How Capitalism Misleads the Church

“Whoever has the power to project a vision of the good life and make it prevail has the most decisive power of all….American business, after 1890, acquired such power and…in league with key institutions, began the transformation of American society into a society preoccupied with consumption, with comfort and bodily well-being, with luxury, spending, and acquisition, with more goods this year than last, more next year than this.” — William Leach, Land of Desire: Merchants, Power, and the Rise of a New American Culture (New York: Pantheon Books, 1993), xiii.

But projecting a vision of the good life is the job of the Church, not capitalism. And capitalism will hold onto its hill violently, continuing to seduce and distract the Church into worrying about global warming, terrorism, liberal intolerance, and Islam. But none of those is seriously busy projecting a vision of the good life. And so, the Church misses its true competitor, its more pressing antithesis. In fact, we just go ahead and embrace Mammon as a dear friend, part of our American heritage and identity.

Doug Jones