Invitations and Living Free in a Complex Society
The books assigned in recent weeks are difficult. I am not understanding every concept, nor reading them in their entirety. However, I am being challenged and hopefully changed by authors I never would have discovered on my own. I am noticing connections and pondering many questions with little time to answer them. My questions currently stand as invitations to think, to pray, and to act. Indulge me in a little recap of what is spinning through my mind from previous readings which inform the invitation Karl Polanyi author of The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time, is challenging me to consider.
Invitation: Contemplative in Action
Let us consider how…Hebrews 10:24
David Bebbington, Author of Evangelicalism in Modern Britain, informed me of the history of Evangelicalism, helped me understand the Christian worldview into which I was born and the impacts of the capitalistic system in which I live. Dr. Jason Clark, in his dissertation Evangelicalism and Capitalism, argued how anxiety and assurance within the evangelical movement served as a pathway for a relationship between Capitalism and Evangelicalism to develop.[1] As I seek to live out my faith while navigating the opportunities and challenges of our rapidly changing world and the economic systems that govern it, what action steps is God calling me to make?
Invitation: Consider the Dignity of all Persons
You will never look into the eyes of someone God does not love.
Frances Fukuyama, author of Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment succinctly stated,”… the inner sense of dignity seeks recognition.”[2] Every human being bears the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. How will I respond to individuals longing for recognition, validation, and voice? Who am I not seeing?
Invitation: Create a Personal Ascetic
Do not conform to the pattern of this world. Romans 12:2
Max Weber author of The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism left me pondering his question, “How can we live under modern capitalism, which gives priority to the laws of the market over longstanding traditions, ethical values, and personal relationships?”[3] I am challenged to review my personal ascetic. What spirit, attitude, and principles will govern my actions as I seek to respond to the needs around me? What judgments cloud my vision?
Invitation: Self-Emptying and Allowing Others to Flourish
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Luke 9:25
Simon Walker, author of Leading with Nothing to Lose, reminded me of the self-emptying leadership style modeled by Jesus. Self-emptying makes space for incarnational leadership in any sphere of influence. He wrote, “[Self-emptying]…it is power that allows others to flourish, not power to aggrandize us.”[4] What do I fear losing? What am I willing to forfeit in order for someone else to flourish?
Invitation: Let Go of Self-Interest and Share
…they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32
Karl Polanyi’s writing addressed the social, political, and economic changes that occurred with the advent of the Industrial Revolution. According to Fred Block in the introduction, “…the fundamental point learned from Polanyi is that market liberalism makes demands on ordinary people that are simply not sustainable.”[5] Karl Polanyi argues, “The true criticism of a market society is… that its economy was based on self-interest. Such an organization of economic life is entirely unnatural.”[6]
The core belief organizing the new economic order of market liberalism is that human society was to be subordinate to the self-regulating markets, which led to protecting society from the market, new social concerns, and ultimately war.[7]Polanyi’s concept of embeddedness asserts the opposite core value, “…the economy is not an autonomous entity, but subordinate to politics, religion, and social relations.”[8] In a 5MinU video clip, Jerry Michalski summarized Polanyi, describing the way of life prior to the Industrial Revolution and the challenges that ensued. Householding, reciprocity, and redistribution were the cultural norms as societies lived primarily off the land. Those types of support no longer existed as land, labor, and money were commoditized and people moved to cities, worked in factories, and earned wages. It was a massive and sudden shift in perspective and way of life bringing about rapid change, taxing heavy burdens on society, and creating new language around poverty and unemployment.[9]
Jason Clark noted, “Central to Polanyi’s thesis is the assertion that society and social relationships are vital to humans…”[10] This is where I find the connections with all the other readings previously mentioned and inspiration from the early church described above.
