4 ms·

Looking at the history of religious thought in the US, it's not the Protestant work ethic per se, but in large part the "prosperity gospel" or prosperity theolo

by kaitai 8y ago

Looking at the history of religious thought in the US, it's not the Protestant work ethic per se, but in large part the "prosperity gospel" or prosperity theology [1] -- this belief that God will reward the right kind of Christians with material wealth. There are strong currents in Protestantism that posit that rewards are for the afterlife and that one may have to endure poverty in this earthly life and that's ok. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_theology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_theology

sonnyblarney 8y ago
It's cultural and more pragmatic. Those who work hard, a positive outlook, maintain themselves and their families, are resourceful ... will likely be healthy and abundant. The farmer who idles away doing not much will have a bad crop. The farmer who is responsible and diligent, mends his fences, ploughs well, keeps his equipment clean and proper and minds the livestock ... will likely do well. Except in case of disaster of course, and then maybe some kind of metaphysical excuses might come into play!
- icantdrive55 8y ago
  My only gripe is everyday the system seems more rigged. The farmer can work their hands to the bone, but still can't compete with the wealthy farmers surrounding their farm. Are the wealthy farmers just better workers? I get what you are saying, but it was probally more relavant 40 years ago, at least in the USA? And the wealthy always go back to their humble beginnings. I've only heard one, or two wealthy boys admit; without daddy's money, I'd probally be just scraping by. I find it very depressing. And yes--there's the occasional Horatio Alger. If I had a child, I would try to steer them into protected parts of the economy--like a doctor. Actually, with my bad genes, I'm glad I never had a child.
- tralarpa 8y ago
  > Except in case of disaster of course, and then maybe some kind of metaphysical excuses might come into play! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1755_Lisbon_earthquake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1755_Lisbon_earthquake
- shoo 8y ago
  > Looking at the history of religious thought in the US, it's not the Protestant work ethic per se, but in large part the "prosperity gospel" or prosperity theology [1] -- this belief that God will reward the right kind of Christians with material wealth. > Except in case of disaster of course, and then maybe some kind of metaphysical excuses might come into play! there's a particularly distressing variation of this kind of belief that, upon hearing news that a terrible disaster has stricken a distant country, killing tens of thousands, concludes that those victims must necessarily have deserved such a fate -- by not living life according to the well-understood principles, or not worshipping the correct god. that conclusion is perhaps a reasonable and logical one given belief in enough axioms like "there is an omnipotent god", "if we live a certain way god will reward us", "the universe is generally fair".
  - mrec 8y ago
    > that conclusion is perhaps a reasonable and logical one given belief in enough axioms like "there is an omnipotent god", "if we live a certain way god will reward us", "the universe is generally fair". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-world_hypothesis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-world_hypothesis
  - sonnyblarney 8y ago
    " upon hearing news that a terrible disaster has stricken a distant country, killing tens of thousands, concludes that those victims must necessarily have deserved such a fate " This happens, but it's barely a thing. I've never seen or heard of such a thing in real life, it's something you only hear about on CNN. Services in mainline Churches don't really ever go into this kind of thing, the congregation would find it as wacky as you or I would.
    - shoo 8y ago
      Yeah, I'm not arguing that it's a common reaction
internet555 8y ago
Which is funny because when I examine the writings of some Christian saints (e.g. St Teresa, Catholic in this case) they say things like (paraphrase) “try not to laugh at Christians who want you to pray for them to get money for being completely insane, they’re buying our food so you have to even if they are ridiculous” and then talk about how desire for immense suffering is a sign of spiritus progress

by kaitai 8y ago

sonnyblarney 8y ago

It's cultural and more pragmatic. Those who work hard, a positive outlook, maintain themselves and their families, are resourceful ... will likely be healthy and abundant. The farmer who idles away doing not much will have a bad crop. The farmer who is responsible and diligent, mends his fences, ploughs well, keeps his equipment clean and proper and minds the livestock ... will likely do well. Except in case of disaster of course, and then maybe some kind of metaphysical excuses might come into play!

icantdrive55 8y ago
My only gripe is everyday the system seems more rigged. The farmer can work their hands to the bone, but still can't compete with the wealthy farmers surrounding their farm. Are the wealthy farmers just better workers? I get what you are saying, but it was probally more relavant 40 years ago, at least in the USA? And the wealthy always go back to their humble beginnings. I've only heard one, or two wealthy boys admit; without daddy's money, I'd probally be just scraping by. I find it very depressing. And yes--there's the occasional Horatio Alger. If I had a child, I would try to steer them into protected parts of the economy--like a doctor. Actually, with my bad genes, I'm glad I never had a child.
tralarpa 8y ago
> Except in case of disaster of course, and then maybe some kind of metaphysical excuses might come into play! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1755_Lisbon_earthquake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1755_Lisbon_earthquake
shoo 8y ago
> Looking at the history of religious thought in the US, it's not the Protestant work ethic per se, but in large part the "prosperity gospel" or prosperity theology [1] -- this belief that God will reward the right kind of Christians with material wealth. > Except in case of disaster of course, and then maybe some kind of metaphysical excuses might come into play! there's a particularly distressing variation of this kind of belief that, upon hearing news that a terrible disaster has stricken a distant country, killing tens of thousands, concludes that those victims must necessarily have deserved such a fate -- by not living life according to the well-understood principles, or not worshipping the correct god. that conclusion is perhaps a reasonable and logical one given belief in enough axioms like "there is an omnipotent god", "if we live a certain way god will reward us", "the universe is generally fair".
- mrec 8y ago
  > that conclusion is perhaps a reasonable and logical one given belief in enough axioms like "there is an omnipotent god", "if we live a certain way god will reward us", "the universe is generally fair". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-world_hypothesis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-world_hypothesis
- sonnyblarney 8y ago
  " upon hearing news that a terrible disaster has stricken a distant country, killing tens of thousands, concludes that those victims must necessarily have deserved such a fate " This happens, but it's barely a thing. I've never seen or heard of such a thing in real life, it's something you only hear about on CNN. Services in mainline Churches don't really ever go into this kind of thing, the congregation would find it as wacky as you or I would.
  - shoo 8y ago
    Yeah, I'm not arguing that it's a common reaction

internet555 8y ago

Which is funny because when I examine the writings of some Christian saints (e.g. St Teresa, Catholic in this case) they say things like (paraphrase) “try not to laugh at Christians who want you to pray for them to get money for being completely insane, they’re buying our food so you have to even if they are ridiculous” and then talk about how desire for immense suffering is a sign of spiritus progress