Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - March 26, 2025
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Faith of Christ and Capitalism, Part 7
  2. All-Creatures.Org Ministry

1. Faith of Christ and Capitalism, Part 7

Capitalism and Christianity seem to be at odds. The Christian call to love one's neighbor as oneself seems to conflict with capitalism's imperative to maximize profit and generate growth. There is no easy resolution to this quandary, but there are possibilities that I think merit serious consideration.

As discussed in Charles Eisenstein's fascinating book Sacred Economics; Money, Gift, & Society in the Age of Transition, there might be ways to retain capitalism's benefits, which include efficient use of goods and services and stimulation of innovation, while avoiding capitalism's harms, such as gross inequalities of wealth, squandered scarce resources, and environmental degradation.

One possibility is currency devaluation. If there were ways to devalue currency, and Eisenstein offers some strategies for doing this, the economy would be focused less on accumulating money because money would lose value over time. Instead, there could be greater emphasis on gifting goods and services, particularly those that cost little to mass produce, such as digital media. The rewards for producers would be more prestige and other kinds of social capital as well as a greater sense of self-worth, rather than the accumulation of money. A difficulty is that, as long as self-worth is tied to money accumulation and as long as reduced wealth is associated with food insecurity, lack of access to health care, and other concerns, people will tend to prefer to trade with other currencies that retain value.

Another possibility is having different communities have different local currencies, which has several attributes. Among them, local currencies encourage local purchasing of goods and services; they can increase local money supplies, which can promote local production and employment; they can offer new pathways toward credit that larger banks would not offer; and the interest from loans stays within the community. However, local currencies would not be useful for purchasing goods and services outside the community, so local currencies could not fully replace national currencies.

Eisenstein also proposes instituting a gift economy in which people give and receive freely. This characterized early hunter-gatherer societies, and those who gave most to the group tended to enjoy high prestige. However, a broad spiritual revolution would be needed for a gift economy to flourish in communities that number more than 100-200 people. A challenge is that, in larger communities, those who receive much would face little face social approbation. Eisenstein suggests that activities that generate public good could be rewarded in the form of gift credits, which could be utilized to meet one's own needs. Gift credits would not reflect marketplace value but rather social utility, such as helping children read.

A gift economy requires a different outlook from a capitalist economy. The capitalist economy presumes that humans are individualists who seek out their own interests. The gift economy sees humans as capable of regarding themselves as intimately connected to each other and to the natural world. This is, ultimately, a spiritual transformation. I will next consider the role that Christianity might play in that transformation.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

2. All-Creatures.Org Ministry

All-Creatures.org Newsletter, March 12, 2025

Harvard guide recommends plant-based diet for cognitive fitness - fossil fuels not the leading cause of climate change according to new paper - elk triumph over ranchers - I am watching [new poem from J.H. Dickinson] - ethical vegans denied protections by Canada court - Christspiracy and animal liberation in the bible - and more...

All-Creatures.org Newsletter, March 19, 2025

The 55th Annual Ringing of the Peace Bell - tips to take the stress out of meal prep - progress in shutting down Woodbridge SeaQuest - the power of envisioning a positive future - spotlight on Vegans of LA foodbank - snakes deserve respect - Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) [new painting from Barry Kent MacKay] - baby elephants in zoos: profit and tragedy - gorilla Oscar Jonesy dies at SF zoo - and more...

All-Creatures.org Newsletter, March 26, 2025

Finding joy in "missing out" on animal products - Tucson bull run cancelled! - South Korea invests in cultivated meat research - how to help vulnerable amphibians - approaches to encourage veganism in animal lovers and others - the growing international hummus market - Wales set to end dog racing! - a tribute to a rescued veal calf - how domestic violence affects pets and how to help - and more...

Do you have things that you would like to see included in future newsletters? Then send it to us at maddie@all-creatures.org.

In the Love of the Lord,
Frank L. Hoffman
All-Creatures.org

and

Kindness,
Tams Nicholson
Executive Director
All-Creatures.org

2025 Newsletters Archive