{"id":33544,"date":"2023-10-19T21:15:46","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T04:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=33544"},"modified":"2023-10-20T16:53:22","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T23:53:22","slug":"how-can-we-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/how-can-we-live\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can We Live?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,<\/em> a key question that author Max Weber raised was, \u201cHow can we live under modern capitalism, which gives priority to the laws of the market over longstanding traditions, ethical values, and personal relationships?\u201d[1]<\/a> That is a very good question for us to ask ourselves today. In an attempt to answer this question and many others, Weber coined the term \u201cProtestant Ethic\u201d to explore the connections between the Protestant Reformation and the rise of modern Capitalism. The relationship between the two is intriguing. Capitalism is a powerful force. One that has greatly impacted the world in which we live in ways often overlooked. Capitalism has not been of benefit to all and leaves us with the uncomfortable tensions of how to use money and the purpose of accumulating wealth. The principles and practices of capitalism have a far reaching impact as we see incredible wealth right along-side devastating poverty.<\/p>\n

It is clear that Weber\u2019s question is rooted in moral and ethical concerns for humanity. Weber\u2019s upbringing certainly impacted his interests in understanding the development of modern day capitalism. Weber was born in 1864 during a time of great social and economic change. He was the son of an ambitious elected city official in Berlin and a well-educated mother who was influenced by mid-century American Unitarian and English Progressive theology. Weber was influenced by the realism and pragmatism of his father while gaining a high regard for the dignity of a life lived by ethical standards and the belief in the worth and uniqueness of every person from his mother.[2]<\/a> His motivation was concern for the sweeping changes that would occur as a result of capitalism. It seems that even within his own household there were tensions that gave rise to his curiosity about how to understand the use of money and the accumulation of wealth.<\/p>\n

In the spirit of Adler and Van Doren, I am noticing a myriad of new words to come to terms with as I read. Among all the new words one clearly stands out. Weber\u2019s choice of the word spirit<\/em> offers a lens in which to view modern day capitalism. Spirit<\/em> opens up a way for me to conceptualize the powerful force of capitalism which has created dramatic and unexpected change to our world in just the last 100 years. I am intrigued by his word choice.<\/p>\n

In Hebrew the word spirit \u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b7 (ru.ach) is translated wind, breath, or mind.[3]<\/a> This word creates images of something powerful, wild, and uncontrollable yet gentle, life giving, and purposeful. Spirit is a life force of energy with a will of its own.<\/p>\n

In English, spirit (noun) means: the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul. An attitude or principle that inspires, animated or pervades thought, feeling, or action. Spirit (verb) means: to animate with fresh ardor or courage; to encourage on or stir up, as an action.[4]<\/a> Here I get the sense that spirit is a guiding, regulating, mediating, and inspiring force with purpose.<\/p>\n

Weber\u2019s use of spirit<\/em> as a term to describe the power and movement of capitalism is appropriate. Capitalism has a spirit and energy of its own. A power leashed into the world that can be used for good or evil. Attempting to capture the movement from a specific protestant ethic it appears Weber did not fully understand the well-intended attempts of Puritan and Protestant ascetics to address the spirit of Capitalism that concerned him.<\/p>\n

Puritan and Protestant responses to capitalism sought to guide the new world realities of changing markets and the impact on society. In Dr. Clark\u2019s dissertation, Evangelicalism and Capitalism: A Reparation and Diagnosis <\/em>he notes that, \u201cReligion gives people something to take hold of, to fund and resource their identities in the face of huge economic and social change.\u201d[5]<\/a> Within the church today we see a spirit of generosity right along-side the prosperity gospel. That is an uncomfortable tension. I have to wonder if some Weber\u2019s overgeneralizations and misunderstandings of key protestant doctrines and practices haven\u2019t contributed to the excesses of capitalism and consumerism we see today. Maybe we need an updated ascetic to govern us. The protestant work ethic, while not a bad thing, has certainly led to some unhelpful mindsets. As Clark notes, \u201cThere was a move by Evangelicals to provide identity and \u2018islands of social care\u2019 within a fast-developing capitalist world, with pressures of social mobility, long life, and the problem of the accumulation of wealth.\u201d[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

I have been in Bali, Indonesia for the past week at our annual pastors and leaders conference. I lived in Bali more than 30-years ago. The development of this island, largely due to tourism, is astounding. It has been decades since I last visited. I don\u2019t recognize much of what I see. To be honest, it makes me a little sad. I have to wonder about the impact. Who has benefitted and who has been left behind. Culturally, what has been lost or changed? Undoubtedly, Bali has been impacted by the spirit of capitalism. I noticed many new churches, American influences like Starbucks, McDonalds, and new shopping malls. None of which exist during my time here.<\/p>\n

I keep coming back to the question Weber posed, \u201cHow can we live under modern capitalism, which gives priority to the laws of the market over longstanding traditions, ethical values, and personal relationships?\u201d During our conference this week we discussed how we can attend to the economic gaps that exist between our churches. Some churches are quite well off while others in rural and undeveloped parts of Southeast Asia are quite poor. Pastors are struggling financially while being faithful to their calling. As leaders, we value collaboration, mutual support, and authentic relationships as we seek to stay on mission addressing the needs of our communities and bring God\u2019s kingdom to a hurting world. I am challenging myself to consider my own personal ascetic as I live with the tensions of the spirit of capitalism while living comfortably in the US knowing that people very dear to me are struggling. What spirit, attitude, and principles will govern my actions as I seek to respond to the needs before me?<\/p>\n

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  1. <\/a> Max Weber and Stephen Kalberg,The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism: The Revised 1920 Edition<\/em>(New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), 11.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. <\/a> Max Weber and Stephen Kalberg,The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism<\/em>, 10.<\/li>\n
    2. <\/a> https:\/\/www.stepbible.org\/<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. <\/a> https:\/\/www.dictionary.com\/browse\/spirit<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. <\/a> Jason Paul Clark, \u201cEvangelicalism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship\u201d (DMIN diss., George Fox University, Newberg, 2018), 116. https:\/\/digitalcommons.georgefox.edu\/gfes\/132<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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          1. <\/a> Jason Paul Clark, \u201cEvangelicalism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship\u201d (DMIN diss., George Fox University, Newberg, 2018), 107-108. https:\/\/digitalcommons.georgefox.edu\/gfes\/132<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            \u00a0<\/sup><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, a key question that author Max Weber raised was, \u201cHow can we live under modern capitalism, which gives priority to the laws of the market over longstanding traditions, ethical values, and personal relationships?\u201d[1] That is a very good question for us to ask ourselves today. In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":184,"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":[2310,1],"tags":[2874],"class_list":["post-33544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctor-of-leadership-3","category-uncategorized","tag-dlgp02-weber-clark","cohort-dlgp02"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33544","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\/184"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33544"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33544\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33567,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33544\/revisions\/33567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}