Money and Faith »

Talking about money in a personal way remains more of a taboo than sex or politics. This seems odd within a Christian context since Jesus addressed topics of money, poverty and wealth more than probably any other concern. For many, money becomes an idol; it certainly has for our culture as we pursue "economic growth" no matter the cost to the overall well-being of God's entire creation. Where money is an idol, "enough" is always more than we have right now, and scarcity becomes the lens through which we see the world. On a personal level this book opens up issues of scarcity and abundance, idolatry and freedom; on a societal level it invites exploration of greater equity and sustainability. On both levels it empowers individuals and groups to practically apply their faith's values. The book seeks to balance a pastoral and prophetic stance while being a practical guide as well. In the ways we relate to and feel about money, we need to experience the nurturing companion-ship of a wise, compassionate pastor or spiritual guide. In some of our society's more powerful assumptions, such as "more is better," "time is money" and "economic growth is an unquestioned societal good," we need to experience the power, strength, anger and call to repentance of an Old Testament prophet. And in the face of great need, inequities, and ecological degradation, we need practical guidance for actions, decisions, and policies that will lead us toward a world where there is enough for all.

Foreword Bill McKibben 9

Introduction

Welcome Michael Schut 12

Overview Michael Schut 14

Enough for All Michael Schut 15

The Personal: Money's Place in Our Lives

I Abundance and Scarcity-How Do You See?

Ministry of Money: Writing Your Money Autobiography 22

The Liturgy of Abundance, the Myth of Scarcity, Walter Brueggemann 25

Scarcity: The Great Lie, Lynne Twist 31

II Demystifying Money-What Is the Stuff Anyway?

How Money Works, Dave Barry 41

What is Money?, David Boyle 45

Origins of Money, David Boyle 47

Some Food We Could Not Eat, Lewis Hyde 48

III What Is Compassion's Call?

Compassion, Henri Nouwen 59

The Call of the Rich Young Man, Ched Myers 61

The Prophetic: Money, Sustainability and the Jubilee

IV Is More (Money/Growth) Better?

The Eight-Hundred Pound Gorilla, Michael Schut 74

Prelude to After Growth, Michael Schut 82

After Growth, Bill McKibben 84

The Ecological and Economic Model and Worldview, Sallie McFague 96

V Corporations Are People Too?

Corporate Personhood, Michael Schut 104

Command and Control, William Greider 105

Breadbasket of Democracy, Ted Nace 117

VI Liberation-Whose Voices Are Rarely Heard?

Globalization: A Choice between Death and Death, Jean-Bertrand Aristide 130

Liberation Theology and Ecology, Leonardo Boff 134

VII What Is the Jubilee?

Jubilee Justice, Maria Harris 140

On Being a Jubilee Church, Rich Lang 149

The Purposeful: How Shall We Then Live?

VIII Practicing Abundance-Sabbath and Tithing

It is Good, Wayne Muller 154

The Gift Must Always Move, Ched Myers 158

The Ultimate Question: Where Is My Security?, K. Killian Noe 164

IX Moving towardJubilee-Investments and Retirement

Investing, the Poor and Social Change, Andy Loving 173

Making Trade Fair for Africa, Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist 180

When Women Decide to Be Unstoppable, Susan Wilkes and Jim Klobuchar 186

Retirement, Money and the Reign of God, Andy Loving 195

X Moving toward Jubilee on a Grand Scale

Re-Inventing the Commons, Peter Barnes 199

Tools for Restructuring the Economy, Lester Brown 209

XI Epilogue

Radical Acceptance, Michael Schut 218

And All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands, Michael Schut 222

Study Guide Michael Schut

How to Use This Material 227

Course Overview 230

If You Have Six-, Eight- or Ten-Weeks 231

Meeting

1 Enough for All 234

2 The Central Problem of Our Lives 239

3 Money Off Its Pedestal 243

4 The Sacramental Use of Money 248

5 Happiness, Externalities and Economic Growth 252

6 Wheat Farmers and Corporate Power 257

7 Economic Globalization-Views from the South 261

8 Jubilee Justice 265

9 Sabbath and Tithing-There Is Enough 269

10 Investments, Retirement and Jubilee 274

11 Jubilee on a Grand Scale 278

12 With Hands and Hearts Wide Open 281

Appendix A About Earth Ministry 285

Appendix B Resources: Read, Study and Act 286

Bibliography 289