In recent years, especially after the start of the financial crisis, people all over the world have become more and more worried about the enormous influence of economic factors on their lives. On the level of politics, capitalistic interests seem to get out of control. In the ongoing presidential election campaign in the U.S., economic issues play a major role in the candidates’ canvassing. At the same time, religious beliefs and conflicts seem to become more important in political debates. Political leaders use expressions of their faith to gain votes from certain sections of the population. A March 2012 study by the Pew Research Center found that in the U.S. “[a] plurality of the public (38%) says that there has been too much expression of religious faith and prayer from political leaders.” In general, the influence of economic as well as religious issues seems to have gained influence, especially in U.S. politics. Thus, the question arises in how far politics, capitalism and religion are interrelated.
In his essay “The Market as God,” Harvey Cox (1999) establishes a connection between these aspects by comparing capitalism to a religion. He argues that the principles of the free market are similar to certain religious concepts. Cox claims that the so called Market God has three typical divine attributes: omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. Arlie Russell Hochschild takes up this idea and contends that there is a “sense of the sacred” (2003: 147) in what she calls the religion of capitalism (146). Both Cox (1999) and Hochschild (2003: 148) agree that capitalism functions as a rival religion against the traditional religions like Christianity and Judaism.
As mentioned above, in the course of the ongoing global financial crisis, it has become clear that politicians in nearly all governments are deeply involved in economic affairs and processes. The New York Times article “Protestors Against Wall Street” (2011) refers to the “elected officials’ hunger for campaign cash from Wall Street.” At the same time, a large number of U.S. politicians are outspoken and convinced Christians and even bring their religious points of view into political debates. If the so called Market God and Christianity are regarded as rival religions, this intermingling of economic and religious interests in politics seems highly illogical.
Table of Contents
1. The Clash between Christian World Views and Capitalism in U.S. Politics
Objective and Thematic Focus
The essay explores the inherent contradictions between traditional Christian values and the contemporary practices of capitalism within the context of U.S. politics. It examines how politicians who claim to be Christians often act in ways that are incompatible with their faith by prioritizing the "religion of the market," ultimately questioning the integrity and consistency of these political leaders.
- The conceptualization of capitalism as a rival religion ("The Market as God")
- Conflicts between Christian and capitalistic notions of sacrifice and salvation
- The influence of financial institutions and lobbying on political decision-making
- The potential for a "reformation" of the economic system based on ethical considerations
Excerpt from the Book
A major contradiction between Christianity and the “religion” of capitalism is the concept of sacrifice.
Christians are not asked to make any material sacrifices as they believe that Jesus’ death on the cross was God’s ultimate sacrifice to humankind. Among other Christian theologians, Martin Luther claimed that people have to spend time reading the Bible, contemplating God and living their faith in order to reach salvation in the afterlife. By contrast, the so called Market God asks for a completely different type of sacrifice. According to Hochschild (2003: 148), capitalism “calls for sacrifice through long hours of work, and offers its blessings through commodities.” People are expected to work in order to increase their standard of living. Material wealth is regarded as capitalism’s form of salvation (Hochschild 2003: 148).
This means that the “religion” of capitalism and Christianity are incompatible as they have conflicting ideas of how people should spend their time. In every day life, every person in the Western industrialized world is involved in the practices of capitalism and its demands (i.e. long working hours and consumer stress). Hochschild (2003: 147) points out that these demands often compete with the traditional rituals of community and family. Thus, the sacrifices demanded by the “religion” of capitalism interfere with the practices of the Christian religion. As people have to work all day and spend long hours in the mall, they do not have time to reflect on their faith. In the case of politicians, who are much more involved in economic affairs than the average citizen, e.g. through lobbyism or election campaigns, this leads to the conclusion that they do not have the time and potential to seriously pursue their religious virtues.
Summary of Chapters
1. The Clash between Christian World Views and Capitalism in U.S. Politics: This chapter analyzes how the interplay of economic pressures and religious rhetoric creates inconsistencies in U.S. political conduct, specifically by treating the market as a divine entity that demands sacrifices contrary to Christian ethics.
Keywords
Capitalism, Christianity, U.S. Politics, Market God, Sacrifice, Financial Crisis, Reformation, Ethics, Religion, Lobbying, Political Integrity, Stewardship, Commodities, Social Responsibility, Wealth
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this essay?
The essay explores the friction between Christian moral values and the systemic demands of capitalistic structures as observed in the political landscape of the United States.
What are the central themes of the work?
Key themes include the comparison of capitalism to a religion, the conflict regarding sacrifice and salvation, and the moral inconsistency of politicians who operate under both religious and market-driven influences.
What is the central research question?
The work investigates the extent to which U.S. politics, capitalism, and religion are interrelated, and whether politicians can reconcile their religious claims with their participation in market-centric practices.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The author employs a comparative analytical approach, utilizing theories from Harvey Cox and Arlie Russell Hochschild to frame capitalism as a secular religion to highlight internal contradictions in political actions.
What is the focus of the main body?
The main body examines the differences in the concept of sacrifice, the rivalry between Christian world views and market logic, and the historical parallel to the Reformation as a potential model for economic reform.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Important keywords include Capitalism, Christianity, U.S. Politics, Market God, and Reformation.
How is the "Market God" defined in the text?
The "Market God" is described as a construct possessing divine attributes such as omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, which demands material sacrifices from politicians and citizens alike.
Why does the author argue that politicians are untrustworthy?
The author suggests that politicians act hypocritically when they perform as devoted Christians while simultaneously engaging in economic practices, such as providing bailouts, that prioritize market interests over Christian tenets.
- Quote paper
- Anna Poppen (Author), 2012, The Clash between Christian World Views and Capitalism in U.S. Politics, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/278567
