SEARCH Journal

Loyalty, identity and toxic belonging: calling the churches to the public space

FAMILY LIFE, friendship, academic institutions attended in youth, commitment to sports clubs or a faith community, are all areas where loyalty is considered a virtue. Some organisations demand, rather than elicit, loyalty. Politicians foster loyalty and oaths of allegiance and solemn pledges are uncompromising in the loyalty they demand. However, when societies break down into competition and violence, loyalty becomes an unstable and even toxic notion. Virtue is lost when identity politics aligns groups, makes them dependent on diminishing or dehumanising others and bolsters self-aggrandisement with violence. Michael Blanding, the award- winning, Boston-based journalist notes how “loyalty” has changed in its usage and moved from its virtue status: While [loyalty is] ostensibly a positive trait, we are much more apt these days to hear about loyalty in the context of problems – loyalty to a country or religion leading to fanatical acts of chauvinism or violence, loyalty to family or friends leading to nepotism of cronyism in government, or loyalty to co-workers or a company leading to cover-ups of nancial chicanery or unethical dealing.

* Full article available in printed copies.

Lesley Carroll

after 25 years of ministry to Presbyterian congregations in North Belfast, is now Deputy Chief Commissioner at the Equality Commission NI and Voice of the Victim Manager at Victim Support NI.