The American Dream versus The Gospel
Can the “American dream” truly be reconciled with the call for self-sacrifice found in the Christian Gospel? That is the subject of David Brooks’ latest column:
When Europeans first settled this continent, they saw the natural abundance and came to two conclusions: that God’s plan for humanity could be realized here, and that they could get really rich while helping Him do it. This perception evolved into the notion that we have two interdependent callings: to build in this world and prepare for the next.
The tension between good and plenty, God and mammon, became the central tension in American life, propelling ferocious energies and explaining why the U.S. is at once so religious and so materialist. Americans are moral materialists, spiritualists working on matter.
Platt is in the tradition of those who don’t believe these two spheres can be reconciled. The material world is too soul-destroying. “The American dream radically differs from the call of Jesus and the essence of the Gospel,” he argues. The American dream emphasizes self-development and personal growth. Our own abilities are our greatest assets.
But the Gospel rejects the focus on self: “God actually delights in exalting our inability.” The American dream emphasizes upward mobility, but “success in the kingdom of God involves moving down, not up.”
The Christian Gospel compatible with greed? No, certainly not. But must we forsake the ideals encapsulated in “the American dream” to lead lives in accordance with the Christian message?
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May '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
I think the American dream, really, has more to do with independence and self-standing than it does with mere wealth. It's all about being free to move--through the force of one's own moral agency (and with the help of Providence)--from a condition of poverty and servility to one of abundance and responsibility.
The best of the American tradition naturally entails a desire to "give back"--to do good for the society that has provided such marvelous opportunity.
May '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
When it comes to God and America I know these things to be true:
God says we can do His work on 10% of what we make. My government asks for over a third.
God asks each of us to take care of those less fortunate. As such, Americans are the most generous population on the face of the earth. We do not believe that voting for social welfare run by the government relieves us of this obligation.
Edited on Sep 7, 2010 at 6:56pmMay '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
I want to add, though (now that I've read Brook's piece), that I think there's much in what Platt says. I agree with him that there's a basic tension between the true gospel and the so-called "prosperity gospel", and I share his unease with the megachurch phenomenon.
Edited on Sep 7, 2010 at 6:57pmJul '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Oh my. How has someone with such overeducation become a columnist for the New York Times?
Perhaps Mr. Brooks can look to the manifold charities and foundations and Universities that the wealthy have established. How many hundreds of millions of dollars did Carnegie, Rockefeller, and the Mellons distribute to the less fortunate? Did Rockefeller not found Spelman College, the historically black college where Cosby's fictional daughter attended?
Oh, I forgot. The University of Chicago is not considered 'liberal'. Neither is Carnegie Mellon. Did Rockefeller University stop searching for cures for cancer?
Perhaps one day I can write columns without much thought, reflection or research and be paid enough to afford my aerie in the Upper East Side.
Edited on Sep 7, 2010 at 6:58pmAug '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Short answer: no. Particularly since prosperity and innovation have done more to lift the poor and oppressed of the world than even our best intentions have.
I'm reading "Money, Greed, and God" (Jay Richards) right now. It's a fairly well-written explanation of why God and wealth-creation aren't mutually incompatible.
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Adam Smith, please call your office.
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
katievs: I think the American dream, really, has more to do with independence and self-standing than it does with mere wealth. It's all about being free to move--through the force of one's own moral agency (and with the help of Providence)--from a condition of poverty and servility to one of abundance and responsibility.
The best of the American tradition naturally entails a desire to "give back"--to do good for the society that has provided such marvelous opportunity.
You articulated something that was discussed in the sermon at my church this past Sunday. Teaching from a passage of Scripture in the book of Jeremiah, the pastor explained that as Christians we are to use our influence to seek human flourishing around us. This idea of having the agency to effect positive change in our own lives and in the lives of others -- by volunteering, by giving financially, by providing love and support -- struck me as not only resonant with the Gospel, but in some way uniquely American. In many parts of the world, the idea of starting a charity or volunteering one's time to help others seems so foreign.
Jul '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Forgot that Andrew Carnegie helped found the Tuskegee Institute.
Has anyone heard of Carnegie Hall?
Is every professor in TIAA CREF? (Not me, I prefer the Dutch (ING)).
Aug '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
There's an old Jewish saying that poverty is no shame but it isn't a mitzvah. While charity is strongly emphasized (e.g. the commandment to leave the corners of one's fields unharvested so that the poor may gather food from them), gaining wealth is perfectly acceptable. Perhaps, though, these differences in attitudes between Christians and Jews about wealth have contributed to antisemitic attitudes perceiving Jews as overly mone loving (paging Time magazine...).
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
I think that people frequently conflate what Augustine refers to as the Two Cities. Not that there isn't overlap between the two kingdoms, but there is a difference between the sphere of the church and the sphere of society. There is certainly more than a bit of tension between being a Christian and living in a consumerist society such as ours, but I'm not sure there's as much tension between the "American dream" and life as a Christian. As others have said, the American dream is about non-coercion from the state. For many, many, many people, the American dream is about religious freedom.For many, the American dream is about making choices that enable you to help family, friends and the needy. Is this really in conflict with Christianity?
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Mollie Hemingway: As others have said, the American dream is about non-coercion from the state. For many, many, many people, the American dream is about religious freedom.For many, the American dream is about making choices that enable you to help family, friends and the needy. Is this really in conflict with Christianity?
Whether you see the American dreams at odds with the Gospel will of course depend on your definition of the former, as you've rightly pointed out. But I'm curious to hear your take on the concepts of "rugged individualism" and the "self-made man." These ideas, closely related to the somewhat nebulous American dream, seem more difficult to defend as consistent with the Gospel. At least to me. Thoughts?
