{"id":504,"date":"2009-10-06T13:38:23","date_gmt":"2009-10-06T18:38:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=504"},"modified":"2009-10-20T15:07:05","modified_gmt":"2009-10-20T20:07:05","slug":"october-7-14-2009-a-free-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/october-7-14-2009-a-free-market\/","title":{"rendered":"October 7-14, 2009 — A free market"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contributed by Jocelyn Breeland
\n<\/em>Fairfax, VA\u00a0<\/p>\n

Warm-up Question:<\/strong> Do any of the things you own make you sad? Do any of them consume a lot of your time?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"money-bag200\"Michael Moore<\/a>\u2019s latest documentary, \u201cCapitalism: A Love Story<\/a>,\u201d is a continuation of the award-winning filmmaker\u2019s attack on the system that defines the U.S. economy. In it, he looks at the winners and losers in the latest chapter of our economic drama — the financial collapse of late 2008.<\/p>\n

Those familiar with Moore\u2019s previous films will recognize his theatrical attempts to show how the wealthy ignore the ordinary people they exploit. In \u201cRoger & Me,\u201d the documentary that made Moore famous, he pursued GM CEO Roger B. Smith, while showing how Smith\u2019s decision to move manufacturing jobs to Mexico devastated GM workers in Moore\u2019s hometown of Flint, Michigan. In \u201cBowling for Columbine,\u201d Moore contrasted people who promote and enjoy firearms with victims of gun violence. \u201cFahrenheit 911,\u201d a look at the events following the September 11 terrorist attacks, frames the decision to go to war in Iraq in terms of the petroleum interests of President Bush\u2019s family and Saudi Arabian royals. \u201cSicko\u201d looked at the winners and losers in the American health care system.<\/p>\n

Together, Moore\u2019s films have grossed nearly $200 million and his combination of humor and shocking contrasts have brought a new audience to the documentary genre. For example, one scene in \u201cCapitalism\u201d has Moore setting up police crime scene tape on Wall Street at the site of a \u201ccrime\u201d against American taxpayers. At another point, the film asks \u201cWhen did Jesus become a capitalist?\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite his success, there are many who criticize Moore\u2019s politics and his methods. He has agreed with the criticism that \u201cCapitalism: A Love Story\u201d oversimplifies by labeling capitalism evil. However, he said, \u201c\u2026if I tell you that there\u2019s a home foreclosed on every seven and a half seconds, you need to know that that\u2019s absolutely true.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michael Moore is a man who enjoys stirring up controversy, and he would appear to have succeeded once again.<\/p>\n

(Note: You’ll find good background material for this Faith Lens discussion and lesson in the ELCA Statement on “<\/span><\/strong><\/em>Economic Life: Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/a>“.)<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Discussion Questions<\/span><\/h2>\n

(Note: Leaders should be prepared to discuss capitalism in general terms. However, for the purposes of this discussion, student perceptions of the role of businesses, workers, and markets are as valid as any.)<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Have you seen any of Michael Moore\u2019s films? Would you like to? Why, or why not?<\/li>\n
  2. What’s capitalism<\/a>?<\/li>\n
  3. Looking at Moore\u2019s subjects — jobs sent overseas, the Iraq war, health care, and the financial meltdown — is capitalism itself really the problem or cause? What else may contribute to these problems?<\/li>\n
  4. Given that Moore\u2019s films have made him a very wealthy man, is his criticism of capitalism hypocritical? What would you do in his shoes?<\/li>\n
  5. Can capitalists be\u00a0faithful, generous, compassionate\u00a0Christians?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, October 11, 2009.<\/span><\/h2>\n

    (Text links are to oremus Bible Browser<\/a>. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

    For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic <\/span><\/strong>Agnus Day<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n