Learning to be a Community of Good Work (1)
“I read in a book that a man called Christ went about doing good. It is
disconcerting to me that I am so easily satisfied with just going about.” -
- Toyohiko
Kagawa
I. Required readings
Christian Biography for the Day: Toyohiko Kagawa
Chittister, Chapter 7 (“Participation in Creation”), 80-94
Profiles of Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy and of Muhammad Yunus
Jacqueline Novogratz: "Patient Capitalism" (Ted Talk)
II. Quotation for the
day
"In
III. Journal prompts
Chittister’s chapter deals with a subject we rarely think about in terms of discipleship: work. As you read and reflect on this chapter and the other readings, be mindful of the ways in which our culture encourages us to think about work and how this differs from the theological view offered in these pages.
1. Reflect on the following paragraph in
light of how you have been taught to think of work:
"In the monastic mind, work is
not for profit. In the monastic mentality, work is for giving, not just
for gaining. In monastic spirituality, other people have a claim on what
we do. Work is not a private enterprise. Work is not to enable me
to get ahead; the purpose of work is to enable me to get more human and to make
the world more just."
2. "Work is not a nuisance to be avoided. Work is a gift to be given. Clearly, holiness and work are not mutually exclusive ideas. Work, on the contrary, is a necessary part of holiness. . . Work is what we do to continue what God wanted done. Work is co-creative." How does this understanding of work challenge your own? How do you think your attitude about work would change if you had such an understanding?
3. Chittister writes: "There will come a moment in life when we will have to ask ourselves what we spent our lives on and how life in general was made better as a result of it. On that day, we will know the sanctifying value of work." When you look back on your life 20, 40, even 60 years from now, to what do you want to have devoted your life? What do you hope will be different or better as a result of your life?
4. In light of the readings above,
what do you make of this relatively new movement (often called "social
entrepreneurship") which views the role of business--and the potential good it
can do in the world--in a much broader way than we often do? While this
need not be the only way that Christians engage in the business world, are there
any reasons why Christians should not embrace this model?
IV. Links of possible
interest
The Rise Of Social Entrepreneurship Suggests A Possible Future For Global Capitalism A brief introduction to this relatively new movement that has transformed the way many people think about “doing business.”
A recent New York Times article about Muhammad Yunus, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2006 for his pioneering work in micro-credit. (Copyrighted article through Canvas; log-in to C&C site and then click on "Files" tab and then "Course Resources".)
A brief interview with Muhammad Yunus discussing one of his latest ventures to end poverty and malnutrition by creating what he calls a "social business," which is a business that has a different kind of bottom line.
If you're
interested in how you, too, can participate in micro-lending, even as a college
student, visit Kiva.org.
Nick Madigan, “A Pilgrim’s Progress: Using Film to Aid the Poor” (Another copyrighted article through Canvas) A fascinating New York Times article that tells more of the story of Gerard Straub, mentioned in our readings for last time. You can also watch (or read) a recent interview with Straub here.