Thank you for posting this, I enjoyed reading it. When it comes to religious groups’ position on social justice and economic issues, a good book to read is called The End of Empathy by John Compton. I’m only a hundred pages in so I’m not sure when exactly the switch to ultra conservative positions happened, but in the late 19th and early 20th century, the religious take on these issues were very liberal, especially during the Progressive Era and the Great Depression. Most of the New Deal policies received very strong support from Protestants, Catholics, and Jews, despite some more conservative voices opposing them (which were of course linked to industry). I’m at about the 1950s, where it was still pretty liberal, but I don’t think the conservative switch happened for at least another decade.
I'll check it out! That question has always puzzled me. Elon Musk recently said empathy is a social defect, which flies in the face of every religious gospel I've heard. I can't fathom how someone squares that circle.
Ooooh, another good book is Jesus and John Wayne, which demonstrates the shift from ‘help the poor’ and ‘turn the other cheek’ view of Jesus to a rugged individualistic ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ kind.
thank you so much for posting this. It made my day!! As a former Catholic who attended Catholic high school I long for the 70s when it seemed like the Catholic Church was moving towards being far more open and inclusive. Pope Francis was moving in that direction, but his age and infirmity made it difficult for him to continue. Hopefully Pope Leo can continue the process to a kind and loving Catholic Church.
I'm glad you liked it! I was thrilled to hear Alex say Leo was a 'Pope Francis continuity pick.' That's reassuring the Church is moving towards openess, and Francis wasn't a one-off.
The Catholic Worker had it's place and time, along with Liberation Theology, and Bartolomé de las Casas and certainly Francis and Leo are a vast improvement on Benedict and Pius the XIIth, but their time and purpose has come and it's overdue to be wound down Look, I wanted to be a priest when I was a kid after reading Maryknoll Mag and learning about all the amazing services that were being brought to the poor of the world. But the 'services' they provide, food, comfort, shelter and yes, even eternal salvation are not worth the cost of division, war, insecurity, inequality, etc. Unless a religion is working to make itself obsolete and end it's dependence relationship with individuals, it's not ultimately creating a better world. Just me experience...
If interested, I encourage you to learn some Latin American liberation theology, from Brazil (Gutierrez, Bonino — a Methodist!; ), from El Salvador — where Oscar Romero was murdered. Or in the US. After Dorothy Day, and the Catholic Worker, consider James Cone or Rosemary Radford Reuther. And that’s 50+ yrs ago. There’s been lots done since.
Thank you for posting this, I enjoyed reading it. When it comes to religious groups’ position on social justice and economic issues, a good book to read is called The End of Empathy by John Compton. I’m only a hundred pages in so I’m not sure when exactly the switch to ultra conservative positions happened, but in the late 19th and early 20th century, the religious take on these issues were very liberal, especially during the Progressive Era and the Great Depression. Most of the New Deal policies received very strong support from Protestants, Catholics, and Jews, despite some more conservative voices opposing them (which were of course linked to industry). I’m at about the 1950s, where it was still pretty liberal, but I don’t think the conservative switch happened for at least another decade.
I'll check it out! That question has always puzzled me. Elon Musk recently said empathy is a social defect, which flies in the face of every religious gospel I've heard. I can't fathom how someone squares that circle.
Ooooh, another good book is Jesus and John Wayne, which demonstrates the shift from ‘help the poor’ and ‘turn the other cheek’ view of Jesus to a rugged individualistic ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ kind.
Humankind by Brehman and Empathic Civilisation by Mander have something to say about that opinion. Ah Elon.
thank you so much for posting this. It made my day!! As a former Catholic who attended Catholic high school I long for the 70s when it seemed like the Catholic Church was moving towards being far more open and inclusive. Pope Francis was moving in that direction, but his age and infirmity made it difficult for him to continue. Hopefully Pope Leo can continue the process to a kind and loving Catholic Church.
I'm glad you liked it! I was thrilled to hear Alex say Leo was a 'Pope Francis continuity pick.' That's reassuring the Church is moving towards openess, and Francis wasn't a one-off.
Foot here's mouth...
The Catholic Worker had it's place and time, along with Liberation Theology, and Bartolomé de las Casas and certainly Francis and Leo are a vast improvement on Benedict and Pius the XIIth, but their time and purpose has come and it's overdue to be wound down Look, I wanted to be a priest when I was a kid after reading Maryknoll Mag and learning about all the amazing services that were being brought to the poor of the world. But the 'services' they provide, food, comfort, shelter and yes, even eternal salvation are not worth the cost of division, war, insecurity, inequality, etc. Unless a religion is working to make itself obsolete and end it's dependence relationship with individuals, it's not ultimately creating a better world. Just me experience...
If interested, I encourage you to learn some Latin American liberation theology, from Brazil (Gutierrez, Bonino — a Methodist!; ), from El Salvador — where Oscar Romero was murdered. Or in the US. After Dorothy Day, and the Catholic Worker, consider James Cone or Rosemary Radford Reuther. And that’s 50+ yrs ago. There’s been lots done since.
I would actually self-identify as an (Anglo)-Catholic Marxist. So there, now you know two 😃
Also…hello NSA! (Not that it matters, we’re both fucked as it is)