I’ve just finished a book by Max Weber – The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. This book follows the idea that most Christians are capitalists and explores the question, “Is there something wrong with it?”
A short summary of the book? Weber argues that the religious ideas of groups such as the Calvinists played a role in creating the capitalistic spirit. He observes a correlation between being Protestant and being involved in business, and declares his intent to explore religion as a potential cause of the modern economic conditions. He argues that the modern spirit of capitalism sees profit as an end in itself, and pursuing profit as virtuous. Weber’s goal is to understand the source of this spirit. He turns to Protestantism for a potential explanation.
I am not one to quickly jump on the “Capitalist bashing” bandwagon. The people who criticize Capitalism the loudest do so from the perch of the blessings it has afforded. Although I do agree that there are things wrong with the system. You can always have too much of a good thing and anything in excess creates enormous problems. However, Capitalism has changed the world and as I travel in some of the poorest nations in the world I can say that the one thing they are lacking is an economy that would create jobs and change their environment.
Is it virtuous? Weber agues that capitalism was fueled by Protestantism and that eventually, because of their religious beliefs, certain aspects of it became virtuous. In other words, their money became spiritual. They would give it to God or his purposes, etc. As we know, ‘the love of money is the root of all evil.’ So for me, capitalism in and of itself isn’t virtuous, it’s what we do with it that makes it so. Virtue is a moral principle rooted in the heart.
Consumerism is one of the children Capitalism has birthed that has major ramifications for the world’s poor. This is the focus of Dr. Jason Clark, who is the lead mentor in my Doctoral program. I found this video on his blog about Capitalism and Charity by Slovoj Zizek, a Slovenian professor on the Hypocrisy of Conscious Consumerism. I don’t agree with everything he says here, but I must admit his ideas have some fascinating ramifications. He is particularly critical of causal marketing companies like Tom’s Shoes and Starbucks. Many of his ideas have hit me right between the eyes as it relates to what we do at Children’s HopeChest. Everyone working with the poor and involved in charitable work needs to watch this. Would love to hear your thoughts.
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