Rector’s Reflections
Tuesday 18th June 2024
How Should a Christian Vote?
In yesterday’s reflections, I shared some preliminary comments on this subject. The main point which I wish to emphasise is that it is not my intention to be party political. Instead, I wish to suggest some questions which Christians may wish to consider.
The first question is this: now does my individual vote relate to the Common Good? Human beings are naturally selfish : we think of ourselves and what is in our own best interests. This might be about our interests as individuals, or as members of a particular class or group in society. For example, we may be a teacher, and think to ourselves: which party is likely to be best for teachers? We might be retired and dependent on the State pension, and in this case we might well ask ourselves: which party is likely to look after the interests of pensioners?
There is nothing wrong in thinking about what is in our own best interests as individuals or as members of particular groups or social classes. But as Christians, we also need to balance our own self-interest with what is for the best of society as a whole. In other words, we need to consider what is for the “Common Good”. Sometimes our own interests as individuals are completely compatible with the interests of society as a whole. But this is not always the case: there are times when we have sacrifice what is in our individual best interest in order to promote or ensure the well-being of the whole. We are familiar with this in family life: being part of a family means there are times when we put ourselves second, so that we can put our family first.
When there is a conflict between our individual best interest and the best interest of the group, how should such a conflict be resolved? There is no agreed answer to this. Sometimes, it will involve finding a compromise solution. Sometimes we feel it is right to sacrifice our individual best interests to what is in the best interest of others, but at other times we feel that such an act of self-sacrifice is either pointless or morally wrong. Philosophers take different views on these questions. Some philosophers would say that the rights and interests of the individual must always triumph over the rights and interests of the group. Other philosophers would take the opposite position, and argue that the rights of the group must always triumph over the rights of the individual. And some philosophers would say that it depends on the circumstances of the situation in question and the character and intentions of the individuals involved.
I think the key thing for Christians is to recognise that it is not enough simply to think about what might be in our own best interests as individuals or as members of a particular group. We also need to think about what might be in the best interests of others, and in the best interest of the whole. In short, we need to remember the “Common Good”. We may define the “Common Good” in different ways, and take different views as to how we should manage any conflict between our own individual interests and the interests of the whole. But we do need to give at least some thought as to how our individual vote will impact upon the “Common Good”, however this term is defined.
I wonder if you would agree with this?
We will look a second question in tomorrow’s reflections.