Feb '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
As a crunchy con, I feel that the American Dream, or at least the materialistic parts of it, are in constant tension with a true serving Christian life.
That is, the more I focus on having a big house, nice cars, ambitious career, etc. the less time I have to spend on my family, much less on serving others in the community. It's simple math and common sense. You can't have everything unlike what the more cynical pushers of the materialistic American Dream would like you to believe. There's nothing really wrong with any of those things in themselves, but you have to pick what is really important to you and realize you may have to give something else up in its place.
I've come to a stage in my life where I'd rather be decumulating than accumulating stuff. I want to be free of the burden of too many things-- to live more simply-- so I and my family can truly be free to serve others when the opportunity arises. But this so far has been more of a desire than a reality in my life.
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Busy System Admin: As a crunchy con, I feel that the American Dream, or at least the materialistic parts of it, are in constant tension with a true serving Christian life.
I don't think that I'd identify myself as a crunchy con, but this statement rings true for me. Serving our own self-interest often comes at the cost of serving God and others.
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Whether you see the American dreams at odds with the Gospel will of course depend on your definition of the former, as you've rightly pointed out. But I'm curious to hear your take on the concepts of "rugged individualism" and the "self-made man." These ideas, closely related to the somewhat nebulous American dream, seem more difficult to defend as consistent with the Gospel. At least to me. Thoughts? · Sep 7 at 7:34pm
It might have to do with your definitions of both! I definitely don't think the self-made man idea is in conflict with Christianity unless we are to believe that Christianity means you can never change your circumstance. But having said that, I remember hearing Chief Justice William Rehnquist (a fellow Lutheran) answer a question about why there weren't more Lutherans in high office. He said it had to do with our contentedness and understanding of vocation -- that we are to serve God where we are at any given time. Of course, this need not mean we avoid high office.
Jun '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Your conspicuous consumption may not be good for you personally, or for your posterity, but it's great for all the people who'll be employed building your mansion, staffing your mansion, making your clothes, your furniture, your cars, your yacht, and supporting all your other expensive hobbies. That's what makes capitalism so great. Pampering yourself, by its nature, supports lots of normal working stiffs, so that taxpayers don't have to.
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
As for "rugged individualism" -- I have always viewed this term in relation to the state. But if it means that you are avoiding serving your neighbor in a non-coerced fashion, then yes this would put it in conflict with Christianity.
Back to the greed issue, prosperity issue, etc. -- Christianity teaches us not to be too concerned about material possessions. Not unconcerned, of course -- just not too concerned. What a radically different message than you get from 5 minutes of television time . . .
Good book on this called The Sacred Santa: Religious Dimensions of Consumer Culture, by Dell DeChant. He argues that Christianity has been replaced by the American religion of consumerism. Oddly compelling and convincing.
Aug '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Yes, and here I think you hit on a big confusion for a lot of people: consumerism isn't the same as freedom or free markets.
Lots of people confuse the two, because a prosperous market makes it materially easier to satisfy consumers' desires. But a prosperous market also rewards delayed gratification and self-denial (saving, investment, sacrificing for one's children, etc). For people to see only the former and not the latter is a form of blindness.
What I've noticed in my own family is that the family members who are more leftist are also noticeably more materialistic, status-conscious, and easily swayed by fashion and advertisement. I don't think that's a coincidence. Perhaps they project their own personal weakness on society at large.
Edited on Sep 7, 2010 at 8:42pmAug '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Diane Ellis, Ed.
I don't think that I'd identify myself as a crunchy con, but this statement rings true for me. Serving our own self-interest often comes at the cost of serving God and others. · Sep 7 at 8:06pm
But on the other hand, the whole point of a market economy is that it forces you to serve others in order to gratify your own self-interest.
While bowing to the necessity of serving others in order to profit may not necessarily change a selfish man's heart, it at least redeems his selfishness externally. And since humans are creatures of habit, being forced to serve others in order to gratify our own selfishness may eventually develop in us the habit of serving others.
Diane Ellis, Ed.
But I'm curious to hear your take on... the "self-made man."
I know you asked for Molly's take on this, but here's mine:
The totally self-made man is economic myth. No free-market economist I have read endorses this myth, even though they all prize individual effort. For one thing, cultural capital matters.
And economies develop because of the greater prosperity of mutual interdependence.
May '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
This reminds me of one of my favorite insights from Pope Benedict XVI. People usually talk about freedom in the negative sense of freedom from -- free from coercion, free from debts, free from abuse, etc. We often fail to think in the positive sense of freedom to -- freedom to excel, freedom to learn, freedom to speak and share, freedom to gather together, and so on.
The U.S. is a wonderful testament to freedom in the positive sense. We have always been a culture that emphasizes individual potential.
Like any culture, ours has elements that are misdirected. Christianity calls for individuals to die to the self to be converted each day, until the final resurrection. The idea is not that we are not ourselves now, but that we are imperfect versions of ourselves. We're disordered. God helps us learn throughout life who each of us, as individuals, is meant to become. Likewise, I expect every culture is forever called to realize its better self.
America is a great nation. I don't hesitate to call our culture superior to most in many respects. But to say we as a culture have unique challenges with Christianity is not unfair.
May '10
Re: The American Dream versus The Gospel
Hang on a sec. I get your point, but distinctions are in order, no? One can have and use wealth (and hence benefit the economy) in an attitude that has nothing to do with self-pampering. I am thinking, for instance, of attention to objective goods and values as opposed to mere subjective satisfaction. I may (having the means) purchase a bigger house on bigger piece of ground not to luxuriate in comfort, but to provide a nobler and more wholesome environment to raise my family in--one more conducive to peace, order, generosity, hospitality; one that allows for an atmosphere rich in art and music and culture, one more beautiful, more surrounded by nature, more worthy, etc.