I am currently teaching an introductory ethics course to Catholic school teachers. I found this song by Canadian band Stabilo to be useful for thinking about both Christian anthropology, namely our fallen nature, and the role of conscience in the ethical life.
Of course, while I whole-heartedly endorse the writer’s unflinching honesty, I must reject his conclusion. There is no flaw in the design, though it might be fair to say there was risk in the design. The brokenness so openly on display here is the result of sin, the misuse of human freedom. And God put the risk of freedom in the design precisely because the final goal of the design is love – love which, by definition, must be a free choice.
Finally, the design is broken, but it is not broken beyond repair. When God gave us freedom, included in that gift was a willingness to undertake its consequences. God ensures that, even in our brokenness, our freedom to love remains.
For more honest music, check out Ben Folds Five on abortion and Ida Maria on promiscuity.
Brett Salkeld is a doctoral student in theology at Regis College in Toronto. He is a father of two (so far) and husband of one.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In