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JUSTIFICATION AND CONSUMERISM

JUSTIFICATION AND CONSUMERISM . A Dance of Identities. Braaten – article by which church stands or falls. J U S T I F J U S T I C E C A T I O N. WHAT’S AT STAKE?. Consumerism.

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JUSTIFICATION AND CONSUMERISM

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  1. JUSTIFICATION AND CONSUMERISM A Dance of Identities

  2. Braaten – article by which church stands or falls J U S T I F J U S T I C E C A T I O N

  3. WHAT’S AT STAKE?

  4. Consumerism • The effects of equating personal happiness, status or prestige, meaning, and fulfillment or other emotional needs with purchasing material possessions and consumption. • Consumption as the meaning of life or at least the source of happiness. • Not just conspicuous consumption or shopping therapy.

  5. Consumerism • Baudrillard • All purchases signify something socially • Purchases/stuff have symbolic values in relation to other objects • Rootless society is dependent upon accumulating stuff to address needs of comforting suffering, showing control or compensating for the past

  6. Consumer Culture • The primary feature of a consumer culture is the idea that people’s identities are defined by the things they possess and the services that they can afford to purchase. Meaning has become invested in things rather than, say, deeds. There is a perceived link between the accumulation of objects and the degree of happiness one attains.

  7. Consumer Culture cont. • Human needs, including novelty, freedom, meaning, purpose, quest, connections, adventures, play, belonging, self-expression are to be met by stuff and experiences.

  8. Yeah, but…. • Why do we believe this?

  9. Evolutionary roots of Consumerism? • Geoffrey Miller and Gad Saad • Not just genes anymore • Not just for sex anymore • Humans want to display certain desirable social traits and current social norms through certain kinds of credentials, jobs, services and goods. Things are a shortcut in displaying a persona to others

  10. Socially valued traits • Traits make us more attractive to others • Traits give clues to core identity, show value and worth, prestige and status • Relationships with those who value your traits may also provide happiness, wholeness and fulfillment • Use stuff to display traits

  11. Socially valued traits • 6 Traits • First developed in 1960s, caught on in 1980s • Independently discovered by several different groups • Seen across 70 different cultures • Alternative to Myers-Briggs

  12. Socially valued traits-continuum • General Intelligence • Openness • Conscientiousness • Agreeableness • Stability • Extraversion

  13. General Intelligence • One of most desired traits • Generally equates with success in most areas of life • Kellogg’s Smart Start breakfasts • iPods, iPadsi hints at intelligence • Educational credentials even though no discernible difference • Technological gadgets only a 5 year old can work

  14. Openness • Inventive/Curious ---Consistent/Cautious • Accept change and innovation • Novelty is important

  15. Conscientiousness • Efficient/Organized---Easygoing/careless • Trustworthy, reliable, able to delay gratification to pursue long term goals • Will buy high maintenance or fragile items • Can be persuaded to buy expensive stuff – pay for it you will use it.

  16. Agreeableness • Friendly/Compassionate---Cold/Unkind • Kind, co-operative, offers warmth, trust, empathy, willing to work with others • Hybrid cars – up to $6000 extra cost-

  17. Stability (Emotional) • Secure/Confident---Sensitive/Nervous • Mature, adaptable, stress resistant • Best predictor of overall life satisfaction – Miller

  18. Extraversion • Outgoing/energetic---solitary/reserved • Be around people, expressive, active and funny

  19. So what? • Help people understand their actions, responses in consumer culture and not see actions as moral imperfections • Strongly rooted context of powerful cultural impulses that says money is yours and yours alone • Powerful media and advertising • Economy 70% is consumer spending –patriotic duty keep economy strong

  20. Justification and Justice • Heart of the Gospel • Flexible, can be reformulated in new and changing contexts • Paul (old) – How can I be liberated from the Law? • Luther – How can I found a gracious God? • Tillich – How can I find meaning in a meaningless world?

  21. Justification – Pauline forensic model • Righteousness of God –the righteousness God requires • Defined by the law, in particular as moral law • Human Righteousness Human beings are created to be moral agents obedient to the righteousness God expects of us • Sin is a legal matter: violation of God’s will as defined by the law, disobedience, breaking the commandments • Christ fulfilled the law, and his death pays the legal penalty due us as sinners Jesus as God’s plan B, • Forensic: in Christ God declares the guilty not-guilty

  22. Justification – Creation/Identity model • God’s righteousness – being who God is. God’s rule and creative power that brings life, deliverance and salvation. God’s will to create, give life, save • Human righteousness – living in God’s saving power, in relationship with God and others. Being what we are created to be.

  23. Creation – God’s identity • God is creator and owner of everything – God creates, sustains, protects. It is all God’s. • God is a giving God – many gifts and blessings. Trinitarian understanding of God as giving • God wishes world to experience shalom

  24. Justification – Creation model • Human beings created for relationship with God and the world. We live from God’s creative power/love in confident trust/faith. We are righteous when we live from God’s gracious love in Christ, living in confident trust in God’s promise to give life in Christ.

  25. Human righteousness • Being who God created us to be. • Created in the image of God – giving God, relational God, servant God • Created to care, guard, protect creation • Called, redeemed forgiven sinners – not an end but a means to an end – bear witness to God’s reign of shalom, justice, reconciliation • Body of Christ – explore later

  26. Justification – Creation model • Sin is a matter of relationship: placing our faith in created things. •  death because created things have no power to give life • Sin is idolatry, putting our fundamental life orienting trust in something other than God. Luther’s lst commandment, from what do we seek to draw life, security, meaning hope?

  27. Justice and stewardship • Justice – to participate in God’s struggle for life against death, God’s restoration of shalom. • Stewardship as charity is a failed model, to sentimental and individualized, not about our identity • Love of God and neighbor

  28. Justice and Stewardship • “We must make people clearly understand that the land that yields them income is the common property of all and its fruits are for the common welfare. It is therefore absurd for people to think they are not robbers when they do not pass on what they have received to their neighbors. Absurd! Because almost as many folk lack daily food as there are rations locked up for use at home. Really when we administer any necessities to the poor, we give them their own. We do not bestow our goods upon them, we do not fulfill the works of mercy. We discharge the debt of justice. What was given by a common God is only justly used when those who have received it use it in a common good.” ~ Gregory the Great (Pope Gregory I, 590-604)

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