Nothing just begins…
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
By: Max Weber
Nothing just begins, but every “new thing” has its roots into yesterday and tomorrow’s “new things” begin today. The spirit of capitalism was born the moment Adam and Eve were escorted out of the Garden of Eden. This spirit was not born with the reformation, but I believe that the reformation gave it the freedom to grow, and like a well-watered weed it grew and spread and it became what it is today.
A few years ago I read a quote by Hernando de Soto, a Peruvian economist, which has stuck with me. He says, “I am not a die-hard capitalist. I do not view capitalism as a credo. Much more important to me are freedom, compassion for the poor, respect for the social contract, and equal opportunity. But for the moment, to achieve those goals, capitalism is the only game in town. It is the only system we know that provides us with the tools required to create massive surplus value.” And, it is the only game in town that can give us the freedom and opportunity to help us work towards bringing kingdom values into our culture and context; however, I do acknowledge that it is a broken system.
Capitalism today is organized greed. Unfortunately, people today are “dominated by the making of money, by acquisition as the ultimate purpose of life. Economic acquisition is no longer subordinated to man as the means for the satisfaction of his material needs.” (p53) The end result is that the things we own end up owning us, and the good things that can be achieved through capitalism are overshadowed by our desire to have more and earn more. As wealth accumulates, people tend to forget their humanity, and begin to place their assurance in power and recognition which capitalism offers the wealthy.
Max Weber is dead on when describing the effects of capitalism on the church. He says that “the people filled with the spirit of capitalism today tend to be indifferent, if not hostile, to the church The thought of the pios boredom of paradise has little attraction to their active natures; religion appears to them a means of drawing people away from labour in this world. If you ask them what is the meaning of their restless activity, why they are never satisfied with what they have… they would perhaps give you this answer… ‘to provide for my children and grandchildren.’” (p70) Capitalism has caused us to stop living and enjoying today in hopes that we will enjoy tomorrow… but sadly, tomorrow never comes and the spirit of capitalism in us is never fully satisfied.
The other interesting thing about people’s relationship with capitalism is that it has become wrapped up with our understanding of personal calling… and calling is wrapped up in identity. These things make it difficult to bring reform to capitalism because it all becomes personal very fast.
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