Invitation: Freedom
For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
Nelson Mandela
In his closing chapter, Freedom in a Complex Society, Polanyi addressed the issue of freedom. Something culturally we guard religiously and fight to keep. Bebbington, Weber, Fukuyama, Walker, and Polanyi all in their own way touched on the moral and religious aspects of how to live in organized society. Jesus, having died for the atonement of our sin modeled a self-emptying style of leadership in which the dignity and equality of all human beings was honored. Jesus willingly set aside personal freedom losing his life for the sake of others. In order to gain freedom, we have to be willing to give up some freedom for the well-being and flourishing of others. My final question: What freedoms am I willing to give up for the sake of others?
There is No Utopia. We need to accept the world in which we live while actively seeking to bring God’s Kingdom here. Only faithful responses to the needs of humanity who have been left behind in our self-serving social, political, and economic systems will do. Polanyi’s closing words remind us of our task to create abundant freedom for all without giving up hope, “Uncomplaining acceptance of the reality of society gives man courage and strength to remove all removable injustice and unfreedom.”[11]
- Jason Paul Clark, “Evangelicalism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship” (DMIN diss., George Fox University, Newberg,2018), 49. https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/gfes/132
- Francis Fukuyama, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment (New York: Picador, 2018), 10.
- Max Weber and Stephen Kalberg,The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism: The Revised 1920 Ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), 1.
- Simon Walker, Leading with Nothing to Lose: Training in the Exercise of Power.(Carlisle, UK: Piquant Editions Ltd, 2007), 147.
- Karl Polanyi, The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time (Boston: Beacon Press, 1944, 1957, 2001), xxxiv.
- Karl Polanyi, The Great Transformation, 257.
- Ibid., xxii.
- Ibid., xxiv.
- Jerry Michalski, 5MinU: The Great Transformation, accessed October 25 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSuz01zvOjE
- Jason Clark, Evangelicalism and Capitalism, 127.
- Karl Polanyi, The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time (Boston: Beacon Press, 1944, 1957, 2001), 268.
About the Author
Jenny Dooley
Jenny served as a missionary in Southeast Asia for 28 years. She currently resides in Gig Harbor, Washington, where she works as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Spiritual Director in private practice with her husband, Eric. Jenny loves to listen and behold the image of God in others. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family which include 5 amazing adult children, 3 awesome sons-in-law, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and 8 delightful grandchildren.12 responses to “Invitations and Living Free in a Complex Society”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Your post is elegant and informing.
I remember hearing some say that capitalism with out a moral direction (like Russia) can create massive drives to earning and in a dog-eat-dog world, oligarchs, mafia bosses, corrupt politicians rise to the top.
I was talking to my sister (who is bonafide Capitalist.
She said, “Capitalism will survive in some form or another, however, there are new forces in today’s world that can help reshape capitalism.”
Enter the Generation Y (30 somethings) and Z (20’s) . These generations, said Kai, consume global information at a “staggering” pace. The consumer power they wield is tremendous and through the power of social media than can expose “industry dirty laundry” to millions of other consumers globally. Kai added that these and future generations are intensely aware of climate change, work force conditions and other socially conscious issues which impact their purchasing choices – one power. The power of “cancellation” is the other power. An example comes to mind of the “transgender” blunder of Bud Light. Through the power of social media, Budweiser has taken a major financial hit as mainstream males disengaged from the cheap (and arguably bland) beer.
Capitalism, says Kai, will have to “Grow, Learn and give back to society.
Shalom…
Hi Russell,
You are very kind! Writing blogs these last two weeks has been a challenge with travel and jetlag! I love your sister’s insights. She is very wise, “Capitalism will survive in some form or another, however, there are new forces in today’s world that can help reshape capitalism. Grow, Learn and give back to society.” She just summed up Polanyi! Thank you for sharing her wisdom!
Jenny, I enjoyed your blog and being Invited into different thinking. I appreciate the way you weaved in different readings. How do you keep hope alive? For our society? our world?
