I must admit that I felt a little intimidated by the thought of reading Dr. Jason Swan Clark\u2019s Dissertation. It felt weird to read his work and write about it, not sure why but it was not a task that I was anxious to complete. Perhaps it\u2019s his over 6-foot stature or maybe the English accent, Dr. Jason Swan Clark powerfully commands a space and for the weak at heart, he may seem a bit scary. His physical presence is a bit deceiving because he speaks with kindness in his voice and is the nicest man, yet I was keenly aware of the unique situation it creates when you write about the work of a man that will have a significant say on the conferring of your degree. Honestly, it caused me a bit of a pause and I was hesitant to go deeper. I also knew that he had read and written extensively about D.W. Bebbington, so I was not rushing to read his book either.
\n I finally leaned into what I know works for me. My process is always to try to read the material through my own lens while attempting to understand the author\u2019s intent yet also finding a correlation to my research. I approach the reading with this question in my head, \u201cHow can this help my research?\u201d. I was struck immediately by the two terms that I have been actually struggling with and if I\u2019m being completely honest, motivated my research topic: Capitalism and Evangelical. Quite naturally, my anxiety and intimidation dissipated slightly as I began Chapter 2 of Dr. Clark\u2019s Dissertation and read, he would be providing definitions for Capitalism and Evangelical. Capitalism and Evangelical are terms that arise often in conversations, directly or as an undercurrent, when I talk about the experiences of Black Women in White Religious Spaces. The complexity of how these two terms intersect was amplified during the last two Presidential Elections. I learned a great deal about what truly lies in the hearts of people that I had shared quality time with, in Christian Spaces (Christian K-8 School and Ladies Bible Study). Perhaps that most heart-breaking comment that I received from a once dear friend. When I asked her how she could support views that were damaging, she responded, \u201cI vote for my wallet not my heart, \u2018The Almighty Dollar\u2019 rules\u201d! Our relationship has never been the same, which is quite complicated because our kids are still good friends, The term \u201cThe Almighty Dollar\u201d has always troubled me. Almighty is defined as having \u201cunlimited power: omnipotent, as God\u201d(1). It never made sense to refer to money in this manner. By using this term, my ex dear friend showed me where her values lie. She would place the need for money over her \u201cstrong\u201d evangelical values. My first thought was \u201cFor the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.\u201d(2) My second thought was that capitalism seems to crash against the strongest of values even Evangelical. And this interaction was the impetus for my research.
\nDr. Clark uses a combination of authors to help define capitalism. Perhaps the best is a definition quoted in Dr. Clark\u2019s writing is by Nichloas Townsend, he states, \u201cthe meaning of capitalism is given precisely by reference to capital, the financial resources invested in a business and the asset they purchase. In that strict or literal sense, \u2018capitalism\u2019 names a form of business in which the objective of making return on capital overrides others and so determines what the business does.\u201d(3) The objective is making the return, and it overrides all other things. My heart sank a bit as I processed that.
\nI acknowledge that I have often and still do associate the term Evangelical with Conservative values\/views. I was open to embracing a different perspective. Bebbington describes Evangelical Religion as having four qualities that help form the priorities that are the basis of Evangelicalism. He states:
\n\u201cThere are four qualities that have been the special marks of Evangelical religion: conversionism, belief that lives need to be changed; activism, the expression of the gospel in effort; biblicism, a particular regard for the Bible; and what may be called crucientrism, a stress on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Together they form a quadrilateral of priorities that is the basis of Evangelicalism. \u201c(4)
\nThis quadrilateral theory that is different from what I have viewed as Evangelical (I am told by Pastor Adam Harris that Wesley\u2019s Quadrilateral Theory and also Richard Rohr\u2019s Triangular Theory are both worth researching). Bebbington\u2019s theory is not only digestible, but it is beautiful. Believing the lives will be changed by Christ, living the Gospel, regarding the Bible and acknowledging that Christ died for our sins. YES! All of this is the basis of living a life that pleasing to God, loving our neighbors, being changed by Christ. I don\u2019t know how money- capitalism got mixed up in this.
\nI wonder if the answer lies in the belief that working hard (which has become code for gaining wealth) is somehow tied to our salvation. I found this passage in Bebbington intriguing. \u201cA converted character would work hard, save money and assist his neighbour. The line between those who had undergone the experience and those who had not was the sharpest in the world. It marked the boundary between a Christian and a pagan.\u201d (5) This implies that a person converted is to work hard and assist his neighbor.
\nI admit that I have not fully reconciled these issues. I am amazed by how many disagreements, false judgements, biases, and wrongdoings can be traced back to money and\/or religion.
\nIf you have time, I invite you to think about these questions:
\n1.\tAre you defined by your (Christian) walk or your account balance?
\n2.\tDo you respect or add more value to the views of the wealthy over the views of the poor?
\n3.\tDoes economic gain determine how you vote and where you worship?
\n4.\tDo you believe that EVERYONE is your neighbor?
\nI don\u2019t expect answers on this public forum, but I thought it was important to pose the questions. This week\u2019s readings left me with more questions than answers, Loved Ones!<\/p>\n
1.www.Dictionary.com
\n 2.\u201cBible Gateway Passage: 1 Timothy 6:10 – English Standard Version,\u201d Bible Gateway, accessed October 6, 2023,
\n https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=1+Timothy+6%3A10&version=ESV.
\n 3.Nicholas Townsend, \u201cTranscending the Long Twentieth Century\u201d in Kidwell, Theology and Economics, 204.
\n 4.David W. Bebbington, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s (London: Routledge, 2005), 2-3.
\n 5.Ibid., 5.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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