In my Master of Divinity program I wrote a paper entitled, “What is the place of work in the Christian Life?” That paper was a reflection on Lee Hardy’s book, The Fabric of This World: Inquiries into Calling, Career Choice and the Design of Human Work.
While Hardy’s work began with an examination of Greek thought in regards to work and leisure, as represented by the works Plato and Aristotle, a contemporary piece might begin with Working, by Studs Terkel, moving from work into theology, as opposed to moving from philosophy and theology into work. And, the people whose stories Terkel recorded in his work hardly describe a human activity that could be the subject of soaring theology. Hardy even acknowledges in his book, “If the interviews conducted …show more content…
• How does technology affect a Christian theology of vocation?
• What part does organized labor play in the shaping of a Christian theology of vocation? All of those questions assume the United States for their geographic context. But, the context could be expanded to examine whether the possibility of a Christian theology of work in the United States comes at the expense of other contexts. Is dehumanized or desacralized work merely exported? Does a Christian theology of vocation in the United States depend on privilege?
“Is a Christian theology of work or vocation even possible?” Still another way to look at this question, and one that will provide the initial organization of my paper, is to describe the historically significant theologies of vocation, such as Luther’s. Then, those theologies will be reexamined and/or reinterpreted within the given context to provide perhaps a better fit for the current political and economic circumstances.
In addition to Martin Luther, another “Lutheran” will influence the perspective of this paper, “We have for once learnt to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspective of the outcast, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed, the …show more content…
A preferential option will be given to the poor for the perspective of this paper. Relational theologies will be privileged over others.
“Is a Christian theology of work or vocation even possible?” Finally, in seeking to answer this question the author hopes to remember to be theological and not polemical. The ultimate purpose of the proposed paper is to provide the Church with a means for deeper theological reflection and a means for discerning a more faithful discipleship. The purpose of this paper is also pastoral. How, then, should pastors shepherd the flock toward Right Livelihood and discerning a call
While Hardy’s work began with an examination of Greek thought in regards to work and leisure, as represented by the works Plato and Aristotle, a contemporary piece might begin with Working, by Studs Terkel, moving from work into theology, as opposed to moving from philosophy and theology into work. And, the people whose stories Terkel recorded in his work hardly describe a human activity that could be the subject of soaring theology. Hardy even acknowledges in his book, “If the interviews conducted …show more content…
• How does technology affect a Christian theology of vocation?
• What part does organized labor play in the shaping of a Christian theology of vocation? All of those questions assume the United States for their geographic context. But, the context could be expanded to examine whether the possibility of a Christian theology of work in the United States comes at the expense of other contexts. Is dehumanized or desacralized work merely exported? Does a Christian theology of vocation in the United States depend on privilege?
“Is a Christian theology of work or vocation even possible?” Still another way to look at this question, and one that will provide the initial organization of my paper, is to describe the historically significant theologies of vocation, such as Luther’s. Then, those theologies will be reexamined and/or reinterpreted within the given context to provide perhaps a better fit for the current political and economic circumstances.
In addition to Martin Luther, another “Lutheran” will influence the perspective of this paper, “We have for once learnt to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspective of the outcast, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed, the …show more content…
A preferential option will be given to the poor for the perspective of this paper. Relational theologies will be privileged over others.
“Is a Christian theology of work or vocation even possible?” Finally, in seeking to answer this question the author hopes to remember to be theological and not polemical. The ultimate purpose of the proposed paper is to provide the Church with a means for deeper theological reflection and a means for discerning a more faithful discipleship. The purpose of this paper is also pastoral. How, then, should pastors shepherd the flock toward Right Livelihood and discerning a call