Tears and Regrets

Chronicle film reviewer Mick LaSalle laments that "religion has become associated with conservative and right-wing politics" and praises recent films that depict the religious left.

we have seen three films featuring exceptionally warmhearted, religious protagonists — Fred Rogers (“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”), Franz Jägersträtter (“A Hidden Life”) and Pope Francis (“The Two Popes”).

Comments:

Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers (Chron photo)

1) Mick LaSalle has completely swallowed the Hollywood/media stereotype of fundamentalist Christians as the conservative version of wokescolds. In my experience conservative Christians just want to be left alone and will likewise leave others alone. However, they will become politically active if society tries to change the way they speak or do their jobs or educate their children or mocks their faith.

(The exception may be abortion, though my sense is that the majority of Americans wished to leave the issue alone until activists from both sides tried to force people to choose between partial-birth abortion and a complete ban.)

2) Mr. LaSalle calls the protagonists "liberal" because they perform good works. I personally cannot believe that he believes that conservative Christians do not engage in acts of charity. I have seen extraordinary acts of generosity--performed by people who are politically conservative and not wealthy (and I have witnessed politically liberal Christians do the same). By the way, there is some evidence that conservatives give more money to charity than liberals.

3) The problem that I have with some on the religious left is that they support the expansion of State power as a shortcut to effect noble outcomes. Surely they know the risk. Man is fallen, man is sinful. Political leadership may initially be virtuous, but you won't always have a God-fearing philosopher-king in charge. Eventually corrupt people will hold the reins of power, and they will use it to their own ends. Other centers of influence and wealth, i.e., businesses, churches, and non-profits, will be targeted. It will end in tears and regrets.