By Zoebelle Bean, Catholic editor
Dr. John Pinheiro, PhD – Photo by the Acton Institute.
Dr. John Pinheiro presented a lecture on “Church and State: Hope in an Age of Ideology” as part of Catholic Studies’ participation in St. Thomas Aquinas Week at Aquinas College on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Dr. Pinheiro’s aim was to emphasize the importance of a balance between church and state, rather than alienating them entirely. His thesis was that evangelization and belief suffer when religion is politicized by confusing the proper ends, or telos, of the “city of man” and the “city of God.”
“Modern ideology seeks the wrong kind of progress [through the state] by trying to achieve Heaven on earth, which is inherently impossible,” Dr. Pinheiro said. “Real progress seeks the sanctification of culture, and though culture is damaged by human sinfulness, rarely is it corrupt. So, the state is not a necessary evil… tension between church and state is a good thing. The church desacralized the state, exposing emperors as men.”
Dr. Pinheiro presenting in an Albertus lecture hall – Photo by Zoebelle Bean.
Much of the lecture focused on the idea that currently, people are living in an age of crisis. According to Dr. Pinheiro, rapidly accelerating change leads to viscous political discourse and a loss of hope. This leads to ideology, defined as ecclesiology and eschatology that attempt to fill a spiritual gap, rather than religion. The problems of ideology arise in response to the modern crises of the world. “Yet, mankind is best understood as ‘homoreligiousus,’ or craving for religion. Man may well be called a religious being,” said Dr. Pinheiro. Today, the church is rejected over the state because there’s a belief that the problems of ideology are material modern gnosticism.
“Ideology wants to will the world to what the individual wants it to be and re-divinize politics,” said Dr. Pinheiro.
Historically, this has been seen in old colonization efforts, including Christian missionaries who engaged in proselytism over evangelization. They attempted to use military rule over those who were not their own, using force and coercion. Such examples include the original missionary colonization efforts in Africa, Saigon and Central America. It led people to despair and make the state a “tyrant” since these efforts ignored human dignity and needs.
Today, this ideological colonization can be seen in the new gender-ideology. According to Dr. Pinheiro, Pope Francis has described it as an “ugly ideology of our time” because it blurs the divisions between men and women, who are meant to exist in a fruitful tension.
Dr. Pinheiro’s lecture was heard and felt by many students who were previously unaware of these crises happening in society today.
“[His] depth of knowledge and clear delivery made the lecture both thought-provoking and informative,” senior Ethan Barker said. “The lecture helped me understand how faith and government can work together without overstepping each other’s boundaries with the ‘city of man’ and the ‘city of God’ each having their own roles… Overall, the presentation was intellectually stimulating, offering valuable insights into a complex and enduring issue.”
Dr. Pinheiro concluded by explaining that the state has to be limited because the hope of the faithful humankind is in Heaven. However, faithful people must also resist the temptation to take over the state in order to maintain the pursuit of justice. Politicizing religion enlarges the state beyond its proper and natural limits. Faith should be a governing principle for the “city of man,” but building a Heaven on earth with the state makes it into an ideological colonization.
The Saint 