The Rev. Canon Simon Mein writes with all the grace of someone who really does understand how to concoct a sentence in English and an argument rich in exploratory possibilities. He undertakes rather large issues and in his latest essay CAPITALISM UNCOVERED he works over the American peculiarity that makes capitalism of all the "isms" a Christian virtue. He asks, " Is there anything that theology and the
history of Christianity can teach this nation which proudly claims to
be “One…under God”?"
Simon makes the argument that we have done very little regarding a closer look at Capitalism because it is taken for granted and considered part of the "background", and because we do not critique capitalism sufficiently Christians are mostly unprepared to argue for the limitations that must be placed on capitalism if there is to be any justice at all for the poor.
Now would be a good time. It's summer and a good dose of theological exploration is just the ticket on a warm evening.
Have not checked Mein's definition of capitalism, but I'd prefer to say market economy. Our president makes reference to its virtues often, and the room there is for improvement. Those who believe the market is fair or just are off base. At the same time, what can be said of the market economy is the same as Churchill said of democracy -- consider the alternatives.
ReplyDeleteCapitalism may be the best we have, but it's still hardly in line with Christian values, in either theory or practice.
ReplyDeleteOne of the alternatives was ". . and they held all things in common."
It's strange that, even among reasonably intelligent liberal Christians, capitalism is held as some virtue.