on 14 March, 2010 - 15:37.
It does seem that many of the Aussie larrikin and anti-establishment figures have had Irish Catholic roots. These days Aussie republicanism does seem more broad-based with the last referendum showing greater support in the prosperous urban seats as opposed to the traditional Labor strongholds.
LJ Holden's picture
Submitted by LJ Holden on 17 March, 2010 - 14:14.
In the case of New Zealand, it tends to be more focused on the questions of concrete constitutional reform than it is in Australia

Not always Craig, although I wish it was. A lot of the time we end up arguing about immigration or British heritage, which are really side-issues to the big constitutional issues.
Chair, Republican Movement - contact me online or call on +64 27 699 1350
Anon's picture
Submitted by Anon on 20 March, 2010 - 00:00.
I guess when the arguments some republicans employ against our current Head of State involve nationalism and religious and cultural inappropriateness, then dicussion is not going to be just centered on the constitution itself.
Craig's picture
Submitted by Craig on 6 April, 2010 - 15:58.
I can claim some Irish Catholic ancestry, but it's highly diluted, given that it was stirred into the mix on my mother side about four or five generations ago. Actually, it seems to be more a secular liberal and progressive libertarian/ constitutional conservative and (I regret to say) raving right nutter* elements split here. Probably because New Zealand is more secularised than Australia according to our census, but I wouldn't have thought by that much...

*Not forgetting RONZP on 'our' side, but trying desperately hard to...

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