I’ve seen a number of people on social media complaining with memes and comments. Those comments go along the lines that they are being labelled “far right” and that this is a slur. The argument is that this is a way of dismissing concerns about national pride (patriotism), freedom of speech, gender and sexuality ethics, right to life, opposition to euthanasia and a commitment to immigration control. They argue that their views haven’t changed in 50 years, there has just been a shift in society.
Now, I find it interesting when people complain that they are being unfairly labelled far-right. You see, throughout my life time, I’ve held to all of the positions above and still do with possibly one exception, I have come to the conclusion that freedom of movement is best for society and so have more relaxed views about immigration. Now, those views tend to be considered politically right wing or conservative, especially if you add in strong defence and a range of economic policies. However, they have not, in and of themselves been historically considered “far right”. Nor, to the best of my knowledge and despite all the things I have been called in my lifetime have I ever been accused of being “far right “
Rather, there are attitudes, policies, activities and an underpinning ideology (or ideologies) that have historically been understood to be “far right”. These would include:
1. Authoritarianism with strong leaders having substantial control.
2. The use of coercion, manipulation, intimidation, shows of force and actual use of force as well as or instead of democratic means.
3. Ultra Nationalism, specifically an ethno-cultural nationalism.
4. Xenophobia (fear of the foreigner/stranger) which may manifest as a fear of all foreigners or or specific foreigners. Another group are bothered and treated as an enemy/pest and sometimes dehumanized.
Now, sometimes, those on the mainstream right have leaned particularly into the last one to gain populist support, often from those who wouldn’t naturally align with their broader economic agenda. In such cases, you might describe the specific rhetoric as far right, or playing to the far right whilst not seeing the person or party as far right
What this listing helps us to do is to evaluate what Christians who have been labeled as far right have been doing. I would suggest that if you have associated with marches and demonstrations seen as attempts to show force in order to discourage immigration/asylum, if you have targeted specific groups of people as strangers, invaders, a threat, parasites etc and if you have hyped up a form of ethno-cultural nationalism, then you are likely to be seen as far right. Further, if you claim to support free speech but that only means for those who agree with you and you want to ban people from expressing their views (eg through what they wear, building places of worship etc), then yes those things are highly likely to be identified as far right by society around you. And guess what, that is not a new thing. It would always have been the case
Faithroots 