Hi Jana,
I keep hope alive by noticing and honoring the way thoughtful, faithful, and loving people respond to one another especially in times of need. Even considering all the hard things happening in our world today I know and trust that people are responding like Jesus. Many faces come to mind. I also know far more is going on behind the scenes that I am unaware of and that God is present in some of our worse crises. I think of folks like Russell and his Good Sports ministry work, pastors that I know who are feeding the homeless in our area, and missionaries educating marginalized children that would not otherwise attend school.
Jenny,
This was a great post. I really enjoyed the way you connected different readings with an invitation to understand them. I also loved the way you organized your writing. And my favorite quote, ” you will never look into the eyes of someone that God does not love”, it was a perfect reminder to continue to move forward with love in our hearts.
Hi Jonita, Thanks for your encouraging words. I wasn’t totally sure what I wrote even made sense when I hit publish. My cold went from bad to worse! I hope you are well. I love that quote too and couldn’t find a reliable reference as I think it has become quite popular. I did stick into ChatGPT and Shane Claiborne’s name came up but I couldn’t find a direct quote. I have also heard a few different versions. It reminds me of Thomas Merton’s mystical vision on the corner of 4th and Walnut in Louisville, KY. https://www.spiritualtravels.info/spiritual-sites-around-the-world/north-america/kentucky-a-thomas-merton-tour/thomas-mertons-mystical-vision-in-louisville/
Hey Joyful Jenny! I love your invitations. “Invitation: Self-Emptying and Allowing Others to Flourish” This invitation sounds pretty deep, therefore, I am curious. How does self-emptying actually help others to flourish?
Hi Todd,
Thanks for the response and the question. Part of why I put my questions and invitations into this blog was so that I would remember to sit with them and do just what I said…think, pray, act. I think self-emptying in order to allow others to flourish for me means that I am watching out for others and supporting them even when what I am doing feels very important for me to accomplish. I hope it models generosity and thinking of others. There have been times in which I was doing well with a certain ministry and I would have loved to take it further, but I noticed others who were very gifted. It was more important that I take a step back, allow others to move forward, and see them flourish in their gifting. It’s letting go of my ego or need for recognition that opens up space for me to see others which in turn helps them see themselves. Isn’t what we do in counseling with people the same? We let go of ourselves in order to give space for others so they can flourish in life. I notice listening seems to open up space for others in and out of the counseling office. I’m not sure I have answered your question. This will be an ongoing reflection for me! I have a lot less fear of giving up of myself, my time, my things, my desired outcomes etc…when I see how others grow and flourish.
Jenny,
I really appreciate how you have woven into each recap, connecting our readings, an invitation posing a question to consider. These readings have been difficult for me too. Thank you for taking each one and crafting an invitation. What spiritual practices or rhythms would you accompany with each invitation?
Hi Cathy, Thanks for the question. It is timely as my rhythms have been all out of wack since Oxford. I’m getting settled and hope to add more centering prayer to my routine. That is where I hope to start with each invitation. Sometimes my own words trip me up. I get into the “shoulds” rather than waiting, listening, and discerning. Being still and silent opens up more space for me.
Your reflective post is truly thought-provoking. I appreciation that you are exploring the profound impact of challenging readings on your perspective. It’s inspiring to see you embrace these invitations to contemplate and act on complex topics. I’m curious, how has this intellectual journey influenced your personal beliefs and actions in your daily life? How do you see these newfound insights shaping your interactions with the world around you?
Hi Mathieu, I don’t know that I have a great answer to your questions. I am still trying to synthesize all of this and noting where things may need attention. My first thought is that this is all about awareness. I don’t know that my beliefs have changed that much. I am noticing places in which my non-actions might not reflect my beliefs. I am seeing somethings a bit differently and wondering about how my responses might need to shift or change. My second thought is to allow myself to take a more personal or embodied response to meet some practical needs for the homeless and hungry in my area. Action right along with my giving sort of thing. Even with that thought I am wondering who or what am I not seeing? Just some thoughts. I need to pray!