Capitalism Converts Christianity

""With impressive command of both the scriptures and church history, Gray Fitzgerald demonstrates how far we have fallen away from Christian teachings about the perils-and the distractions-of affluence. This is an important and timely book, reminding us that Jesus warned about camels negotiating the eye of a needle."" Randall Balmer John Phillips Professor in Religion, Dartmouth College ""I love to tell the Story, ""sings Katherine Hankey's old hymn about a far older story. The power of Gray Fitzgerald's Capitalism Converts Christianity, a prophetic reflection on the failure of faith to resist temptations of wealth and the violence it inevitably breeds is in his story-telling. Alive on the page are, indeed, the stories of Jesus, as Fitzgerald lets Zacchaeus invite readers to consider the implications of his ways of making a living. The longer biographies of Francis of Assisi, John Woolman, and Dorothy Day engage a heart of empathy that is never toxic, while dramatic retellings of world and US history tragedies become Capitalism's rite of confession, and short poignant stories like Xernona Clayton's transformation of Calvin Craig bring the book to conclusion in unexpected hope."" Maren Tirabassi has been a UCC pastor since 1980 and is the author of twenty-four books. ""In stark contrast to the reluctance of most Christians to talk about money and possessions, these were among the foremost topics at the heart of the teaching of Jesus. In this bold and much needed critique of the ways in which Christianity has sacrificed its values on the altar of unfettered capitalism, Fitzgerald invites Christians into the radical power of taking Jesus seriously enough to transform our society back to the generosity and mutual concern for the common good essential to building the Beloved Community on earth as it is in heaven."" Rev. John M. Gregory-Davis ""Capitalism Converts Christianity is a prophetic word from a passionate prophet. Rev. Fitzgerald hammers home the point that the church and Christians are largely comfortable in our golden chains, but Fitzgerald is clear that serving the god of wealth in this society is to create chaos and violence and death, including spiritual death for us Christians to whom he is appealing. It is a work of the heart, an inspired word. He calls us back to faithfulness and to the scriptures we would rather explain away-as sources of hope and life. It will make you think and maybe even pray. He provides powerful examples and well thought out study guides. It's a book Christians should take seriously."" Chad Hale, Pastor of Georgia Avenue Church, ""James H. Cone wrote that ""Any talk about God that fails to make God's liberation of the poor its starting point is not Christian"". Walter Brueggemann wrote of the importance of ""interpretive literature concerning the interface of Gospel and economic reality."" Fitzgerald's book has done both. It offers the reader a comprehensive analysis of the gospels pertaining to wealth and inequality, potential models for addressing major economic and justice issues, and the social forces and dynamics in play that make resistance to the power of capitalism challenging. The art of the book is that it written not as strictly political or economic work but more as a focused and direct conversation with the reader concerning the Christian Church and its disregard for the teachings and life of Jesus related to economic reality, the poor, the outcast. I see this book as excellent for personal reflection, Adult Sunday School study, and Bible study groups."" Robert Doyle Jones Former Coordinator of Mennonite Central Committee Voluntary Service Unit-Atlanta, Georgia