-
I agree, we can identify some Christians who were 'good people',
but,
their actions were despite being Christians.
These good/progressive/unsatisfied Christians had to argue that the staus quo supported by the Christian ethics of the time, was unacceptable and infringed upon basic human rights of the oppressed.
However for each good Christian, it is easy to identify a villain.
John Williams, the judge who sentenced the Tolpuddle Martyrs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolpuddle_Martyrs
to penal transportation, no doubt considered himself a Christian.Likewise, those organised, auithorised and led the cavalry charge at the Peterloo Massacre
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterloo_Massacre
were, no doubt, considered Christians.Indeed their sense of selfworth pervades down the centuries.
John Scott, the Lord Chancellor when the Six Acts were introduced,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Scott,_1st_Earl_of_Eldon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Acts
has a direct descendent who is currently in a public argument with an eminent scientist
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/oct/27/jeremy-hunt-links-to-peterloo-gagging-laws
Not entirely sure I agree.
William Temple was an important player in the foundation of the welfare state and Wilberforce's attitude to slavery was directly motivated by a faith based on equality and freedom...
Where Christianity and politics gets messy is when personal morality gets confused with policy making. Sadly, this seems to be the reason that followers of a religion that preaches tolerance equality and liberty end up with such a poor voting record