International Pharisaism

Classic pharisaism was clearly demonstrated by Jesus’ parable of the pharisee and the tax collector.

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 18:9-14)

The Pharisee trivialised his own sin, by pointing up at the sin of someone who seemed to be worse. This is a common method for dealing with sin. Point the finger at someone who is worse than you, and your own sins suddenly seem less serious. Find someone bad enough and you can feel almost good.

This Pharisee method is popular in international politics.

Their problem is that deep down, most national leaders know that they are guilty of misusing their power. They take actions that are morally dubious to advance their nations interest. They deal with this ambiguity using the Pharisee method. They justify their actions by shifting attention to some other president or king who is far worse. It does not matter which nation is picked on, as long as there is a general consensus that it is really evil.

International Pharisaism is shaping the international response to events in Syria.

Bashar al-Assad of Syria is not very nice. The business and military powerbrokers behind his him could be even worse. However, the nations who are making the greatest fuss about him all have records that are embarrassing too.

• The United States, the United Kingdom, France and Israel are the nations most stirred up about the possible use of chemical weapons. They each have a significant stock of nuclear weapons, and claim the right to use them. These weapons kill indiscriminately. If used they would kill millions of children.

• These four nations are amongst the world’s leading exporters of military weapons. These weapons are wreaking havoc on human lives all over the world.

• The United Kingdom probably used chemical weapons in Mesopotamia, but it has refused to acknowledge it. The British hero Winston Churchill advocated the use of chemical weapons to control colonial rebellions, saying:
  

  I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes.

• The United Kingdom has supplied chemicals that can be used to produce weapons to various countries. In the past it provided technical advice on how to produce them.

• The United States used depleted-uranium shells in Iraq. These cause indiscriminate deformation of human lives.

• The coalition of the will killed thousands of children in Iraq, first by sanctions, and then by military force. Can anyone remember what good that achieved?

• Israel used white phosphorous bombs in Gaza in 2008, although the weapons seem to be banned by international conventions.

• Saudi Arabia is grandstanding against Syria, but it funds and organises terrorist activity all over the world.

• After 9/11 numerous prisoners were “rendition” to Syria, so they could be interrogated/tortured by the CIA outside US legal jurisdiction. The United States has encouraged Syrian nastiness

I could go on....