stuckinstuff

Challenge Stuff Reading Group: The Politics of Consumption

There is a topic for the next Challenge Stuff Reading Group, "The Politics of Consumption."  The piece we'll be reading, and discussing in person, is an excellent short essay by Juliet Schor entitled, "The New Politics of Consumption."  For now, respond to the essay here.  I'll make an announcement about the time and place of the next Challenge Stuff Reading Group in the next week or so.

Juliet Schor, The New Politics of Consumption

Christianity and Creation: A “Challenge Stuff” Reading Group Discussion

First: You are invited.  Invited to participate here online.  And invited to attend in person.

Next: This post serves as the online discussion ground for the Challenge Stuff Reading Group’s first Theme: “Christianity and Creation, The Sustainability of Christian Faith.”  We will respond to Wendell Berry’s essay, “Christianity and the Survival of Creation,” which can be found online and in several books.  The format of the meeting can be found here.  And the meeting will take place at my house (email me to RSVP and get directions) from 7 - 9 p.m.  Please do not bring children as this is an adult only event.  But do bring an open mind and stomach, as we will have lively discussion and scrumptious treats.

For now, please use the comments section of this post to share your thoughts and opinions of Berry’s essay and our Theme.   I’ll get things rolling.

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Are Christians guilty of mistreating the earth?  That’s a question surely to raise the hackles on many Christians’ necks.  And it might engender heckles from many non-Christians’ mouths.  It’s a valid question nonetheless, not so much to single out Christians for blame.  Rather it seems reasonable to single out Christians as examples.  Christians, after all, believe that God created the earth and left it in the care of people.  But are Christians models of environmental stewardship?  Wendell Berry has his doubts.

“I have attempted to read the Bible with these issues [care of Creation] in mind, and I see some virtually catastrophic discrepancies between biblical instruction and Christian behavior.  I don’t mean disreputable Christian behavior, either.  The discrepancies I see are between biblical instruction and allegedly respectable Christian behavior.”  He then issues his indictment, “You cannot know that life is holy if you are content to live from economic practices that daily destroy and diminish its possibility.”

So is he right?