Post by angli_fan on May 24, 2011 19:06:52 GMT -5
[from Killing the Buddha]
Read the rest at: killingthebuddha.com/mag/dogma/prince-william-ate-my-religion/
Prince William Ate My Religion
The royal wedding is a reminder of what’s wrong with Anglicanism.
by Theo Hobson
It’s royal festivity time, back in my enchanted homeland. A royal wedding! Like in the fairy-tales! Prince Charming still sort of exists, and his wedding still sort of has the power to unite the nation, or most of it, in a carefully staged act of nuptial joy. Right?
I have mixed feelings about the monarchy, but a bit of distance clarifies. I moved to New York last year, and I am glad I’m not back home now.
Am I a “republican”? Well, I do think that the monarchy keeps British society in the past; it affirms the class system and subtly alienates ethnic minorities; it tells Britons that they are feudal subjects rather than modern citizens responsible for the health of their democracy. It is also sexist (a male heir precedes his older sister) and anti-Catholic (the ban on papist monarchs abides). But, on the other hand, republicanism has a sort of cold rationalist aura in the British context. It rejects a colorful myth of social unity, which finds expression in carnivalesque celebration, in favor of some abstract principles which have no real power to unite. It feels puritan, kill-joy, nay-saying, PC.
What keeps our republicanism at bay is the sense that a nation needs to perform a big myth, a story that makes its various tribes feel some sense of common belonging and purpose. The myth we Brits have may be politically incorrect, but it isn’t so acutely objectionable that its removal feels obligatory. What socially binding narrative would we put in its place? Isn’t it best to leave well alone? Even Australia can’t quite bring itself to ditch the old symbolism—so it’s little surprise that republicanism struggles in Britain.
The average British liberal is a theoretical republican who sees no real alternative to pragmatic conservatism. This almost describes my position, but not quite. There is another dimension to the issue that gets me off the fence.
I am a rather keen Christian. The tradition of my upbringing is the Church of England, the established church. But it became clear to me about ten years ago, that this tradition contained the hugest structural error. It shouldn’t be established: Christianity and establishment are incompatible. The case for disestablishment is probably too obvious to restate, especially for American readers. The interesting question, though, is how Anglicanism manages to dismiss this case, how it justifies its refusal to reform.
The answer is that this tradition is awesomely cunning. When you earnestly try to pin it down it slips silkily away. It’s like trying to kill a ghost. You are up against the calmest of patrician voices: “Really, dear boy, it’s just harmless symbolism, no need to get worked up about it. Establishment is slowly dying, but we may as well enjoy the benefits while we can.”
Read the rest at: killingthebuddha.com/mag/dogma/prince-william-ate-my-religion/
