Hierarchical Authoritarian Organization?
Where in reality is there not
organization and order? Even in and
among those who decry order, there is some degree of organization. Perhaps one would posit such things as
certain diseases that disrupt the order found on a cellular level. Or maybe one could cite certain disorderly
mental processes as examples but overall the universe and all that is in it is
only possible because of order.
Overall, there is more order to be
found in reality than there is any other notion such as randomness and
theoretical science. In fact without an
overwhelming predominance of order, there would be no reality and certainly no
foundation to postulate the theoretical.
In other words for there to be the existence of anything in the field of
reality, there must be some sort of order and then as well consider in social
systems that where there is order there is authority.
A companion to this discussion is
found in the article, “Christianity – Is
it Authoritarian?” available at
http://alviesthots.blogspot.com/2012/11/christianity-is-it-authoritarian.html. It too is based upon the discussion found in
the pamphlet from which come many of these questions. It is to be noted that the pamphlet treats
the subject of authority two times and so shall these writings.
The Christian Church Reflects Creation
To decry Christianity for it being
hierarchical and authoritarian is inconsistent with what is known about
nature. Any number of systems found in
creation function based upon order and authority. For example the human body is made up of
cells which would not function without authority and order.
In particular for cells to
function they must have a nucleus which via enzymes then guides the function of
that cell. Thus on a micro level, there
is organization and authority.
Another example is described as “pecking
order” or the social order among chickens and other animals. Such order and authority is found even in the
most “laissez-faire” family. Add to
nature such things as a country’s economy, government, business, charity, and
the list goes on and on as to where one finds authority, hierarchy, and
organization!
Servant Structure
The source mentioned below is also
naïve in its treatment of the function, roles and relationships, and other
elements of the group. Every group will develop
either a formal or an informal organization and such organization simply means
that there are differing roles with various levels of responsibility. The Christian Church as a social organization
is no different than any of a number of social groups.
In any group both formally or
informally someone will rise to the fore as leader and other position will fill
behind that leader. However, here the similarity disappears as in almost
all other social organizations there is a top down authoritarian influence.
Properly understood in the Christian Church the pyramid is turned so that the
organization is based upon a bottom up servant structure.
The Christian Church
One might ask, being that man is
so surrounded by order and authority why would the Christian Church be singled
for criticism? At best one reading the
criticism tendered concludes that it is because of a misunderstanding of what
constitutes ecclesiastical authority.
It is as if the Church, Roman
Catholic and otherwise, has some mysterious power over its adherents which
through threat and coercion keep the faithful, faithful. Such takes a very low view of man. The reality is far different for if that were
the only force at work then such groups that have no authoritarian threat
structure would cease to exist.
Take for example service clubs
such as Rotary or Kiwanis, or fraternal organizations like the Elks or the
Eagles, or veterans organizations such as the VFW or the Fleet Reserve
Association. Each of these groups has standards
for membership, standards by which members function, mores, and agreed upon
purposes. None of these groups employ
coercive authority yet they function and have functioned for years.
Excesses
To be sure there have been
excesses in the Christian Church.
However, to judge all by the mistaken behaviors of a few is both
illogical and unfair. Once again the
criticism laid at the doorstep of the Christian Church is unfounded by reality
and ignores the capacity of the individual to make decisions and as well the
mental-emotional-social needs of the person individually and people
corporately.
Unifying Purpose
Another element missing from the
discussion is that of a unifying purpose.
Groups both long term and short term form around mutually agreed upon
purposes. Such would be so for a labor
union, neighborhood group, humanitarian relief groups, and the list goes on and
on. Even those who claim that they are
against organized religion and against government may not realized it but they
too have joined together because of a shared and unifying purpose.
Of course, when it is a positive
purpose such as feeding the homeless, the Red Cross, Farm-aid, or some other
humanitarian purpose such groups form and exhibit certain qualities and
characteristics that keep it unified and purposeful.
When groups form for negative
purpose such as the Occupy Wall Street, the Anarchists, and the like their
unifying purpose is negative and thus they tend to be more dysfunctional, fail
to grow beyond a minority of malcontents, and eventually disorganize.
Abusive Leadership
To discount all leadership based
upon the manipulation, excesses, and errors of a few is a most serious
mistake. Such denigrates those who
genuinely serve with not greater purpose than that of care for the destitute,
the homeless, the poor, and the defenseless.
Most pastors, priests, rabbis and
the like who provide care are much more concerned with the care they offer than
the materialism they might receive. In
fact, many die in poverty after a life spent sharing in the needs of
others. Indeed there is abuse in
Christian Church leadership and it is in and among those religious leaders who
deprive and abuse themselves to serve others.
Low View of Man
The article takes a very low view
of people referring to them as "unwashed masses." In doing so it seems a bit condescending
toward such people. Additionally, it sees man as being at the mercy of
hierarchical authority and organization.
However, there are two issues that
are not given consideration in taking such a position. First, the incidents in which people move
from one faith group to another or even give up on church attendance all
together suggests that such a “control” perspective is in most cases not true.
Second, even the author’s
background as an Anarchist is at variance with the whole notion that one is
inextricably controlled by the larger and more dominant social group (e.g.
Church, Business, or Government). That
is not to say that there is not or cannot be manipulative control but most
often it is with those who claim special truth and not with orthodox Christian
denominations.
Summary
What then is to be made of the
accusation that the Christian Church is a hierarchical, authoritarian
organization? Well, yes the Christian
Church is hierarchical but then so are many other organizations. Yes, the Christian Church is authoritarian
but no more so than any other group that people voluntarily join. Yes, the Christian Church is organized but
then so too is any of a number of other groups.
So what is the issue being
addressed in the article? Though not
stated it is the writer’s agenda born of his ignorance of what the Christian
Church is really all about. You see
properly understood the Christian Church is all about service and as a matter
of fact even a cursory reading of history will reveal that the notion of
Christian service is the foundation for many of the benefits that people in the
West enjoy today.
Background
To see the list of
subjects to be discussed in this series see my blog (Christianity – Is it a
Faith Driven by Fear?
http://alviesthots.blogspot.com/2012/11/christianity-is-it-faith-driven-by-fear.html).
Contained within that blog is a reference, 20 Reasons to Abandon
Christianity and in that reference is a list which is the springboard from
which this subject has been discussed.
