By: Noel Liemam on October 27, 2024
As I read and try to understand concepts from Polanyi’s book, “The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origin of Our Time” I am convinced that it is a good reference, but my issue was that it will take more time to really read and understand it and to get relevant takeaway that can be…
By: Chad Warren on October 24, 2024
The history of the United States is steeped in the concept of rugged individualism, a defining trait that has shaped the nation’s identity and culture. From the early settlers who navigated the unknown waters of the New World to the industrial leaders who built empires in the bustling cities of the 19th century, the American…
By: Christy on October 24, 2024
Presidential candidates vice president Harris and former president Trump are debating school choice, among many topics. While the overall topic is quite complex with multiple layers of debate, one item of discussion is if tax credits should be given to families with homeschooled students or students attending private schools. In general, Harris opposes using taxpayer…
By: Julie O'Hara on October 24, 2024
This week I did my best to read Karl Polyani’s The Great Transformation written 80 years ago to elucidate economic and social changes in Europe as it became an industrialized society. The book focused on the rise of market liberalism and the author’s belief that it was neither sustainable nor healthy. The key concept of…
By: Daren Jaime on October 24, 2024
Mama said there would be days like this. This is a saying my mother said when your normal flow is distracted by something that takes you aback or off course. Such is the case in this week’s reading on The Great Transformation by Karl Polanyi. I exhausted huge mental and emotional capacity, with frustration and…
By: Diane Tuttle on October 24, 2024
While The Great Transformation, The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time by Karl Polanyi goes through historical times and the relationship of the economy, the purpose of this book was not simply a history book. According to economic historian, Karl Polanyi, he was searching for an explanation about why trends occurred and the impact…
By: Adam Cheney on October 24, 2024
After reading this week’s book, The Great Transformation by Karl Polanyi and commentary on it by Jason Clark I realize there are so many different paths this blog might venture down. We might look at the way Evangelicals have contributed to and have lived in the “eschatological space” of capitalism and Evangelicalism.[1] We might look…
By: Kari on October 24, 2024
Over two years ago, I inquired about the Doctor of Leadership in Global Perspectives (DLGP) program at Portland Seminary. I loved the program, but I was concerned I would not meet the requirements of having a relevant master’s degree. During my application interview, I was assured that my leadership and ministry experience qualified me for…
By: Elysse Burns on October 24, 2024
Over the summer, Netflix released a film entitled Fly Me to the Moon. The story is set against the backdrop of the Space Race, the Apollo 11 mission, and the task given to fictitious marketing expert Kelly Jones to create a fake moon landing in case the mission failed. I do not want to spend much time…
By: Ryan Thorson on October 24, 2024
Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front, by Wendell Berry. Love the quick profit, the annual raise, vacation with pay. Want more of everything ready-made. Be afraid to know your neighbours and to die. And you will have a window in your head. Not even your future will be a mystery any more. Your mind will…
By: Jennifer Eckert on October 23, 2024
Let’s be honest. The relationship between faith and economics can get pretty messy, and opinions can vary wildly. Just look at any discussion around the U.S. Presidential elections, and you’ll see what I mean. In this blog, we’ll explore Karl Polanyi’s world to learn how he stumbled upon the big idea that became the backbone…
By: Debbie Owen on October 23, 2024
The American dream: a concept as varied as the individuals who dream it. In his 1931 book, The Epic of America, James Truslow Adams coined the term, “the American dream,” and defined it as, “That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone.” [1] In her paper,…
By: Graham English on October 23, 2024
This week, I was introduced to The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time by Karl Polanyi. Polanyi was an economic anthropologist and economic sociologist who lived through the collapse of a western society after the nineteenth century. He blames this collapse on the myth of the self-regulating market. While it might…
By: Glyn Barrett on October 21, 2024
(Image – Maps of Industrial Manchester) Karl Polanyi’s The Great Transformation, the political and economic origins of our time,[1] first published in 1944, is a seminal work offering an analysis of the economic and social upheavals that accompanied the rise of market capitalism. It is not a natural go-to book for me, but it was…
By: Shela Sullivan on October 21, 2024
What is this book about? I began reading the book, “The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time,” by Karl Polanyi on my flight to Washington DC last month, knowing I would need ample time to mentally digest and process the content. Consequently, articulating my post this week proved difficult. The challenge…
By: Jeff Styer on October 21, 2024
I am not an economist and this week’s readings were some of the hardest for me so far. However, as Simone Weil said “students who love God should never say: ‘For my part I like mathematics’; ‘I like French’; ‘I like Greek.’ They should learn to like all these subjects, because all of them develop…
By: Noel Liemam on October 20, 2024
“The Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730’s to the 1980’s,” by D.W. Bebbington and a chapter 2 from Dr. Jason Clark Thesis, titled “Evangelical Anxiety: From Assurance to Providence” are the assigned readings from this blogpost. For me, Bebbington’s is so comprehensive to grasp in and fully understand within the time frame.…
By: Joel Zantingh on October 19, 2024
Assurance, confidence and narrowness of focus all meet each other on the same road leading to ‘success’. Growing up in 20th Century North America was like being in a pressure cooker of success, spurred on by capitalism’s constant call for innovation, and the delivery of the next great artifact, product or solution to peddle to…
By: Julie O'Hara on October 18, 2024
About 15 years ago I attended a church welcome class that opened with a session designed to place that particular church within the stream of historical Christianity. The leader differentiated between Roman Catholic/Protestant, Calvinist/Wesleyan-Arminian, and conservative/liberal, this last being less about church history and more about the politics of social issues. Then, the leader shared…
By: Chad Warren on October 17, 2024
I recently met with 20 key leaders in our church, discussing our doctrinal statement and those beliefs that distinguish our church. I indicated that, most simply, we are a Christian, Evangelical, Baptist, and Congregational church. Immediately, a hand shot up, and one of our leaders asked, “What does it mean that we’re ‘Evangelical,’ and how…
