Michael Moore is a polarizing figure. Just insert his name into any civil conversation and watch the level of civility decline. Whether he is railing on the health-care system, the gun-culture that may or may not have contributed to the Columbine shootings, or the foreign policy decisions of the Bush administration, Moore is controversial.
I have not seen Moore’s new documentary-movie: “Capitalism: A Love Story,” but there seems to be an interesting religious dimension to the whole thing. Moore apparently argues that the teachings of Jesus and capitalism are incompatible. Would Jesus refuse to heal a sick man because he had a pre-existing condition? This kind of language is bound to tick people off.
At Progressive Revival, Paul Rauschenbush reviews Moore’s approach. Rauschenbush briefly traces that history of the WWJD movement and then offers some praise for the film:
The real value of the film “Capitalism: A Love Story” is that Mr. Moore turns the spotlight on places in America of suffering and degradation that we would rather ignore. Some of the scenes of eviction are too painful to watch and your heart aches for the people in their struggles. This is where the true Christian message finds its most potent voice as it is in those very struggles where we find Christ, and it is in those places that Christians must serve. Jesus is not in the houses of the wealthy and the comfortable, he is in the suffering cries and crisis of the poor. If the church should be anywhere, it is there proclaiming release to the captives and redemption of the oppressed.
But Rauschenbush also echoes the kind of criticism often levied against anti-capitalist pundits like Moore:
Moore’s film isn’t clear what system he is suggesting to replace capitalism. Instead of socialism he suggests democracy (a system of governance for which an editor from the Wall Street Journal has stated his distaste earlier in the film.) But does democracy cover it? Moore promotes small, self owned cooperative businesses, safeguarded by a supportive government that provides for the basic needs (rights) of the population. But Mr. Moore’s answer to the problem of capitalism is never completely clear. He seems happy with leaving it to the democratic process to come up with the solutions.
The bottom line is that we are stuck with capitalism–an economic system that celebrates the dignity and creative spirit of individuals while at the same time promoting self-interest and a version of human happiness that more often than not runs counter to the teachings of Jesus.
I look forward to seeing Moore’s movie.
NOTE: For more on Moore’s movie, check out Phil Sinitiere’s recent post over at Religion and American History.
It is true nobody really knows what to do about capitalism because it has become so “natural” to us.
So “natural” that it is virtually impossible to even begin to imagine or do anything different.
It is the invisible cultural medium (the medium IS the message) in which we are totally immersed or swim. Just like water is for fish.
It is created and reinforced 24/7 by TV. TV rules to here!
We ARE the people depicted in the Matrix Trilogy.
Trapped in the TV created consumerist collective trance of the social machine–which IS destroying everything.
We are quite literally consuming our-selves and the entire planet to death.
ALL of our “communications”, including all of what is usually called “religion” help to reinforce the collective trance. This is especially true of right-wing “religion”.
Where then does one find the Red Pill?
Or a NEO-like figure who can undergo the necessary (heroic) transformative process or ordeal by which to break the spell at its core?