Theological conviction bundles economic privilege with political favor

Evidence

Strolling out of the dusty fairground, past the vast exhibition halls full of tractors and fertilizer displays, it strikes me that the theology of the evening is all but inseparable from a certain form of life. It is the string that ties together a bundle of costumes, assumptions, business dealings, and political favors. It is the latest form of a certain political and social vision that entitles a select few to work the earth with other people’s hands. — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers, 219

Categorization

• XREF: Echoes the ‘thread/tapestry’ metaphor used to integrate otherwise scattered observations—connects to materialist readings of religion as ideology (Frankfurt School). — connects to: Welfare-cut theology conveniently serves wealthy evangelical donors’ labor-cost interests — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the…, 205; Religious freedom rhetoric means privilege for one sanctioned creed — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the…, 659; Prosperity theology frames wealth as evidence of God’s blessing. — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core: On the Role of…, 444 (+3 more)
• ADDENDUM: Relevant to the labor side of the ‘On Sacrifice’ and ‘Grafting’ essays’ exploration of who works the earth and who owns it.

Broader Connections

• Religion functions as the enabling power behind a preferential legal system #expands (0.85) — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized, 1014
• Prosperity theology frames wealth as evidence of God’s blessing. #exemplifies (0.82) — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core, 444
• Religious freedom rhetoric means privilege for one sanctioned creed #expands (0.80) — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers, 659