Capitalism vs. Creation Spirituality Resolve (C.S.R.): A Tete-a-tete of Two Cultural Consciousness

This research work argues that religious conviction is contributory to the making of the culture of Capitalism in the West. This was presented by annotating Max Weber’s Sociology of Religion. There, the study presents Capitalism’s cultural values influencing the behavior and attitude of the modern man. From here, the paper establishes how the values of Capitalism, in the global extent, became the main culprit in the destruction of the ecological system. To see both sides of the story, the paper examines how capitalists respond to this environmental crisis created mainly by them. At this point, the paper argues why the ‘method’ of most economic experts, including those of the philanthrocapitalists, fails in resolving the problem of sustainability vis-à-vis environmental wellbeing. After discoursing on what Capitalism has done and the illeffects it has produced, the paper presents a dialectic between Capitalism and Creation spirituality. There it argues why Creation spirituality, reflected from the different faith traditions, becomes the appropriate cultural consciousness that serves as antidote to the environmental malaise caused by Capitalism. While a synthesis between the two opposing values of each spheres could be made using a dialectical framework, the paper opts instead to take the position of Creation spirituality. The paper points out that the way to counteract the “colonizing” position of Capitalism is for religion to take charge. In the end, the paper argues that only in paradigm-shift where the position of Creation spirituality is taken, that genuine solution can be achieved in this pressing environmental crisis. Lastly, the paper recommends to utilize the principles and values of Creation spirituality via incorporation of it in religious academic curricula. Likewise, the study bids the same in the wider sphere of interreligious relations and communications that  religious leaders, preachers and teachers should consider as a course of action to take. ReferencesBakan, J. (2004). The Corporation: The pathological pursuit of profit and power. NY: Free Press.Bhaktivedanta Vedabase. Retrieved from www.vedabase.com/en/bg/11Bowker, J. (2015). Beliefs that changed the world: The history and ideas of the great religions. London, United Kingdom: Quercus Publishing.Carroll, A. and Buchholtz, A. (2008). Business and society: Ethics, sustainability and stakeholder management. Cengage Learning.Chief Seattle. (2000). The speech of Chief Seattle. Carlisle, MA: Applewood Books.Clayton, P. (2004a). “Panentheism in metaphysical and scientific perspective”, in In whom we live and move and have our being: panentheistic reflections on God’s presence in a scientific world, P. Clayton and A. Peacocke (eds.), Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, pp. 249-264.de Chardin T. (1975). The human phenomenon. NY: Harper and Row.Fox, M. (1983). Original blessing. Santa Fe, NM: Bear and Company.Fox, M. (ed.) (1987). Hildegard de Bingen’s book of divine works: With letters and songs. Santa Fe, NM: Bear and Company.Friedman, M. (2002). Capitalism and freedom (40th Anniversary Ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Habermas, J. (1984). The Theory of communicative action vol. 1: Reason and rationalization of society. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.Horkheimer, M. (1982). Critical theory selected essays. New York: Continuum Pub.IPerceptive: Ibn-Arabi Quotes. Retrieved from https://iperceptive.com/authors/ibn-arabi-quotes.htmlJung, C. G. (2006). The undiscovered self. New York, NY: New American Library.Knight, K. (2017). The Summa Theologiae of St. Thomas Aquinas. Retrieved from http://www.newadvent.org/summa/1065.htmMarx, K. (1990) [1867]. Capital, Volume I. London: Penguin Classics.Nhat Hanh, T. (1999). Going home: Jesus and Buddha as brothers. New York, NY: Penguin Group.O’ Murchu, D. (2004). Quantum theology: Spiritual implications of the new physics (Revised Ed.). NY: The Crossroads PublishingCompany.Pope Francis (2015). Laudato Si: On care for our common home. Rome. Rasmussen, L. (2005). Earth community, earth ethics. Makati, Philippines: St. Paul’s.Rieff, D. (2015). The Reproach of hunger: Food, justice, and money in the twenty-first century. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.Smith, A. (1977). The wealth of nations: An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.The Meister Eckhart Site. Retrieved from https://www.ellopos.net/theology/eckhart_in-creatures.htmlWeber, M., & Kalberg, S. (2013). The Protestant ethic and the spirit of Capitalism. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.