{"id":25736,"date":"2020-02-06T08:56:09","date_gmt":"2020-02-06T16:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=25736"},"modified":"2020-02-06T08:56:09","modified_gmt":"2020-02-06T16:56:09","slug":"auri-sacra-fames","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/auri-sacra-fames\/","title":{"rendered":"Auri Sacra Fames"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Talking doesn\u2019t come easy for me. Thinking, at times, can be quite overwhelming and attaching spontaneous vocalizations to thoughts has never been less than a challenge. When I observe or experience an injustice, I want to say something, I just don\u2019t know how or what to say. The feelings (immensity of emotion) are there, as well as a willingness toward action. However, the words are in a mix swirling in clouds above me. And, the words along with the depth of emotion could bring such clarity to the situation! I want to be clear with regards to what I believe in. I want to be able to articulate clearly a better way than one that oppresses.<\/p>\n

Cognitive Dissonance Theory: suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and behavior in harmony and avoid disharmony (or dissonance). This is known as the Principle of Cognitive Consistency. [1]<\/p>\n

Finding words to describe the problem in our midst is difficult. Our increasing dependency on the system that we are devoted to in our labour and in our consumerism, is a problem and there is a dissonance in this for me. There is a reciprocity in our life together as commodities: the building of our intellects, our credibility, employability, status and we are losing ourselves in this, the endeavour to live like kings and queens. And, if we do not produce with efficiency, we are replaceable. Who will offer us more for what we have to offer? Dissonance. How this attitude of capitalism has even affected the integrity of our families. Compromise is offered with everything that one has to give on the table; anything for just a little bit more. Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount, \u2018No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.\u2019[2]. There seems to be an intentional distraction, generating a soul-numbing confusion that gives energy to this system, that somehow harmony will come through compromise, consonance through dissonance.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuod non mortalia pectora coges, auri sacra fames.\u201d from Virgil’s, Aeneid.<\/em><\/p>\n

Translation: \u2018to what lust do you not drive mortal hearts, you accursed hunger for gold\u2019.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The etiology of Capitalism is the focus of Max Weber\u2019s work in Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism<\/em>. His father, a liberal politician and his mother, a devout Calvinist, Weber was well-primed to deliver an informed critical evaluation on the connection between Protestantism and the rise and ethos of Capitalism. [3] Weber, in his book, sought to illuminate the movement through Protestantism of the ascetic life into one\u2019s professional life and with this, much the same dogmatic attitudes that were ascribed to religious living. This book was written to enlighten the origins and tenets of Capitalism as derivate of an ever-reforming Christianity and thereby attribute certain spiritual justification to its integrity. How much are we willing to compromise with regards to who we have been made to be (both individually and corporately), in order for more? Jesus, who on a number of occasions surprised people with his ability for magical production, turning what seemed like insufficient amounts into exceedingly vast amounts, declared to a captive audience \u2018what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?\u2019 [4].<\/p>\n

In his article, Capitalism as Religion and Religious Pluralism: An Approach from Liberation Theology,\u00a0<\/em>Jung Mo Sung refers to the confrontation of Christianity with Capitalism as liberation from the gods of oppression. He writes with evident disdain, \u2018under the guise of modern atheism, secularization of society\u2019s public sphere, and rational science, with the pretense of ethical neutrality and methodological atheism, capitalism was able to create its own legitimacy, which, for lack of a better term, let\u2019s call religious\u2019 [5]. There are false gods and teachings all over the place in Capitalism and unfortunately, these have infiltrated our church communities.<\/p>\n

Weber also refers to the pietistic position that Capitalism develops of its adherents. He reviews the position and mission of the Christian in the world through the lens of Capitalism that \u2018God requires social achievement of the Christian because He wills that social life shall be organized according to His commandments, in accordance with that purpose.\u2019 [6]. Ultimately, Weber associates social achievement with \u2018labour in a calling which serves the mundane life of the community.\u2019 [6].<\/p>\n

Positions within organizations and the pursuit of professional advancement (aka climbing the \u2018proverbial\u2019 ladder) can be justified by the ambitious labourer in the reference of inspiration by calling, an idea originating with Martin Luther during the Reformation (sometime after 1517) \u2018as a divine ordinance\u2019 [6]. Butler-Bowdon, in his review of Weber\u2019s book deems that \u2018If you have a \u2018calling\u2019 or a sense of duty in the work you do, then your performance naturally gains an extra, powerful dimension.\u2019 [3]. Calling is motivational, not only adding meaning to work but also, a kind of spirituality.The sanctification of the workplace, \u2018where your spiritual energies could be expressed, then work could be your salvation.\u2019 [3]. The context, sense of purpose, community and \u2018salvation\u2019 that the workplace offers its labourers could be comparable to the common western religious establishment. According to firmly rooted tenets of Capitalism, perhaps the Church is the competition? How has the Church responded to this challenge? The Church has been consumed by Capitalism.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Weber regards \u2018intense piety with business acumen\u2019 [6] as the cornerstone of many great fortunes [3]. Today, who is sought after to lead Church communities or who is the one preferred or set apart as \u2018called\u2019 to serve in Church leadership? I have heard prayers for God to lead a \u2018businessman\u2019 to come and lead a Church community. I don\u2019t know what to think about that. The idea confuses me deeply. And, once again, I\u2019m left scrambling for words to say in a moment that needs clarity and direction. Actually, a part of me would prefer to run to the hills, jump ship and get off this grid. However, there is a calling that keeps me. God, help me. God, help us. For now, I\u2019m thankful to listen and at least begin to understand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bibliography<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1] McLeod, Saul. \u201cCognitive Dissonance\u201d. Simply Psychology. Updated 2018. https:\/\/www.simplypsychology.org\/cognitive-dissonance.html<\/a><\/p>\n

[2] Matthew 6:24. New International Version.<\/p>\n

[3] Butler-Bowdon, Tom. \u201cBook review: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, by Max Weber.\u201dCityWire: Funds Insider. November 9, 2008. https:\/\/citywire.co.uk\/funds-insider\/news\/book-review-the-protestant-ethic-and-the-spirit-of-capitalism-by-max-weber\/a319748<\/a><\/p>\n

[4] Mark 8:36. New International Version.<\/p>\n

[5] Sung, Jung Mo. “Capitalism as Religion and Religious Pluralism: An Approach from Liberation Theology.” Buddhist-Christian Studies 34 (2014): 155-65. Accessed February 6, 2020. www.jstor.org\/stable\/24801361<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[6] Weber, Max. Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Routledge, 2001. ProQuest Ebook Central, http:\/\/ebookcentral.proquest.com\/lib\/georgefox\/detail.action?docID=242182<\/a>.\u00a0Created from georgefox on 2020-02-01 10:51:11.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Talking doesn\u2019t come easy for me. Thinking, at times, can be quite overwhelming and attaching spontaneous vocalizations to thoughts has never been less than a challenge. When I observe or experience an injustice, I want to say something, I just don\u2019t know how or what to say. The feelings (immensity of emotion) are there, as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":134,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[388,1110],"class_list":["post-25736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-capitalism","tag-spirit","cohort-lgp10"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/134"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25736"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25740,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25736\/revisions\/25740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}