Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire.BEING CONSUMED con·sume v. con·sumed, con·sum·ing, con·sumes v.tr. 1. To take in as food; eat or drink up. See Synonyms at eat. 2. a. : ECONOMICS AND CHRISTIAN DESIRE By William T. Cavanaugh (Eerdmans, 2008) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Luke tells us in Acts 2 that the earliest Christians formed economic communities shaped by the Eucharist, sharing their resources as they broke bread together. William Cavanaugh's new work on eucharistic economics argues that contemporary Christians should also form their economic lives in light of our eucharistic faith. Cavanaugh does not suggest we reject the free market but urges us--as members of the Body of Christ--to critique global capitalism's troubling assumptions and to take concrete steps toward creating just and humane humane pertaining to the avoidance of infliction of pain, discomfort and harassment; used especially with regard to animals. humane considerations economic communities. Cavanaugh argues that a truly "free market" is not merely one free of government intervention A procedure used in a lawsuit by which the court allows a third person who was not originally a party to the suit to become a party, by joining with either the plaintiff or the defendant. , for in so-called free market economies throughout the developing world, tens of millions of workers toil for slave-like wages so middle-class Americans can purchase cheap goods. Making these markets genuinely "free" requires that we ensure all parties receive a chance to flourish. This means our vision of a free market must be grounded in a vision of a truly human community, where no one is free until all are free. Though many believe the problem with consumerism consumerism Movement or policies aimed at regulating the products, services, methods, and standards of manufacturers, sellers, and advertisers in the interests of the buyer. is our attachment to material goods, Cavanaugh warns that the real danger of insatiable consumption is that we become detached de·tached adj. 1. Separated; disconnected. 2. Standing apart from others; separate. shopaholics, cut off from those who make and deliver what we buy. When we consume the Eucharist, however, we are taken into the Body of Christ
The Body of Christ is a term used by Christians to describe believers in Christ. Jesus Christ is seen as the "head" of the body, which is the church. and connected with all the suffering and laboring bodies of the world. This, Cavanaugh argues, is the model of consumption that should shape and reform our economic practices so that our purchases and investments reflect our attachments to the larger Body of Christ. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Cavanaugh, modern economics helps us grow our gross national (or global) product but cannot tell us what sorts of humans or communities we ought to become. To answer these deeper questions we need to turn to our eucharistic faith. |
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