The Contradictions of Alinsky & Back to School

The Contradictions of Alinsky

I just finished Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. I don’t actually know that much about him, other than he influenced the likes of Obama and Hilary Clinton. But, I’m working on a book project exploring the differences between what I’m calling “Reformational” justice and Radical/Revolutionary justice. And, since Alinsky describes himself as radical—indeed revolutionary, I thought it was high time to read him.

I actually found the book quite helpful, stimulating, and just plain fun. Alinsky clearly enjoyed what he was doing, and I think we conservative Christians can learn a lot from him. (I’m now reading Douglas Wilson’s Rules for Reformers, for the other side. Wilson is riffing on Alinsky and applying his insights in a Christian framework.)

What really stood out to me was Alinsky’s hopeless optimism. He was a relativist who did not believe in absolute truth. According to Alinsky, an organizer "knows that life is a quest for uncertainty; that the only certain fact of life is uncertainty; and he can live with it. He knows that all values are relative, in a world of political relativity” (79). Yet, he fought his entire life for ideals of justice, fairness, equality, and the dignity of people. He labored his whole life to build a tower on a foundation of sand. Reformational Christians can learn from Alinsky. We need to learn from him and then do better than him. His relativistic, passionate radicalism should spark our faithful, orthodox, activism.

In Rule for Radicals, Alinsky talks out of both sides of his mouth. He wants to fight for justice—but he also says that there are not ultimate standards, and that we are swimming in a sea of relativity. He can’t escape being made in the image of God. He had God-implanted urges to fight for justice, but he denied the maker, and the source, of that urge.

He ends his preface with a charge to new generation of radicals to hold onto laughter: “Together we may find some of what we’re looking for—laughter, beauty, love, and the chance to create” (xxvi). What are these noble ideals grounded on? The whole point of the book is how to “create mass organizations to seize power and give it to the people.” Why? So we can “realize the democratic dream of equality, justice, peace, cooperation, equal and full opportunities for education, full and useful employment, health, and the creation of those circumstances in which man can have the chance to live by values that give meaning to life” (3). That all sounds lovely, but who gets to decide what equality, justice, and peace are? How do we know which “value” give meaning to life?

Alinsky writes with all of the passion of an Old Testament prophet (he did grow up in a Jewish family), but then admits the quest for justice and equality is an endless march up a mountain with no summit (21-22). Where does he get the ideals, the goals, that animated his life and his work? As Christians, we have a foundation for the values that radicals instinctively pursue. We need to lead the way in the work of reformation, but we do it with an actual goal in mind—the Kingdom of God. And we do it, empowered by his Spirit. Christians should be on the front lines of offering true compassion for the poor, working for true justice, and seeking the shalom of our cities (Jeremiah 29). Alinsky shows us the basic dynamics of change and power, and we shouldn’t be afraid to appropriate his insights.

Back to School!

This year marks my second year at Logos Online School! I’ve been promoted to Lead Teacher, and am loving interacting with so many wonderful and intelligent students. They keep me on my toes, and I learn so much from them.

This year, I’m teaching Integrated Humanities 1 (US & European), 3, (Medieval-Reformation), 4 (Modern World), and Apologetics.

My Integrated Humanities 3 & 4 classes were approved to earn dual-credit at New St. Andrews College. So, it’s fun to work as an official Adjunct Instructor at my alma mater.

Here’s something I wrote last year, to remind myself of why I keep teaching, after 21 years. I hope it might inspire you!

Eucharistic Economics

Another research project I’m pursuing is exploring the connections between the Eucharist (the Lord’s Supper) and economics. Most people are either intrigued, confused, or both, when I tell them this. I have a lot of work to do, but I’m convinced there is an untapped mine here. I’ll be presenting my initial thoughts on this at the next meeting of the Kirby Laing Centre’s Economics Hub, a research group of theologians, biblical scholars, and economists.

Liberia Presentation

I’ll be sharing at our church about my trip to teach church history at Grace Life Seminary in Liberia, with Training Leaders International. Since many friends contributed financially to make my trip possible, here’s a link to the presentation.

Thanks for reading!