Anti-Capitalist Christian alert! March 11, 2008
Posted by Zack in Oregon , trackback
Just dutifully sounding the alarm…
Halden Doerge at Inhabitatio Dei writes:
On the Possibility of Resisting Capitalism
In recent posts there have been some good questions raised about the nature of Christian social critique, particularly of capitalism and how authentic theological action can take place in the face of the capitalist order. I’ve argued on the one hand that Christians should be ideologically opposed to capitalism on theological grounds. I’ve likewise argued that all such oppositions to the capitalist order occur within the context of capitalism. None of us critiques from outside, but always from within the hegemony of global capitalism. The question this raises regards what kind of authentic theological action is able to open up new vistas of liberation and hope. How can the Kingdom break into the capitalist hegemony? [More…]
This is from somebody who says:
I am not a radical Christian. I am someone who hopes to be found in Christ. What I believe that entails is a life lived wholly and unreservedly with and for others as one body - Christ’s body. So I’m trying to do that with failures and successes along the way. I’m trying to make my life about knowing and loving God, and living with people in shalom. So far it’s been a pretty big aspiration and there’s no sign of it getting easier. But I wouldn’t chose any other life. In perhaps the most practical sense, it is really the common life of my church, the Church of the Servant King which more than anything else informs my theology and my choices about how to live life in Christ.
Comments»
I think the best way to invite Theocapitalists to the Kingdom is to demonstrate Kingdom Generosity. As an Art Director in an Ad Agency, you’d be surprised at the ease of sharing a platform of revolutionary giving and how easy the subject of tithing can be. That’s not to say that I sometimes consider posting Anti-capitalist propaganda in my office for all to see…
Hello, Zack. I wonder, do you sense some incongruity between my two statements? Thanks for the links.
Hi Halden! I don’t see incongruity there…anymore. But I sure used to. I used to think God was a crutch…that let people run away from having to think about the world they live in. This blog is basically an extended documentation of my continuing surprise.
And so you’re post was a great example. Your self description was a good example for me to show, because, alongside your posts, it shows to people outside the church what many people mean when they say “follow Christ” and “live in Christ.”
Yeah questioning capitalism is something I’ve only dabbled in, No head first jumps yet. This is wild stuff. thanks for sharing