Sermon on the Mound

The Sermon on the Mound is the name given by the British press to an address made by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1988. The name is a play on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and on the hill in Edinburgh called The Mound on which the Church's Assembly Hall stands.

Related Topics:
Margaret Thatcher - General Assembly - Church of Scotland - 1988 - Sermon on the Mount - The Mound

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In this address, Thatcher attempted to offer a theological justification for her ideas on capitalism and the market economy. She claimed "Christianity is about spiritual redemption, not social reform" and she quoted St. Paul by saying "If a man will not work he shall not eat". 'Choice' played a significant part in Thatcherite reforms and Thatcher claimed choice was also Christian by stating that Christ chose to lay down his life and that all individuals have the God-given right to choose between good and evil. Thatcher also justified her belief in individual salvation by quoting from the hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country:

Related Topics:
Capitalism - Christianity - Redemption - St. Paul - Thatcherite - Christ - Salvation - Hymn - I Vow to Thee, My Country

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...speak of "another country I heard of long ago" whose King can't be seen and whose armies can't be counted, but "soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase". Not group by group, or party by party, or even church by church?but soul by soul?and each one counts.

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However not everyone agreed and one clergyman present described Mrs. Thatcher's speech as 'a disgraceful travesty of the gospel'.

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