Some Thoughts on Wealth, Economy, and Western Civilization
John Michael Talbot

Brothers and Sisters,

Peace and Good in Christ!

Both domestic economy and concern for the poor in Iraq, and other places, have been in the news lately. It caused me to think some more about these topics from the perspective of a Catholic Christian living in the family expression of a new integrated monastery in the US.

I was recently on the road through the southeastern United States. During the trip I spoke to a fine young Christian man who was getting his degree in Finance and Economics. I responded that I did not know much about the subject, except what I have taught in previous books and retreats on Simple Living. He went on to explain some of what he has been taught. Though I remained silent as I pondered his words, I found some of his explanation both fascinating and troubling.

I did mention that, with the exception of information and real estate, money no longer represents hard wealth in precious metals and material wealth and such. It is often only digits on a computer screen. He readily agreed, and went on to say that, bottom line, money really only represents the attitude of those who have it. If they are optimistic, the economy grows. If pessimistic it diminishes. This is what he has been taught by his teachers who report the cutting edge of the latest economic theories.

Some of this is certainly true. The attitudes of investors, no doubt, effect economic trends on Wall Street and in other trade centers around the world. When investors are optimistic, trading is high, and the economy is good. When negative, trading is low, and the economy drops. But some of this is most troubling if taken as a primary reality. If money really only represents the attitude of those who control it then there is no real wealth behind it. This troubles me.

What this means is that the very money after which most of our society lusts is ultimately empty, and is only worth anything if those who seem to have it keep up an attitude of prosperity and success. This sounds terribly close to delusion to me. It believes a great lie. Of course, the scriptures said this thousands of years ago. Nothing much has changed.

The practical result is this: A whole civilization that represents the minority of the world's population that is depleting the earth's environment, and often gains wealth at the expense of the majority of the world's population in developing nations, is based on an economic system that is an illusion at best, and effects delusion upon those who believe it at worst. In other words, the whole system of the present world is based on illusion and lies. Again, scripture calls this present world order as under the ultimate lie of the devil, the father of lies, and opposed to the work of the Spirit of God.

Now don't get me wrong. The world is not totally evil, nor is our system totally evil. God created the world as good, and works His providence through the actions of nations and governments, even though His primary work is manifested in the Church and her individual members. Plus, I have been to the third, or developing world, and have seen the dire poverty, the terrible gap between rich and poor, and the environmental problems there. I have no illusions that their system is better than ours. It usually isn't. I simply believe that, in accordance with the teaching of the Church, the minority of the world's population should share its resources with the majority of the world when it is desperately poor.

We also need to seriously rethink our whole societal system of existence that underlies this false and fragile economy. Our houses, air conditioning, technologies, food production, transportation, and means of employment are based on a way of life that is often artificial, and exists at the great price of environmental imbalance and global poverty. Our slow prayer walks through major cities in America have showed many of us that most of our businesses that line our city streets are outlets for products that are not really needs, but only wants. Such things are luxuries by world standards. They should be available for extraordinary situations of old age, sickness, or extraordinary usage for other legitimate reasons. But using such things as an ordinary means of lifestyle is dangerous. Becoming addicted to them can be as bad as an addiction to any other material substance. No doubt, concerning consumerism and materialism, we in America are a nation of addicts.

What is ultimately needed is an entire overhaul of our sociopolitical and economic system of civilization. Overhauled to what? A lifestyle that is simple and close to God's earth and environmentally sound, and where technological advancement is used in a healthy and balanced way. An economic system that allows people to be justly rewarded for legitimate hard work, but where all people have the basics they need for life on this earth. Such a dream is idealistic to be sure. But it is the ideal for which we were created as human beings. Plus, such Utopias were the ideal that drove our society at the early stages with Plato and St. Thomas More just to name two, and should not be completely rejected now. As scripture says again, a people without a vision will surely perish.

Scripture tells us that this ideal will only come completely in another age. We Christians call it heaven. Other religions use different names, but the general ideal is much the same. Those same religions teach us that we can still do much to let heaven break through the clouds of this present world order. Until then we must work steadily and wait patiently to bring about some degree of the Kingdom of God on the face of this earth by doing as good as we know to do.

When seen in this light such a worldview seems a bit overwhelming to say the least. None of us is completely "unplugged" from this system. For most of us the best we can do is to live as simply as possible within the system in which we find ourselves, much like a wildflower growing up through the cracks in the concrete of a gray western city.

But those of us who do have the means to change some of this should definitely do so in proportion to our degree of stewardship control. Admittedly, this is again ultimately a very small part of our population, and those in this situation are often not the ones who want to effect the necessary changes to the world order. Why? Because it would mean giving up much of the luxury to which they have grown accustomed and addicted. But we must do what we can do.

So, is effecting this change easily done? No. Is it even probable when viewed against the harsh reality of the world's violent and self-indulgent history? Probably not. But I think that we must believe that which the world would say is impossible through the love of God in Jesus Christ. Is this a risk? You bet it is. It may cost us our life. But I dare to believe this wonderful possibility simply because it is theoretically possible. As Pope Paul VI said, "Peace is possible, therefore it is a duty." The peace of which he speaks is both interior spiritual peace, and its temporal result.

So let's all do what we can do. If many of us join together in doing even the small things we are capable of individually we can accomplish great things as a community of believers. As they say, light a candle instead of cursing the darkness. Even a small candle can light up an entire room.

May God bless you in the Charity of Christ and His Church,

In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot
Founder and General Minister
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage