By: Dawnel Volzke on March 1, 2015
The Protestant ethic is a concept that says that large numbers of people were influenced to work hard and diligently as part of the way they demonstrated their faith. Weber, in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, looks at the distinct characteristics of modern capitalism, which he defines as the achievement of profit…
By: Jon Spellman on February 27, 2015
As I spent time this week with The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism I found several things to be of interest. In psychology there is a terminology known as “the fundamental attribution error” which describes our tendency to more positively view our own motives than those of others when the outcomes are virally identical.…
By: Brian Yost on February 26, 2015
As a red-blooded American, I grew up with a certain understanding of life. America was the greatest country on earth, blessed by God and hard work, and everybody wanted to be like us. Our military was the best in the world and every war we every fought was righteous, defending freedom and fighting oppression. Our…
By: Phillip Struckmeyer on February 26, 2015
I came across an interesting article this week in the massive amount of reading I am doing these days. I forget the name of the article (not a good research practice) but it took me to a link where a recent speech by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio was given. The nature of the article was…
By: Nick Martineau on February 26, 2015
Max Weber’s classic book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism was a book I heard referred to often but had never gotten my hands on. I kind of understood the premise going in but it wasn’t until actually holding my book (actually two books because it’s not just the older cohort members that…
By: Dave Young on February 25, 2015
What? Did Webner really say “Protestants… have shown a special tendency to develop economic rationalism which cannot be observed to the same extent among Catholics”.[i] Isn’t he saying – Protestants work better then Catholics? After my initial double take, I was intrigued. How will this German sociologist make the case that Protestantism is a contributing…
By: Mary Pandiani on February 24, 2015
I see a play in Seattle that creates quite a conversation between the four of us who attend. Later, someone asks me, “A good play?” While I didn’t particularly enjoy it musically, I say “yes,” with the idea that the play causes great dialogue over the thematic issues. The greatness of a book, a play,…
By: Travis Biglow on February 20, 2015
Bebbington has a quad too! February 19, 15 It was very interesting to read about the history of the Evangelical movement in Britain in the midst of some of the prevailing leaders of Protestantism, Methodism, Lutherism, and other movements. In the middle of this our (I will make it personal) Evangelical heritage was…
By: Dawnel Volzke on February 20, 2015
Evangelicalism David Bebbington’s book, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain, reviews the history of the evangelical movement in Britain from the 1700’s through the 1980s. Prominent evangelicals that have influenced the movement throughout history include John Welsey, William Wilberforce, and Lord Shaftesbury. I’ve collided with these historic figures as I’ve been educated in my faith throughout my…
By: Brian Yost on February 19, 2015
I recently spoke in a small Northern-Michigan city. While driving out of town, I passed an interesting sight; both sides of the road were lined with Evangelical churches. They were across the road from each other and next door to each other. It was almost a comical site. It reminded me of the way fast…
By: Nick Martineau on February 19, 2015
I always knew evangelicals were a strange group. DW Bebbington’s Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s just affirmed it. I enjoy history and Bebbington does a great job explaining core beliefs Evangelicals can unite around. Bebbington also does a good job explaining how we are different and have morphed throughout…
By: Jon Spellman on February 19, 2015
Where to begin? When attempting to digest and assimilate such a grand work as Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s by David Bebbington, the oft-repeated phrase “drinking from the firehose” comes immediately to mind. A history work of this magnitude could easily provide the primary text for an entire…
By: Phillip Struckmeyer on February 19, 2015
Phil Struckmeyer, in his book, “Evangelicalism in Post-Modern Society: A History from the 1990’s to the 2030’s”, writes of how the new Evangelicalism version of Protestant Evangelicalism was created by Globalization. From the philosophy, psychology, sociology, economics, and politics of the day, Struckmeyer tells of the radical moulding and remoulding that took place in the…
By: Mary Pandiani on February 19, 2015
In light of Still Alice, a movie of a young woman (50 years old, it’s all relative) recognizing that she’s moving into Alzheimers, I’m concerned that I’m losing my mind. I bought two of the same book, one paperback “Evangelicalism in Modern Britain” and one Kindle version. Why? I don’t know. Thus, I begin my…
By: Dave Young on February 18, 2015
I enjoy reading about Christian history, even this recent history: “Evangelicalism in modern Britain, a history from the 1730 – 1980s”. It provides a context to the church today, and lessons to be learned. I jumped in with an open mind reading the characteristics of Evangelicalism in chapter one, and I was hooked – “Yep,…
By: Dawnel Volzke on February 14, 2015
Our modern lifestyle is moving at a pace in which people often find it difficult to have and maintain healthy social structures. Bauman, in Collateral Damage, examines social inequality and the implications, or cost to humanity. We should, and must, intentionally consider the choices that we make and how they impact others. As we consume more, we…
By: Brian Yost on February 12, 2015
When I began looking over Zygmunt Buaman’s Collateral Damage: Social Inequalities in a Global Age, I opened the pages with great anticipation. By the time I had finished, I found myself disappointed. Bauman offered some insightful thoughts on some key issues, but I felt he missed the mark on some others. Bauman did a good…
By: Travis Biglow on February 12, 2015
The Disparity of Equality in a Socially Divided Age! February 10, 15 A very interesting book and I love some of the things Zygmunt Bauman brings out in Collateral Damage: Social Inequalities in a Global Age. I could have written a lot in this book because of having to experience it while growing…
By: Phillip Struckmeyer on February 12, 2015
Confession: I just contributed to the “collateral damage” of which I am a part. I bought my wife Valentine’s Day flowers from proflowers.com. I am a horrible man. I was listening to the radio and on came the commercial. It was a special like no other. If I ordered today, I would be able to…
By: Dave Young on February 12, 2015
Reading Collateral Damage by Zygmunt Bauman creates a tremendous argument for good biblically reflective public theology. In fact I would encourage a revision in the reading order for the next cohort, the trio of books on contextual theology would be a practical next step after reading Bauman; largely because this book cries out for God’s…
