u·til·i·tar·i·an /yo͞oˌtiləˈterēən/ adjective
designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive. "a utilitarian building." - Oxford
This morning I had an interesting
conversation with a fellow customer at our local McDonalds. We have known each
other’s names for a year or two, but this time it was that moment of further
discovery – both of us retired, what’s the hurry. No surprise in the discovery
either; he openly enthused at recent U.S. election results, and me not so
enthused. Not much in common there, so what might a retired preacher and a
retired RCMP officer have in common? Well, on the religion topic, his wife is
Mormon and I am Mennonite, he not into religious things. I have Mormon friends
right here in the neighborhood, and he grew up near Elmira, Ontario (horse and
buggies?). Some clarifications were needed – fun conversation. Then some common
ground (kind of); I have a considerable chapter of long-haul trucking and he
used to own a limousine service before all the oil executives left town (Rachel
Notley’s fault). Oh, and one of my front teeth got fixed since last time we
said hello, so we agreed my smile is better now! This is beginning of a
friendship. Who says friends need to agree on everything?
Utilitarian is a word that has come to mind
in the last while, especially after conversations like this one. In this case
the conversation was with an almost stranger but emerging friend. Conversations
with people I have known for years and years; they are almost the same! As
described in a previous blog (“Of Religion and Polemics,” October 31) many of
us these days are in habit of eating out, and those occasions with a sort of
unspoken protocol – things we can talk about and things we avoid. This is
almost on same basis as my new friend. We find a way to speak with or around
one another. Yes, we truly need one another, but this can also become an
exercise of diplomacy - utilitarianism?
As per the epigraph definition above, utilitarian has quite a positive ring, at least for a simpleton like me. I like practical
and useful things, rather than fancy or unnecessary impressionism. This
down-to-earth image, however, gets blurred the minute we read into further
variants, like utilitarianism. Utilitarianism gets complicated, reaching far
and wide into all kinds of new images. It even reminds me of Unitarians, those
in our inter-faith communities who will remind us that they don’t believe
anything with too much dogma. 😏 Reading on in Google, also
I get reminded of some boring university sociology classes I once sat in. I
even remember a certain John Stuart Mill, a standard bearer in the social
sciences, who argued in favor of Utilitarianism
as an ethical approach that advocates the greatest good for the greatest number. Actions that lead to people’s happiness are right
and those that lead to suffering are wrong. https://iep.utm.edu/mill-eth/
That was in 1861. This
theory has had longtime credibility and also critique among philosophers,
theologians and scientists. Happiness. Is it not more than our actions? Yes, so
say I and so say many more (check your Google). It is indeed a longtime topic ongoing
even as the world has repeatedly dipped into some opposite practices, like two
world wars! Reality does not necessarily prove theories wrong (obviously
because I needed to study Mill in university 112 years later). The interplay of
reality and theory creates many university classes and ever more political
debates! [i] Crux
of the matter here? I believe that individual pursuit of happiness is not the
best approach.
Not the best approach
because it can also lead to hedonism. Hedonism focuses on the pursuit of
pleasure and avoidance of pain for the individual – not concerned about others
like utilitarianism wanting the best for the greatest number of people.
Hedonism is solely about seeking pleasure and avoiding suffering, a little
further down the slippery slope from utilitarianism. Very common these days, many sins would be in category of seeking pleasure. James 1:15 sort of … “after desire has conceived, it gives birth
to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Personal happiness is an
elusive thing. As illustrated in a previous blog, even when sitting in social
‘gatherings’ we actually pursue our own
happiness quite vigorously. One of my faith brothers may advocate a point of
view which I am diametrically opposed to, but hold back because I do not wish
to make a scene, or I don’t like to make him feel badly, or other unhappy
reasons. Personal happiness in this case may lead to fearfulness, even while
the brother and I both adhere to similar sentiments as stated in our Bible,
e.g.1 John 4:18, “perfect love drives out fear.” Knowing
this, we probably should look at another scripture, Therefore each of you must put off falsehood
and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body (Ephesians 4:25). Happiness especially
among persons of similar faith commitment must include genuine encounter with
one another.
There is irony here of
course. In the ten minute conversation with my new friend there was no
fearfulness, even though our differences popped up immediately. We do not agree
politically, I am a Christian believer in Jesus and also one of those weird
Mennonites who don’t believe in warfare, he is a militarist not a church goer,
and his wife is a Mormon, one of those cultish Christians who we agree are
excellent neighbors in this our community. And both of us having lived in Calgary
for about 35 years after moving from Edmonton, still have sentimental Oilers
Stanley Cup memories!
This is probably why the
sociologists and others still have not yet solved the world’s problems! This
happiness topic along with faith/unfaith implications, and this among long time
and also brand new friends. While meditating on this I happen upon a striking
digital headline (where else do we get news these days). I consider this not
coincidental, but providential. I read about an influential man I have known
about for years.
Tony
Campolo, an American Baptist minister and sociologist who spent decades trying
to convince evangelicals and other Christians that their faith should motivate
them to address social ills like poverty and racism, has died. November 19,
2024. He was 89. [ii]
Tony
Campolo, have heard him speak and a forever influencer in my years of ministry.
Two further quotes in that same clip: Ryan Burge, former pastor and
professor of Political Science, said, “He was able to speak to
audiences from all corners of American Christianity — reminding them of the
radical grace and forgiveness that is found in th Gospel”; and this
one, “Campolo was a popular professor of sociology ... who made the
study of social trends come to life for his students. But after moving to … an
evangelical Christian college, he discovered that his contemporary evangelical
world needed the gospel message as much as the wider world did. Evangelicals’
privatized religion had led them to abandon the social gospel that Jesus
taught.”
This
professor had a humbling message for all of us Christians, in fact for all
people of faith and unfaith. Rest in peace brother. True happiness is to count
yourself among all; it is to know yourself to be blessed. Above and beyond
utilitarianism, even! I cannot but conclude with a few words from Jesus’ Sermon on
the Mount, provided for us in two versions.[iii]
‘Blessed are the meek, for they
will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they will be called children of God. (Matt
5:5-9 NRSV)
“Happy are people who are humble,
because they will inherit the earth.
“Happy are people who are hungry
and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.
“Happy are people who show mercy,
because they will receive mercy.
“Happy are people who have pure
hearts, because they will see God.
“Happy are people who make peace,
because they will be called God’s children. (Matthew 5:5-9 CEB)
[i] Well
illustrated in United States just prior to latest presidential election.
[ii] Religious
News Service, http://religionnews.com/
[iii] A further must see is Matthew 5:5-9 in
Eugene H Peterson, The Message (NavPress, 1993, 2002, 2018).
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