A Christian view of economic development
Indeed, our deep religiosity need not hamper our economic development. We just have to transform the language of faith into something pragmatic, practicable and real. In so doing, we prove Karl Marx wrong.
This is what Ruth S. Callanta accomplished with the Center for Community Transformation, which simplifies the message of the Gospel as simply serving God by serving the poor.
For me, this is the most important part of the article in the Inquirer:
CCT’s program was simple: bring out the latent entrepreneurial skills of the urban and rural poor through training and microfinance by making them part of a Christian community that preaches values.
It is hoped that by strengthening their values, and keeping those values alive through constant communication with community members, the rural and urban poor will be in a better emotional position to make a success out of their business since they will be guided by a higher purpose.
“I believe that other development strategies have not worked because people’s hearts have not changed. Everybody is still basically selfish, so they do not put the welfare of another above theirs. The values have to be changed,” Callanta says.
After all, there are many forms of poverty, and the poverty of the spirit is even more fundamental than any economic metric. Faith and hope are great motivators for people to work harder and go beyond themselves.
While I am always wary of religious organizations in the guise of civic oriented groups, I often forget where I am. Spirituality in the Philippines is a social experience. It is something casually and informally shared, thus forming a sense of oneness and community. To rally Filipinos to a cause, it is not as important to them that it is a well-explained and convincing one. All it has to be is something they can relate to and thus believe in.
This is why this article caught my attention. I have always argued that we must rethink the way religion and faith operate in our society (on that note, is Fr. Ed’s win the way we should go?), and I think the CCT is one good example of such a direction.
Read the entire article, Enrich a person’s values and you can solve poverty, at the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Ang Republikang Teokratiko ng Pilipinas, in a daring rallying call to its people in early 19th century, suffered a severe diplomatic and economic backlash, losing favor with its democratic contemporaries from all ends of the political spectrum. Historians are in disagreement as to whether it was mass emigration or immediate political dissolution that led to its eventual annexation into China, for primary sources within the former country itself were found to be “full of sensationalist nonsense and thus highly unreliable.”
We definitely should rethink about religion’s role in our society. Especially Catholicism, since it was introduced as a colonial tool of subjugation unlike the Islam faith which was introduced, rather brought in by native settlers.
I’m going to sound a bit on the Left side of things, but the at the rate things are going on, I can’t help but believe in Marx when he said that “religion is the opium of the people.”
Some good news at last
Two reasons to thank you for posting this:
1. Good news that hits home by pointing out the link between social progress and personal values
2. Finally hearing someone who’s also wary of Fr. Ed’s win