‘The Moral Maze’ and the secular trinity

The Moral Maze is a BBC Radio 4 programme which is as fascinating as it is frustrating.

Superbly chaired by Michael Burke, it normally follows the format of four hosts questioning four different guests on what is deemed to be a moral subject.

There are a number of regular hosts including the historian Tim Stanley, the Anglican minister Giles Fraser, and Ash Sarkar who, without a hint of irony, labels herself a ‘luxury communist’. The latter as a commentary on the absurdity of 21st-century Western society is perfect.

In an episode towards the end of last year they discussed the question of ‘identity labels’. It was a revealing discussion which demonstrated the moral confusion in our society, even from those who see themselves as our moral guardians. They began by focusing on the remarks of King Charles that the UK was a ‘community of communities’ which was seen as an appeal for tolerance and calm – particularly in the light of pro-Palestinian, (or as some would see it, anti-Israel/Jewish) protests.

The most interesting guest was Professor Rainbow Murray from the University of London who spoke in defence of multi-culturalism and especially what she termed her holy trinity of ‘equality, diversity and inclusion’. In passing it is worth noticing how the ‘progressive’ trinity has changed. It used to be equality, diversity and tolerance. But tolerance is now seen as at best outdated, and at worst a means of imposing Western imperialist oppression. In the world of identity politics, the values and ethics are constantly changing.

Professor Murray explained that: ‘Inclusion means celebrating diversity whilst bringing people from different backgrounds together’; before going on to give us her somewhat skewed version of British political history by telling us that in the past it was only one homogenous group, white British males, who were permitted to express their identities. Now we have many others. She questioned the use of labels whilst at the same time being happy to use them.

The main problem with this progressive trinity of equality, diversity and inclusion is that, whilst the words sound nice, fuzzy and warm, in practice the reality is almost precisely the opposite. There is no equality for those who hold to differing values from the prevailing elites – in the words of George Orwell’s Animal Farm ‘some pigs are more equal than others’. Our society misappropriates the rainbow, God’s sign of covenant faithfulness amidst judgment (Gen. 9:12-17) and turns it into a contradictory reality. On the outside it is multi-coloured – inside everything is beige! It is depressing to see how children/students indoctrinated into woke ideology, all have the same opinions. All diversity from the progressive dogmas is now considered blasphemy.

The same goes for inclusion – which in similar Orwellian fashion – now means precisely the opposite. If you do not agree with progressive doctrines, you are excluded from many areas of public life. I have just finished reading Graham Linehan’s Tough Crowd which shows how he was excluded and ‘cancelled’ because he dared to speak up for women’s biological sex. His story can be repeated many times. When you in effect declare that only those who agree with you are included, all others must be excluded because their views are ‘harmful’, then no matter the language you profess, you are being exclusive.

Professor Murray declared that the view that Britain was bound together in the past by a shared language and moral views was ‘nostalgic’ – that there was no one way of doing things. Yet our society is now run by those who have a shared language (which they keep changing – thereby helping them retain power) and shared fundamental moral views. These are based upon shifting sands and fantasy. Murray for example told the panel that ‘no one would assert an identity because it is fashionable’ and that ‘all identities are worthy of expression’. She does not of course mean the latter. Surely she would not agree that paedophile or fascist identities are equally worthy of expression… and I doubt she would have much time for Biblical Christianity?

When asked what would unite us together in the UK, she avoided the question by answering: ‘the Spice Girls’. She either said this because she wanted to avoid the implication that only her values would unite people, or because she just doesn’t know. It is much easier to deconstruct than it is to build up.

The church needs to address more robustly these questions of identity and, especially for the sake of our young people who are being taught this gibberish, give a clear teaching about our identity as those made in the image of God, ruined by the Fall, and in need of the Saviour. Only Christ can lead us out of the moral maze!