Neutrality's iron fist

Oh my goodness, I just realised something - a claim to neutrality is the biggest power claim of all. People who claim that their views are neutral and for everyone are no different from dogmatic Christians, except that they never actually claim to be Right - their fixed beliefs hide under the banner of 'Neutrality'. This sort of thing typically happens in politics and it goes like this. Christians are critiqued (/belittled/shamed/abused) for bringing their religious views into the political sphere. That is how the position gets argued for negatively. At times another step is taken. The secularity of the political sphere is proclaimed (never actually argued for, or even humbly advanced - but declared with the sort of self-confidence that implies that the view is, and should be, obvious to all). That is the approach's positive articulation.

Implicit - but never directly stated - in all this is the assumption that the secular view is neutral and therefore humane, peaceable and unifying (as over and against the loaded, niche, incendiary Christian stance). But it's not just this - this claim to neutrality is actually a hidden claim to Rightness. Theoretically, I'm not sure this need be the case (you could have a sort of 'chastened' claim to neutrality and I suspect many do), but, practically speaking, that's how it plays. When most regard it as acceptable, and even important, to resist, fend off and even shut down actions (like for example, votes taken by Christian politicians), influence or discussion coming from a Christian perspective, then those people clearly believe they are right to do so. They are no different to the Christian who baldly claims to have unique access to the Truth and who - more so in days goneby - does all they can to make sure the State and society does too.

And this is exactly what is being done in the name of neutrality. Sure, there are places reserved for religion (private conversation, inside the walls of the church or mosque), but they are decided by the people who hold the neutral position and are carefully demarcated. But never ever on any grounds should religion be allowed access to the houses of power, that seat where meek neutrality is king.