Virtue Hierarchy
I’ve been on a Jordan Peterson binge lately. I think this interview is great because it has an (admitted) feminist and masculinist (competent-ists) talking about the issue of social order, hierarchy, position, power, rights, responsibility and justice.
However, this anti-patriarchy, vs. pro-competency debate is really a false dichotomy. The truth is that political and social power is meant to be primarily based on virtue and empathy. Dr. Peterson occasionally refers to a conspiracy of evil in the world but is not open about the extent of its authority, influence, and power (secret combinations). Also, it’s this oppressive conspiracy of evil and corruption that Helen Lewis is referring to but ascribes to patriarchy.
In the Bible, David built his citadel that stood next to and looked down upon and protected the future temple. After the temple was constructed, Solomon built the Milo which was a raised stepped structure and platform that connected the citadel on Mount Zion with the temple on Mount Moriah (Ophel). This isn’t teaching theocracy but teaching a unity of foundation. Government protects religion, and religion (temple) establishes the basis for virtue in which we are to judge and select our political leaders. In Bible times, this principle was modeled by the High Priest ordaining King David and Solomon and the prophets Samuel and Nathan criticizing them.
In the political arena, virtue is not completely ignored, but often overlooked. We seem to initially care about whether US president’s inhaled, or what the definition of “is” is. But in the end we conclude that competence to do the job is unrelated to their life-long pattern of basic moral character. Yet, at the same time, we have conservative supreme court justices torn apart by accusations of workplace harassment or threat of a serious moral indiscretion at a high school party.
Isaiah 2 teaches that the restoration of the temple will ultimately bring the long-sought peace on Earth. One day the Lord’s Temple will be used as the basis for morality and virtue. It may be that political candidates will require a worthiness interview and bishop’s endorsement to run for office. Thr Church of Jesus Christ wouldn’t pick our political leaders, but vet the potential candidates. The special-interest controlled Press has failed in vetting our political candidates so far.
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